Midweek Message - Divine Conclusion

Psalm 51:10   Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (NIV)

 Have you ever seen the old French film called ‘The Red Balloon’? It was made in Paris a year before I was born and tells the tale of a young boy who is befriended by a red balloon. The balloon and the boy become inseparable, and it follows him all over the streets of Paris. The film only lasts about 35 minutes, and it has been my favorite movie ever since I first saw it as a young lad.

 The film depicts both happiness and sadness in simple ways and even when a tragedy occurs, there is a wonderful sequence of hope being renewed at the end of the movie. As I write this devotion, I can still see the beautiful conclusion in my mind’s eye. I won’t give it away – you’ll have to watch the movie yourself and be pleasantly captivated by it.

 Sometimes I think that our individual lives are movies that only God can see. He knows all of the things that we have done, the moments that have impacted us deeply, the joys we have experienced and the sadnesses that we still carry. There is nothing hidden from God, so He could be justified in separating Himself from us after death, but instead He wants to give us a beautiful conclusion where we become reunited and restored to Him forever. That’s why King David, in today’s highlighted verse, prayed to God to clean his heart and renew his spirit: he wanted that beautiful conclusion which only God’s grace and forgiveness could bring.

 Perhaps you feel as though you’ve done something which will separate you from God. Maybe you have a deep regret about a deed that has caused some distance between you and God. If so, then please know this – God can and will forgive you, just by asking Him to do so, even now as you read this. As the apostle Paul once wrote long ago: ‘For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ – Romans 8:38-39.

 Point to ponder: Am I willing to hand over my regrets to the Lord and be cleansed with God’s Love?

 Prayer: Lord God, create clean hearts within us and renew our spirits this day. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

 PS: If you’ve never seen it, you can freely view the movie online at this link: The Red Balloon.

 

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

Sabbath Psalms - Sins of Omission

Psalm 19:12 Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults.

I once was given the opportunity to teach two English literature classes in my daughter's High school class. It all came about when her teacher referred to Britain as 'England.' My daughter took offense at this and reminded her teacher that Britain is made up of several nations, which includes Scotland. Thankfully, her teacher accepted what she had to say and, in the ensuing conversation, I somehow got volunteered to teach two classes about Scotland's contribution to English literature, especially the works of Robert Burns, the world's greatest poet.

This highlighted verse from the psalmist reminded me of something that Burns once wrote. The psalmist talks about hidden faults, and how each of us are blind to some of the persistent mistakes that we make. In the past, ministers would call these the 'sins of omission,' the things that we neglect to do, as well as the mistakes that we unconsciously commit. In one of his poems, Burns put it this way:

'O the pow'r that God wad gie us, to see ourselves as ithers see us.'

(O the power that God would give us, to see ourselves as others see us)

Sometimes, we are blind to the sins we commit and the mistakes that we habitually make. If only we had the power to see ourselves making those mistakes, which others around us notice, for then we would be empowered to avoid repeatedly making them.

Perhaps today we could all make a conscious effort to watch what we do or say; to be careful about the witness to Christ that we project, to be aware that we are not perfect all of the time. And at the end of the day, as we make our confessions and give thanks to God in prayer, let's also remember to ask forgiveness for our hidden faults, those sins of omission that we constantly fail to recognize.

Point to ponder: What sins do I constantly repeat? How can I change this?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, sometimes we unknowingly hurt other people and offend You with our frequent mistakes. Sometimes the things we say and do, or the things we neglect to say or do, cause us to disappoint others and sin against You. Help us to recognize our recurring mistakes and give us the ways and means to avoid our sins of omission. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

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

Sabbath Psalms - Begin Again

Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a pure heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me”

I struggle with my faith versus my thoughts. There are things I believe in my heart about God, but I also have doubts in my mind. For instance, I believe that God is infinitely powerful and just, but doubts arise when I see so much violence and injustice in the world. I believe that I am saved by Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross, but then I doubt His influence over the Church when I see Christians aggressively hating people who oppose them. I believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, but then I doubt its transformative power into making us better human beings when I hear preachers ranting and raving about crushing or killing their political enemies. 

