Short Devotion: Treating Ourselves - Psalm 103v10

 

Psalm 103:10 God does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. (NIV)

I’ve been thinking and reading a lot about forgiveness recently. I guess the older you get, you realize how many mistakes, foolish choices, and careless words you’ve committed and end up regretting ill-chosen paths, deeds, or conversations. I know that Christ forgives me, but I honestly struggle with forgiving myself. I can’t seem to let go of the past, so I carry it with me and end up with more than a few sleepless nights.

I don’t want to become a victim of my past mistakes or be held hostage by my stupidity, but nor do I want to be continually wishing things were different or reflecting where I would be if I followed another path. I want to live with what’s left of my life without being under a shadow of gloom and despondency. I want to enjoy whatever is in front of me without constantly living backwards. I guess I want to follow C.S Lewis’s advice of running onwards and upwards as I prepare to meet Christ face-to-face.

I think that the writer of Psalm 103 experienced something similar, especially when he wrote these amazing words: “God does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.” Those words give me hope and release me from being vexed about my sins. Through Christ, I am totally forgiven, so there is a lot of room to forgive myself.

Perhaps you’re going through something similar and maybe you’re feeling the same things. I hope that you will also realize that God’s grace is greater than anything you’ve foolishly done, and that Christ’s love is larger than any regret you still hold.

Point to ponder: What do I need to let go from the past, so I can move forward with God into the future?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You know everything, so there’s nothing we can hide from You. You could punish us with that knowledge, but instead, You save us from our worst selves. Thank You for Your complete compassion and godly grace. In Your Holy name, we humbly and gratefully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. To see what’s currently happening at the church, just click on this link: www.erinpres.org.

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

A Simple Gift - Jeremiah 31:19

Jeremiah 31:19 ‘After I strayed, I repented; after I came to understand, I beat my breast. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’ (NIV)

            I think most of us, if not all of us, remember things from our youth that we later regret or still make us feel embarrassed. We may have had some great times with our friends and peers, but there were probably some moments when we were careless or headstrong, uncaring or arrogant which led us to do something that was stupid, painful, or humiliating. Sometimes memories of those occasions will just pop into our minds and we will feel the sting of shame or the remorse of something we know hurt or humiliated someone else. And, as the years go by, those memories can still unsettle us emotionally, as well as spiritually.

            For me, during those moments of regret, I find myself asking for God’s forgiveness and grace. I can’t do anything to change the past, but through Christ’s mercy, I can stop myself being chained to the past. This process is called repentance in the Bible and it involves turning away from what occurred by turning toward God for forgiveness, healing, and restoration. It’s a wonderful gift that God grants to all of us because His Son Jesus procured that process for us by dying on the Cross for our mistakes and sins.

            Today, whatever guilt you are carrying or regrets that you are battling with, please know this: all can be forgiven and our connection to God can be restored. We only have to turn to God, ask for His mercy, and be accepted by His Son. It’s a very simple process and a liberating experience.

Point to ponder

Is there something in my past which still deeply troubles me? Am I willing to bring it to God and seek His grace?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You know everything about us, so we cannot hide our past from You. Inside of ourselves, we carry regret, guilt, and shame. Help us to sincerely repent of these things and receive the blessings of Your forgiveness, mercy, and grace. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

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

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

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.

Guilt and Grace - Acts 10

Acts 10:43 Peter concluded, “All the prophets testify about Jesus that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”

            Guilt is something that a lot of us struggle with on a regular basis. As we go through life, we carry a lot of baggage, some of which include regrets from the past. This might be something wrong in our teenage years, an old family conflict, a foolish and embarrassing choice, or even a mistake that affected our relationships or careers. Whatever the case, our guilt is usually about something that remains unresolved and unforgiven.

            From its very beginnings, the message of Christianity has always included the gift of forgiveness, which Jesus offers to us in His name. He can do this because God allows Christ to claim us as His own. This means we can be both pardoned and restored to God at the same time. All of the baggage that we carry from past mistakes can be personally removed when we trust Jesus. We also don’t have to go through religious acts of penance or make major sacrifices to appease God. We only have to embrace Christ and rely on Him to keep His word.

