4 Minute Daily Devotions: Prolonging Our Lives

Proverbs 3:1-2                   My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.

A lot of my time lately has been taken up with our church’s Capital Campaign. Every day I am dealing with a new item on what I call the Campaign Trail. It’s a fascinating process, but it also can get very burdensome at times.

The purpose of the Campaign is to prolong the life of the church. We are renewing ourselves for the missions and ministries that are yet to come. Our church has constantly grown because we try to apply God’s teaching to our community. Every week, people come to church to hear more about God’s Word, to seek guidance for their lives, and to be challenged by Christ in ways that will make our world a better place.

We grow because God gives us this blessing. We increase because Christ inspires us. We add to our numbers because the Holy Spirit activates our faith.

When the Campaign is over, the true work will begin. I look forward to what lies ahead for our church because we will have more opportunities to glorify God, praise Jesus Christ, and be led by the Holy Spirit.

Prayer:                 Lord Jesus, we thank You for the privilege and blessing of serving You. You take imperfect and unholy people and shape them into a church. You work in our midst and inspire us through Your wonderful words and glorious ways. Thank You for such gracious blessings. In Your Holy Name, we praise and 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 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: Uncertain Times

During the present economic crisis, it's time to remind ourselves that our trust is in God, and not in greed.

Podcast version here

Psalm 77:8 Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has his promise failed for all time?

We are living in uncertain times and we are all anxious about the economy. It seems that we have just about outlived our greed, and that we will all be tightening our belts and becoming more frugal about how we spend our money. I even saw a report the other day that teenagers are beginning to reject designer label clothing. Instead, they are starting to buy cheaper items in an effort to reject hyper-commercialism, in order to save their own money. That, in itself, is a sign of a more frugal society which will affect our economy.

We’ve all been here before. In every society and civilization, there is a time when profligate spending and financial speculation comes to an end. It usually coincides with a religious revival because people begin again to trust more in God rather than the economy. It’s a reality check on using greed to succeed. It’s usually replaced with integrity, frugality, and, oddly enough, generosity. Instead of thinking about what’s best for the individual, people become more altruistic and philanthropic. Instead of investing capital to gain more interest, people become more interested in community projects, charity organizations, and those in need.

That’s when we recognize that God’s love never fails. Economies and civilizations come and go, but the love of God, which is in and around us, remains. Instead of focusing upon where the market is each day, we recognize that each day is a gift from God. We give of ourselves in ways that glorify the goodness of God, instead of the greed of the market.

Perhaps you’re worrying and fretting over your finances today, and are wondering what to do about the economic crisis. This is the perfect time to come to God and ask His guidance, seek His presence, and acknowledge His sovereignty over the situation. Eventually, the market will sort itself out, but if we make and take time to place ourselves under God’s bidding, we will discover that our faith is stronger than the economy because faith, hope and love endure forever.

Prayer: Lord God, in these uncertain times, You are the Rock of refuge and the Anchor of our salvation. Help us to take time to ponder on Your influence over our lives, and see Your guidance over what’s happening in the world. Give us hearts that are full of hope and spirits that are encouraged by Christ. In Jesus’ Name, we mightily pray. Amen.

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