I am also aware that I am, like David who originally wrote Psalm 51, a sinful man who has made bad choices at times that have hurt other people, especially those whom I say that I love. My selfish thoughts and devious desires damage my faith. I am what John Newton once called himself – a wretch. In other words, I am a great sinner in need of an even greater savior. 

If we honestly read Psalm 51, we will be afflicted by the Holy Spirit and made self-aware of our foolish choices and sinful deeds. David doesn’t hold back anything from God because he understands that God knows everything about him – every false choice, every greedy decision, every little secret. He comes before God as a broken man who knows he has done something gravely wrong, but even with all that staggering burden of guilt, shame, and worthlessness, David still holds on to the fact that God can clean him of every sin, renew his unclean heart, and restore him to God’s love forever.

David’s story is our story, too. And we have even more besides: we have Jesus as our Savior who cast Himself on the Cross at Calvary in order to remove our blemished burdens and despicable deeds. Christ gave us His life so that we may live with God as forgiven, redeemed, and restored children of God’s grace forevermore. In other words, with Christ, we can begin again.

Point to ponder: What have I done that has offended God and damaged others? How can Christ cleanse and restore me?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You know everything about us, so we cannot hide any sin from You. Help us to humbly approach Your throne of mercy and grace, so we may ask You for forgiveness and restoration. We know that we do not deserve this, but we hold on to the fact that You have the power to do this. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

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

 

Psalm 85: A Beautiful Song

 

Today's devotion: A Beautiful Song

Psalm 85:7 Show us your unfailing love, Lord, and grant us your salvation. (NIV)

There’s something simply beautiful about the whole of Psalm 85. The writer tells of a time when the people of God were looking for forgiveness and mercy for the foolish and sinful mistakes they had made in the past. The whole community felt as though God was angry with them, so both the psalmist and the people prayed for God’s grace.

The psalm begins with a plea for forgiveness of the past and then develops into a prayer for restoration. It’s a very simple way of expressing faith in God’s love for people, and of asking for reassurance in a troubled time. The psalm ends with a song of praise about God’s goodness and leaves the reader, as well as the singers, with a lot of hope for the future. It’s a beautiful song of faith which during this whole pandemic crisis becomes a perfect poem of restoration and renewal.

I don’t know about you, but I needed to re-read and embrace this psalm today to know and experience God’s love, mercy, and grace. I hope and pray that you can do the same. 😊

You can read all thirteen beautiful verses of the psalm at this link: Psalm 85.

Prayer: Lord God, thank You for Your mercy and grace, especially when we feel unworthy to receive it. Restore us with Your Spirit of goodness and lead us into a better future. In Christ’s Name, we gratefully pray. Amen.

Pastor John

www.erinpres.org

Monday Minute: Snow - Isaiah 1v18

 Today's Monday minute message :)

Short Devotion: Definition - 1 John 4:10-11

 

1 John 4:10-11 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (ESV)

 This is one of those verses in the Bible where you have to look up the definition of a certain word. In this case, ‘propitiation’ is the word that needs to be defined and, if you do a Google search, this is what you discover:

 ‘Propitiation is the act of appeasing or making well-disposed a deity, thus incurring divine favor or avoiding divine retribution.’

 In recent years, I’ve heard and read a lot of people and pastors who reject the theory of atonement (which is another word for ‘propitiation’). Their idea is that it would be too mean for God to actually sacrifice His Son in order to acquit us of our sins. Jesus, then, came to show us Divine love and that we should peaceably get along with another. They also say that atonement is a theology that was only developed a couple of hundred years ago, and was never a part of the original Christian message. But that is so untrue – fake news or alternative facts, if you like. Re-read the verse again – what does it tell us?

 It tells us propitiation is real and that because it was written by the Apostle John, it was and has been ever since a crucial part of the Christian message since it was first proclaimed. I would rather believe the Apostle John, who knew Jesus personally, than any modern or post-modern commentators. I may not like the aspect that God willingly sacrificed His Son for my sins, but I am very thankful for it. I can only trust that if God felt it was necessary to do this, then it must have been the right thing. It makes me love God and people even more which I think is what John was expressing in this sentence.