            Perhaps there is still something in your life that constantly casts a shadow over you. Maybe there is an unhealed memory that haunts you or a deep regret that weighs you down emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Please know that you can bring those things to Christ in prayer, express to Him your sorrow, and ask Him to forgive you in His name. As soon as you do this, God will forgive you, Christ will release you, and the Holy Spirit will help you to start again.

Point to ponder

What is my greatest regret? Am I willing to let Jesus forgive and heal me of this burden?

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You know all that we carry in our hearts and play over again in our minds. You are aware of the burdens of guilt that we carry and the sources of sorrow in our lives. Please help us to quietly come to You to ask for mercy and grace. Hear us now as we humbly pray in Your Holy Name. 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 John an email to Traqair@aol.com. You can also read the church website at www.erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s digital glass drawings called ‘Time to Pray.’ If you would like to view a larger version, click this link: Pray.

May 30 devotion - Anything and Everything

Luke 7:48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” (NIV)

            Like most churches, our congregation has a time of silence during the prayers of Adoration and Confession. It is a holy moment when we humbly approach God quietly to individually seek His pardon for the mistakes, faults, and sins that we each have committed since the last time we came to God in prayer. I usually have so much to confess that I never get my petitions finished before the silence is broken by the Prayer Guide. However, as soon as we have concluded our prayers with the Lord’s Prayer, there comes an even better moment: the Promise of the Gospel when all of us are assured of the forgiveness that Christ has obtained through His sacred sacrifice. It’s that beautiful time when He speaks to our souls and says, “Your sins are forgiven.”

            The woman in today’s Gospel story (Luke 7:36-50) must have been waiting to hear those words of assurance for a long time. We do not know her name, but we do know that she sought Christ and lavished Him with her most precious possessions – her perfume, her hair, and her tears – in order to be both forgiven and accepted by God. Up till that point, her life had no meaning or purpose. She was treated badly, especially by the religious folks and leaders who should have known better. Christ’s compassion for the woman is evident in how He responds. He forgives her sins and restores her as a favored daughter of God. It is a wonderful moment of liberation and love; it is a lesson which continually teaches every generation about the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

            Perhaps you are carrying a burden of guilt from the recent past or even from a long time ago. Perhaps it overshadows your soul and depresses your spirit. Maybe you can’t forgive yourself for the wrong choice you made or the hurt you inflicted on others. Perhaps your secret shame is a painful and heavy burden to bear. Please know this today: Christ is willing to hear your prayer of confession and sorrow in the quietness of your heart. Be assured, He forgives anything and everything that you or I have wrongfully committed: all we need to do is ask Him for God’s grace.

Point to ponder

What burdens do I still carry in my heart and mind? Am I willing to come to Christ to confess and receive His mercy, peace, and love?

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You know everything about us and are just waiting for us to approach You humbly with our confessions. You want to set us free from our captive and sinful past. You want us to experience a new beginning in our lives. Help us to seek Your forgiveness and compassion. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

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

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

Thought for Today: A Beautiful Faith

“I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.” – Isaiah 44:22

            The beauty of our faith is that we worship and serve the God who forgives. God has the power to invade our lives and punish us for our sins; instead, He sends His Son Jesus into our world to offer mercy, forgiveness, and grace.

            Perhaps you are carrying guilt from the past or still burdened with regrets. Maybe those mistakes depress you and cloud your life with shame. Re-read today’s verse and know this: God can disperse those clouds and open up your life to His brightness. Jesus can and will forgive us, especially of those things that we cannot forgive ourselves. Through Him, we can return to God for Christ is our Redeemer, the One who is willing to delete our guilt, reboot our lives, and reset us on a path which leads to God’s everlasting love and favor.

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, thank You for saving us from ourselves by forgiving us completely. Let this new day begin a fresh path for our lives. In Your Holy Name, we thankfully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Please feel free to share today’s message. God bless you J.