Sunday Shorts: The Gift

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”

            Every day, I pray for my family, for those living here in the United States and those across the world. I ask God to bless and protect them, to guide and to support them, to love and cherish them. It’s a ritual I go through each morning and whether or not I’ll see or hear from them that day, they’re in my prayers, on my mind, and in my heart. No matter what they’re going through or how they are feeling, I know that God is with them and that comforts me.

            The most important part of my daily prayer takes place at the end. I ask God to give them opportunities to draw closer to Him and accept Jesus as their Lord in Savior in their lives and hearts. I want them to know the love of God and the price that He decided to pay so that all of them could be favored and forgiven, renewed and restored to God’s Kingdom. I pray this, not just because I want them to know that they are not alone, but I believe it’s what God wants for them, too. This is why He sent His Son to the Earth long ago to reach out to humanity and gather us safely from the chaos, confusion, and commotion that we all experience in our lives. You see folks, God didn’t create us to be fearful or lonely; He made us to be thankful and loved.

            I hope that you understand this devotion and these prayers are also for you, your families, and your loved ones. Jesus gave everything so that we can gain everything about God that is everlasting. Our lives on Earth may be finite and the years go by too quickly, but God cherishes us so much that He wants our lives and love to continue beyond our time on this planet. God doesn’t want us to perish at all, but to gain everlasting life.

Point to ponder: Do I know God loves me?

Prayer: Lord God, thank You for creating us to be loved and not to be alone. Help us to reach out to You today and receive the blessings of Your acceptance and eternal love. Enable us to overcome our doubts and fears so that we may cherish the gift of Christ and receive His peace in our hearts, minds, bodies, and souls. In His Name, we pray. Amen.

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

Eye Opener - John 9:10

John 9:10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked. (NIV)

The greatest wish or prayer that I have for all of my loved ones is encapsulated in this verse from John’s Gospel. I want all of them to have their eyes opened by Jesus in order to see Him for who He actually is: The Savior of their souls and the Lord of their lives. I know that am I not a perfect witness or flawless example of what a Christian should always be, but that does not stop me from hoping and praying that they will one day discover Christ in all of His totality.

Before I took Christ seriously, I dabbled in different things spiritually. I always felt there was something bigger and better than me, a supernatural power or almighty force that kept sustaining the world and universe. However, I was too self-absorbed to make any true leap of faith, so I just meandered down my own reckless path and put any notion of God to the side. It was only when I realized I was actually being self-destructive and needed to change that I cried out to God for help. I had blinded and deluded myself into thinking that I could handle anything and even do everything I wanted, but instead of filling my life with substance, I was actually draining my spirit and emptying my soul. Only God could rescue me from my self-made pit; only Christ could heal the blindness within me.

Perhaps you’re also praying for your loved ones to have their eyes opened by Christ. Maybe you’re feeling empty and in the dark yourself. Whatever the case, please know this: Christ can help your loved ones, so keep praying; Jesus can also brighten your life, so keep asking Him for His light. On the day that I decided to surrender to Jesus, my life changed forever. He opened my eyes and enabled me to see life as it actually is: a gift from God that is wonderful to experience and amazing to know.

Point to ponder

Has Christ opened my eyes to His love? What about my loved ones? Am I praying for them?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for revealing God to our world. Open our eyes to Your ways in our lives and help us to share Your gracious gift with all of our loved ones. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Please 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 Holy Week drawings called “Passion.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Passion.

Family Devotion - The Man Who Has Everything - John 4:10

John 4:10      Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

            The Man who has everything – that’s who Jesus was, still is, and will always be. I often wish that I could find some positive way of letting my family and friends know this amazing truth about Jesus. They all seem to be constantly striving, under a lot of pressure, and continually trying to keep on going with no real understanding about where life is headed. They are all good people and I love them dearly. I just wish that somehow I could convince them that in Jesus they would find all that their restless hearts, minds, and souls is looking for.

            I enjoy seeing their pictures on Facebook, with all of the different and wonderful experiences they have, as well as seeing the places they visit all over this planet. Yet, I sometimes wonder, when they get back from their exciting trips and amazing events, what do they think about when they are alone with their thoughts? What are their hopes and dreams? What do they ponder and wonder about their own existence? Do they have any understanding of their mortality? What beliefs do they have about life after their own inevitable deaths?

            In today’s passage, Jesus encounters a Samaritan woman who has no earthly idea about who He is, what power He possesses, or how He can significantly change her life. She is surprised by His presence and even more amazed at His asking of her for some water. She knows that Jesus is Jewish, so she is startled that He is having a conversation with someone that His race was known to vehemently despise.

            At one point in the conversation, Jesus relates to her about what He can actually do for her. He could refresh her weary soul with His power. As Jesus says, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

            I hope and pray that all of my loved ones, my family and friends, will one day realize, recognize, and receive all that Jesus – the Man Who has everything – can actually give them. It will be wonderful day for them, and a great blessing to me.

Questions for personal reflection

Which of my loved ones do I wish that Jesus would become their personal Savior? Am I willing to continually pray for this to occur?

Prayer:          Lord Jesus, thank You for saving me and for Your wonderful love being continually present in my life. Please help my loved ones open their own hearts and minds to Your presence, so that they may also experience the wonderful joy of truly, personally, and eternally knowing You. In Your Holy Name, I 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 latest sunflower drawings called “Just Around the Corner.” If you would like to view a larger image, please click on this link: Sunflower.

Family Devotions: Family Blessings - Acts 21:1-9

Acts 21:5         But when our time was up, we left and continued on our way. All the disciples and their wives and children accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray.

One of the most beautiful and sacred parts of our Sunday worship at Erin takes place at the end of the Family sermon. That’s when our young children sit at the front steps of the sanctuary with their parents, or grandparents, or aunts and uncles, all bowing their heads, closing their eyes, and saying a simple prayer. The prayer is led by whoever presented the Family Sermon and everyone repeats the words, phrase by phrase. It’s a wonderful blessing to see each of the families do this; listening to the voices of the youngest children pray out loud, often brings happy tears to my eyes. This is Family ministry at its simplest and best; this is how the Gospel is shared by one generation to another.

In today’s short passage from Acts 21vv1-9, we read about Paul and his companions leaving the city of Tyre. The whole church has gathered at the beach to say farewell – all of the disciples, their wives, and their children. It must have looked like a Sunday School seashore picnic, but it is also a wonderful description about how the Early Church operated. Families worshiped and prayed together; they served the Lord and witnessed as one. It must have been a beautiful scene, even though it was a sad farewell. The church at Tyre was intergenerational, showing to Paul that Christ’s message would endure across the generations represented on the shoreline.

            Churches are meant to be intergenerational – they don’t function well when they just cater to one age range or one eclectic group. The vitality of Christ’s mission depends upon each generation passing on the faith to the next generation. It never stays still and never looks the same, but it always truly connects with Christ across the centuries, throughout the nations, and among our precious families.

Questions for personal reflection

What opportunities for intergenerational sharing takes place at my church? How do these events strengthen the faith of the people?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You speak to people of all ages throughout the entire world. Your Spirit seeks to bless our families with services and events, as well as missions and programs that can be supported and fulfilled by believers of any age. Thank You for the Family ministries among our churches and for their vitality in our congregations. In Your Holy Name, we cheerfully 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 John an email to traqair@aol.com. John reads every email and learns much from your comments.

Today’s image is one of my latest Mackintosh rose drawings. It’s called “Celtic Roses.” If you would like to view a larger version, the please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7348/9002967262_20aa571af4_b.jpg