 So, folks, please know this: no matter what you’ve done or how many regrets over past mistakes you carry in your heart and are constantly on your mind, God totally forgives you because Jesus has perfectly paid the price and taken away the eternal consequences.

 Prayer: Lord God, we are merely human and think in limited ways. The mystery of Your love astounds us and the mercy that Jesus obtained amazes us. We know we are not worthy of such sacrificial love, but we are thankful and will be for all of eternity. In Christ’s Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

 John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee.

www.erinpres.org

God's Faithfulness - Lamentations 3:22-23

Lamentations 3:22- 23 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (NRSV)

I’ve always loved these verses for several reasons. First of all, they remind me of a dear old couple from Scotland who often sang this as a duet in worship. After decades of marriage, they epitomized all of the love, grace, and faith that these scriptures express.

Secondly, I need this promise from God every single morning of my life. I am far from perfect and cannot get through a single day without sinning. This means that I create a gap between myself and God each day. However, when I wake up in the morning, a new day begins with God’s mercy and forgiveness, faithfulness and love. It’s a beautiful and sacred gift that I will cherish as long as I live.

Application: Start off each day with a smile. God has graciously forgiven us and faithfully loves us, so what more can we possibly need? 😊

Prayer: Lord God, thank You for the gift of grace and the blessing of love each day. Enable us to share these blessings will all whom we encounter today. In Christ’s Holy Name, we thankfully pray. Amen.

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

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

September 21 devotion - Heavenly Rejoicing

Luke 15:10 Jesus concluded: “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Every day, I do something wrong. I say the wrong thing or forget to do the right thing. I break a promise that I made or neglect an obligation I meant to fulfill. I break one of God’s commandments or I deliberately go against Christ’s Word. In short, I am a habitual sinner who needs to repent every single day.

When I’m made aware of my mistakes, I get defensive at first. I don’t want to claim the sin as my own or take the blame for what is wrong. I’m just like a quarterback that I watched recently on television who threw a terrible ball which his receiver could not catch. As he ran off the field, he looked to his coach and I lip-read his words: “It wasn’t me,” he said. He didn’t want to take ownership of his mistake and, unfortunately, his attitude permeated across the entire team. Needless to say, they lost the game.

After initially being defensive, I later realize that I’ve made a mistake and seek forgiveness for what I’ve done wrong. This process is called repentance in the Bible and it involves letting go of my pride by humbly asking for God’s pardon. So long as I recognize that my sinful behavior, misdeed, or mistake is wrong, I can repent. If ever I believe that my sinful behavior is acceptable, then even God cannot help me and His grace can never be applied to my life.

That’s why there is a lot of rejoicing in Heaven when a sinner truly repents and returns to God. The free will choice to do as we please can either be a blessing or a curse. When we choose to repent, we are restored to God and Heaven rejoices; that’s also when the beauty of God’s grace can positively change our lives forever.

Questions for personal reflection

When have I ever truly repented before God? Is there something that I am still reluctant to confess to Him?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, we were created to worship God and enjoy Him forever. Sometimes we worship our lifestyles and idolize our choices. Keep us from harming our souls and prevent us from following spiritual paths that lead to dead ends. Help us to see the need to repent and release us from our unconfessed sins. In Your Holy Name, we humbly 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 Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is John’s latest Fall drawing called “Autumn Delight” and features the Glade Creek Mill in the Babcock National Park of West Virginia. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8182/7993843085_4173874080_b.jpg

God Forgives Me - Isaiah 53

Isaiah 53:12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (NIV)

I love the whole of Isaiah 53. It reminds me of why I became a Christian in the first place. At that time, I needed God to forgive me for many things and a whole host of mistakes. I felt ashamed of who I was, what I had done, and where I had ended up. I was lost in my own sinfulness and hated praying to God for mercy. I couldn’t change the past and didn’t want to ask repeatedly to alter my life because I was stuck in my own spiritual rut and I was caught in my own ditch of despair. I knew that time was running out for me to turn away from the things that were destroying me, so in desperation, I reached out to God for one last time.

It worked. Within a couple of months, I was on a different path. Jesus had come into my life in a big way. I was no longer the same person; I still had my flaws (and still do), but for the first time in my life I felt truly forgiven of all the awful things I had done. During those pivotal months, I re-read Isaiah 53 and I, at last, understood what Jesus did to save me. Even though the whole chapter was written about 700 years before Christ was born, it detailed how and why Jesus died for my sins. More than anything else, those beautiful words from Isaiah changed me forever, so when I get to re-read them, I joyfully re-experience my salvation. 😊

Perhaps you are feeling guilty about something bad in your life or you have regrets about the past. Maybe you don’t know how to approach God with those events or even feel that God can never forgive you. Please know this: Jesus died for all of your mistakes and he can restore you completely to God’s mercy, grace, and love. Just re-read Isaiah 53 and realize that God fully prepared and accomplished everything necessary through Christ to forgive every one of your sins by giving you every part of God’s great love.

Point to ponder

Do I want to be fully forgiven and really restored to God? Am I willing to accept that Jesus has already done this for me?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You know me completely and are fully aware of all my mistakes. I regret all that I have sinfully done. Please accept me for who I am and change me into what God wants me to become. In Your Holy Name, I humbly confess and pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Come along 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 Good Friday drawings called “Outside.” If you would like to view a larger version, click this link: Outside.

August 24 devotion - Forgiven Forever

Hebrews 8:12  “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

            Most of us have regrets – some of them are shameful, while others are still painful. Being human means we are not perfect and make mistakes – and some of those mistakes are bad enough to weigh heavily on our minds for years.

            Today’s verse reminds us that we believe in the God of Forgiveness. No matter how bad we have been or how wickedly we have sinned, God is still willing to be merciful and allow us the opportunity to put the past behind us and begin once more. He also promises to never bring up ever again those sins and mistakes that we regret and have confessed to Him.

            God does this for us because His Son Jesus paid the price for our sins. This is what it means to be redeemed; this is what happens when we are saved. So today, receive and embrace this blessing: God knows all our regrets; He forgives all our mistakes, and He promises to let go of every one of them forever.

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, thank You for taking upon Yourself the punishment due for our sins. Your sacrifice allows us to be saved. Your Resurrection permits us to be redeemed. Thank You for such a wonderful gift and everlasting blessing. In your Holy Name, we gratefully and humbly pray. Amen.

July 14 devotion - An Old Word

John 8:24 (Jesus said) “I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am He, you will indeed die in your sins.”

            Sin is such an outdated, old-fashioned, and archaic word that it seems ludicrous for the Church to still use it in today’s society. Sin is such a pejorative, judgmental, and intolerant word that someone should outlaw its use entirely and ban it completely from our conversations, messages, and Bibles. It does no good to call anyone a sinner; it is not fair to point out sinfulness; it is absolutely inhumane to bring someone’s sin to the attention of others, after all, didn’t Jesus say, “Judge not, lest ye be judged?” And what about that plank in the eye stuff, wasn’t Jesus warning His followers about hypocritically condemning others?

            And yet, when we read the Gospels, we find Jesus warning His own people and religious leaders about the dire consequences of dying in their sins. If they didn’t believe He was sent from God as the Chosen One, their sins could never be forgiven. If their sins remained unforgiven, then they would be separated from God forever. In other words, Jesus was teaching His people, as well as us today, that sins have consequences, not just in this life, but in the world that is yet to come.

            Sin is such a current, present, and relevant word that it seems ludicrous for the Church to abandon its use in today’s society. Sin is such a descriptive, apt, and universal word that everyone should be aware of its constant use by Jesus and include it in our prayers, sermons, and Bibles. It does no good to avoid the fact that we are all sinners; it is unreal to think that we are sinless; it is eternally disastrous to be kept unaware of our sins, after all, didn’t Jesus say, “Judge what is right, instead of accepting what appears to be right” (John7:24) and “If you do not believe that I am He, you will indeed die in your sins.”(John 8:24).

Questions for personal reflection

How sinful am I? What am I doing about my sins?

Prayer:          Lord Jesus, we cannot fool You because You know everything about us. We strive to be good people and committed servants to God, but we often get distracted or tempted and end up sinning miserably. Forgive our sinful ways and help us to truly turn to You for guidance, wisdom, and mercy. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is currently 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 drawings called “Eternal Savior.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Savior.

May 9 devotion - Really Good News

Acts 13:38       “Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.”

We all do things that we later regret. We all make mistakes that can’t be rectified. Each of us lives with guilt on our consciences and shame in our hearts. We are human and fallible, prone to failure and imperfection. It’s a sad and sinful part of who we are; none of us are perfect and not one of us is free from sin.

Left to ourselves, we would have no opportunity of being reconciled to a holy, sacred, sinless, and perfect God. The great fact of history is this: we are not left to ourselves. Through Jesus, we can be forgiven; by Christ, we can be reconciled to God.

Some people talk about the Church as being outdated, old-fashioned, and irrelevant, but so long as people are selfish, sinful, and foolish, the Church will never become irrelevant. Every day, hundreds of thousands of people across the world discover Jesus as their Savior. Every night, billions of people ask for forgiveness and seek His favor. In the eternal scheme of things, the world is already outdated and will become old-fashioned and irrelevant beyond the gates of Heaven.

With Jesus as our gracious Savior, today is the continuing first day in the rest of our eternal lives. That’s what I call really good news – now let’s go out and share it with other people…J

Questions for personal reflection

What has been the gravest mistake of my life? How has Jesus forgiven me?

 Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You are the Savior of the world and the Holy One to whom we belong. Our past mistakes are completely forgiven. Our future hopes rest in Your Kingdom. Help us to share the goodness of Your love and forgiveness to others around us. In Your Holy Name, we thankfully 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 from a new series of church banners that John is currently designing. This drawing is called “Banner 01.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8115/8706417998_4c1a0953e9_b.jpg

Street Meeting - John 1:29

John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (NIV)

When I read the Gospel passage for today (John 1:19-34), it made me wonder what I would say if I saw Jesus walking down the street coming toward me. Would I fall on my knees and joyfully weep? Would I run away to hide? Or would I see him as John did – the Savior of the world who takes away my sins? I hope it would be the latter because, above everything else, Christ’s ability to forgive my sins – as well as that of the entire world – is crucially important to who I am, what I believe, and all that I hope to do.

Christians like me are imperfect and often fail to meet God’s standards. As the Apostle Paul once wrote, ‘I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing.’ (Romans 7:19) In my opinion, this means that we don’t fulfill everything God expects of us, so it leaves a credible gap between what we say we believe and what we actually do about it. For some folks outside of the church, this gives them the ideal opportunity to tar Christ’s followers as hypocrites – which we all honestly are – but that should not stop or hinder us from trying to be Christians. We know that we will constantly make mistakes, but we also have the potential to do some things that are right, positive, and faithful. And when we fail, Christ has the power and grace to forgive us completely, so we may gladly start again.

So, if you or I walk down the street today, and come face-to-face with Jesus, how will we respond?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You know us totally and are completely aware of all our faults. We are sinful creatures and imperfect followers. Despite these failures, You are still willing to allow us forgiveness for all our sins and the total restoration of our relationship with God. In Your Holy Name, we humbly and gratefully pray. Amen.

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

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Maundy Thursday drawings called ‘Window of Opportunity.’ If you would like to view a larger version, click this link: Window.

Only God - Psalm 130:8

Psalm 130:8 The LORD Himself will redeem Israel from all their sins. (NIV)

            There’s an old saying: “If you want something done well, do it yourself.” It was once attributed to Napoleon Bonaparte, who liked to be in control of every maneuver on the battlefield. He had no time for failure and often dismissed his generals or other officers who displeased him. Eventually, this led to his downfall because the very thing that Napoleon considered to be his strongest talent turned out to be his greatest weakness. His obsession to be in control of everything was unsustainable; all his enemies had to do was to coordinate their attacks on many flanks until he was overwhelmed, which is precisely what happened to him at Waterloo.

            To be in control of everything, you need to have infinite power. Only God possesses this, which is why when humanity was unable to crawl out of the mess that sin had caused, God took control of the situation and personally redeemed the world through Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross. For generations, God’s people had tried to remedy the situation and bridge the gap between God’s holiness and humanity’s unworthiness, but no matter how many animal or agricultural sacrifices were made, the deficiency and separation were still there. It was only when Christ chose to die at Calvary that the debt could be paid and the gap filled. God took it upon Himself to fix what we had broken; He personally redeemed us from all of our sins, at great cost to Himself.

            We all make mistakes and choose to do sinful things. We hurt other people by breaking our promises and offend God by ignoring His commands. We make bad choices, which we often regret, and create a gap between ourselves and God which could be eternally disastrous. However, because God is in control, He remedies the situation and graciously offers us redemption and restoration. Our foolish ways are totally forgiven and our offenses are fully pardoned. We are saved from our selfish stupidity and allowed to receive God’s favor. As the psalmist wrote long ago: The Lord Himself redeems us from our sins.

Point to ponder

What sins have I committed recently that could potentially separate me from God? Am I willing to seek forgiveness? Am I aware of God’s redemptive love for me through Jesus?

Prayer: Lord God, we know that we are not perfect and that our sinful ways separate us from Your Kingdom of holiness and love. Forgive the foolish choices we make and the unholy sins we commit. In Christ’s Name, we pray for mercy and grace. 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 latest drawings called ‘Lent Journey.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Journey.

The Answer - Luke 1:76-78a

Luke 1:76-78a And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, through the tender mercy of God. (RSV)

            I’ve tried to be a Christian for forty-two years. When I first gave my heart to the Lord as a teenager, I thought that everything would get easier and my faith would grow stronger. As the decades have sped by, I realize that being a Christian is a daily struggle between doing what is right rather than what I want. Each day, I can choose to justify my sinful mistakes and selfish choices, or I can decide to repent of my wrong deeds and foolish notions. I wrestle with my conscience and fight with God, usually when I let my doubts and fears overshadow my faith and weaken my connection to Christ. Instead of enjoying my salvation, I allow my insecurities to rob me of my relationship with God; rather than experience the assurance of His love, I permit my worries to pick away at my Christian beliefs. So, each day, I need someone to guide me back to God; I look for a path to restore my peace of mind and salvation.

            As I read today’s Gospel passage about the birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:57-80), I quickly realized that the answer to my struggle is plainly written there. When Zechariah prophesies about his newborn son, he says that John will become a herald of the Messiah by proclaiming a message of salvation to his people, ‘in the forgiveness of their sins through the tender mercies of God.’ In other words, John’s people will be restored to God’s favor and love through the gift of grace, which we now know was manifested in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

            So, what does this mean? Will our spiritual struggles end? Will things become easier for people of faith? I think the answer during our lifetime will depend on how much we really believe in grace. The true power of forgiveness does not lie in the fact that our mistakes are pardoned, but in the ultimate reality that our connection to God is eternally restored. With forgiveness, we can move on from the chains of our sinful past, enjoy what life has to offer in this present time, and look forward to the everlasting love of God in the future. And that, my friends, is salvation in a nutshell which we can experience both now and forevermore.

Point to ponder

What am I looking for in my life? How can salvation from God bring that to me?

Prayer: Lord God, You fully understand our human frailties, fears, and failures. We often make mistakes and carry a lot of regrets. Encourage us to come to You for the gifts of forgiveness and grace. Restore us to Your peace and love through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

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

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

Kindness and Love - Titus 3:4-5a

Titus 3:4-5a But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. (NIV)

            I make mistakes constantly. You would think that after living for just over six decades I would be full of so much wisdom that I would never do anything incorrect again, but the older I get, I find that I repeat the same mistakes even though I should know better. I say something out loud that I should have kept silent. I do something wrong and don’t want to apologize for it. I hurt someone’s feelings and find it difficult to accept the blame. I rush into a situation and look to fix it before thinking of the consequences. In other words, I am still the same old me, foolish and unwise, inconsistent and inconsiderate.

            Thankfully, I believe in a Savior who knows me completely and who is still willing to forgive me and work on my defects. Whenever I am wrong, His Spirit afflicts my conscience; when I make a mistake, He helps me to recognize my fault and seek the right remedy for the sinful situation I have caused. I wish I was more righteous and less self-righteous. I pray I can be a better person and less of an erratic Christian. I guess that for the rest of my life, I will be imperfect, so I will always depend on the kindness and love of God to get me through my days and lead me into eternity.

            God’s mercy and grace have got nothing to do with any of my achievements or accomplishments, good deeds or acts of love. I cannot earn these blessings, but with faith in Jesus, I can rely upon them. Basically, this is why I am so grateful for being a Christian – without Christ’s forgiveness, I would be separated from God forever; without Christ’s mercy, I would never be able to look forward to being in God’s Kingdom.

            Perhaps you’ve made a mistake that you deeply regret. Maybe you can’t forgive yourself for something that caused a lot of hurt and pain to someone else. Perhaps you let someone down in a very big way and are now ashamed of your inaction or misdeed. Whatever the situation or circumstances, please know this: God’s love and kindness are still available for you; Christ’s mercy and grace are still offered to you.

Point to ponder

What has been the biggest mistake of my life? How can Jesus help me to heal and deal with it?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we call You Savior because You rescue us from the mistakes we have made and the sins of our lives. We know that we are imperfect and unworthy, so we cling to Your kindness and love which can renew our lives and restore us to God. Help us to be healed of the past, so we may look forward to a future where God’s favor blesses our souls. In Your Holy Name, we humbly confess and pray. Amen.

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

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Trinity Sunday drawings called “Trinity 2018.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Trinity.

Unforgiven - Colossians 3:13

Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (NIV)

            Do you know what it feels like to be unforgiven? Is there some past mistake in your life that you regret but can never fix? Are you carrying a whole dose of guilt because someone else still feels wounded? Are you sometimes sad because you were completely misunderstood or unfairly misrepresented and cannot change that misperception? Me, too.

            It’s an awful feeling to be unforgiven and it gnaws away at your soul, especially during times of vulnerability, isolation, and sadness. You revisit events in your mind and a shadow of remorse covers your soul. You can’t do anything to change things, so in order to cope, you just pack it away into a corner of your mind and leave it there until it re-emerges at an unexpected or inopportune time.

            As Christians, we are called to be forgivers. Jesus talked about it constantly and in today’s highlighted verse the apostle Paul echoes Christ’s message by reminding the church folks at Colossae to forgive their grievances against one another in the same manner as Jesus forgave their sins. In other words, it was expected of Christ’s followers to show forgiveness, otherwise their faith was shallow, insincere, and ineffective. However, if the Colossians truly forgave one another, then the church would actually be practicing what Christ required, barriers would be brought down, and wounds would be healed.

Point to ponder

Do I feel unforgiven? How much does it trouble me? Am I willing to forgive those who won’t forgive me?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we all make mistakes and sometimes we hurt or disappoint other folks so much that they will not forgive us. Although we cannot change the past, allow us the ability to forgive ourselves and do all that we can to mend broken fences and wounded souls. 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 Sunday mornings at 11:00 AM. You will be made most welcome 😊

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Pentecost drawing called “Spirit Fest.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Spirit.

Christian Forgiveness - Matthew 6:14-15

Matthew 6:14-15       For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (NIV)

            I find forgiveness one of the hardest things to do, especially after someone has hurt or disappointed me. In my heart, I want to forgive them, but in my head I keep re-enacting the words or the event which have wounded me. I hold on to my bitterness and cradle my anger. Instead of moving on, I become stuck in my own stubbornness. I know that it would be better for me physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually to let it go, but before I do, I just want to nurse it a little while longer.

            Today’s verses look and read as if they are a rebuke from Jesus, informing us that when we keep things or people unforgiven, we will suffer the same consequences when it comes to God’s judgment of us. It sounds like a divine ‘quid pro quo,’ where we can receive forgiveness in exchange for showing forgiveness. I think that is at the heart of what Jesus is saying, but I also think He’s reminding us and encouraging us to take the health benefits that become available to us when we actually practice forgiveness.

            In the end, I really try hard to forgive and let past mistakes go. When things are tough, I enlist Christ’s help through prayer to enable me to release the firm grip that I have on my gripe, allowing me, as well as the other person, to begin again. Letting go of the past permits me to live in the present and look forward to the future. Christ heals me of that which holds me back; Jesus frees me from that which fragments my soul.

Point to ponder

Is there something or someone that I still need to forgive? Am I willing to let Jesus help me to let it go?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, thank You for forgiving our past sins and mistakes. Help us to regain our spiritual strength by applying Your grace and forgiveness to those who have hurt or disappointed us. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

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

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Good Friday drawings called “Fallen Star.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2860/32857434250_6b42a68137_b.jpg

How Many Times? - Matthew 18:21-22

Matthew 18:21-22     Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”

Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. (NIV)

            I grew up in a large family with three brothers and two sisters. Usually, we all got along very well, but sometimes a fight would break out and we would end up pitching fits against each other. My poor mother had to come in and stop the racket, scold us for fighting, and then get us to apologize to one another. Sometimes I didn’t want to do this, so I was sent to my room until I was willing to say sorry and reconcile with my brothers and sisters.

            When I read of Peter asking Jesus about how many times he should forgive his brother, I know exactly how that feels. It makes me like Peter even more because he’s just so completely human. He expresses what is on his mind and this passage shows us that he feels as though his brother or sister is taking him for granted. Peter reckons that if he has forgiven his sibling seven times then that is more than generous. He wants Jesus to affirm what he feels; he’s not really asking a question, he’s asking for approval.

            As usual, Jesus uses the moment to teach Peter about forgiveness. The reply Jesus gives is as if Jesus is saying to him, “Only seven times? Not even seventy-seven times would be enough.”

            Forgiveness is a gift that we all seek from God on a daily basis. I guess if I was to add up the number of times that God has forgiven me, it would run into the millions. And because God is so willing to pardon and forgive me, He expects me to do the same with others – my family, my friends, church members, work colleagues, neighbors, and even my enemies. Forgiveness is one of the most important aspects of our Christian faith, so we should practice and apply it on a daily basis.

Point to ponder

Have I withheld forgiveness for someone? Am I willing to let God help me to forgive?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, forgiveness was so important to You that You were willing to sacrifice Your life so we could all be forgiven. Grant us the courage and strength to forgive those who have hurt, disappointed, or angered us. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Today’s image is one of John’s Gospel drawings called “Washed with Tears.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Tears.

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

Healing Devotion - Take Heart - Matthew 9:2

Matthew 9:2   Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”

            The more I read the beautiful story of Jesus healing the paralyzed man (Matthew 9:1-8), the more I believe that real healing begins with forgiveness. As a pastor for over thirty years, I have been with and cared for many people in times of illness and recovery. Usually, when folks experience a serious sickness, injury, or setback, they become more reflective about their situation and sometimes express regrets from the past or long-term issues that still burden their hearts.

            During those sacred moments of confession and unburdening, the hope of forgiveness, mercy, and grace which Jesus freely gives, becomes a major step in the healing process. It may not seem amazing to others, but as a long-term pastor, I feel privileged to see the beginning of a miracle in individual lives. Christ’s forgiveness and wonderful love combine into a healthy restorative which moves the person forward on the journey to recovery.

            Perhaps you are in need of forgiveness because of something you said or did which you regret. Maybe you also need to forgive someone of something which still burdens or affects you. Whatever it is or whoever caused it, allow yourself to be embraced by Christ and permit His compassion to begin the healing process within and around you.

Point to ponder

How can Christ’s forgiveness heal and restore me?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, Your gracious words of forgiveness can help us to heal from the past. Grant us this blessing today and enable us to share that forgiveness with others, so that Your healing may be extended beyond our own lives. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

Today’s image is one of John’s Celtic Cross drawings – this one has been created for Ash Wednesday. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on this link: Cross.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can view the church’s website here: www.erinpresbyterian.org.