Sabbath Psalms - Doing Good

Psalm 125:4 Lord, do good to those who are good, to those who are upright in heart. (NIV)

            The great Jewish scholar of the 20^th century, Martin Buber, once said that atheists exist to show religious people how to be good. Their acts of charity and humanity are not done to please God or to fulfill a religious obligation. Atheists help others because they are genuinely concerned about the needs of vulnerable people and are not looking for any reward in return. Buber concluded that if religious people wanted to honestly help others, they should do it as if God didn’t exist, making themselves responsible for the wellbeing of their fellow human beings.

            It is a very challenging thought and if today’s verse is to be applied that way, it means that religious people should pray for those who do good in their communities no matter what religion they follow, or even if they follow none at all. Far too often we promote our own congregational or denominational missions and proudly revere them as badges of compassion and courage which honor our sectarian beliefs and churches. But what about the numerous good works that take place outside of our faith communities? Shouldn’t we also seek ways to support and honor them for what they positively accomplish? And, according to this highlighted verse, shouldn’t we be asking God to bless their good works too, liberating ourselves from the narrow notion that only God-fearing people can achieve things which please God?

            In our present broken and divided world, we need to change what we’re doing and see other people in a different light. Just because they don’t believe in what we believe, doesn’t mean to say that we should belittle their good deeds or castigate them for being atheists. They may be doing more to make the world a better place through their sincere compassion than we can with our rigid religious rules. As Martin Buber pointed out last century, they may still be able to show us how to be good and do good things in our community and the wider world.

Point to ponder: Which charities do I support outside my church?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, challenge our narrow-minded ways and grant us a new vision of where good is being done beyond our churches. Help us to be mindful of the good causes in our communities that could also do with our support and love. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

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

Deep Waters - Psalm 69:1-2

Psalm 69:1-2 Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me. (NIV)

            This morning, we are all getting to see the utter devastation of communities and towns along the Gulf coast. The wrecked houses and businesses, churches and stores are unbelievable. The immense destruction is profoundly tragic, especially for those who may have lost loved ones, pets, and possessions because of the hurricane. It reminds us of how frail we all are in the face of the unrelenting forces of Nature.

            Already, the courageous First Responders are out trying to locate and assist people who are trapped. Most of them are local people, so they will have their own losses and stresses to deal with. Their selflessness and devotion to the communities that they protect and serve are highly admirable. Their humanity is exceptional; their sacrifice is unbelievable.

            For those of us who have avoided this catastrophe, our gratitude and relief should be not just given to God, but also spent on repairing and renewing the devastated communities. Without outside help, hopelessness and despair languish; without compassion and support, renewal and rebuilding are ineffective.

            In our PCUSA denomination, we have an organization called the PDA (Presbyterian Disaster Assistance). In times like these, they live up to their motto – Out of Chaos, Hope – by organizing and sending in professionally trained response teams. They make a short-term response assessment and begin the process of supporting the local community. Teams are already heading down there and they can be financially supported on the internet at this link: Hurricane Assistance.

            We all rely on God to sustain us, no matter who we are or where we live. God, however, gives us enough resources to help others in great need. For those who have been overwhelmed by the flood waters, we become their rescuers and helpers. The storm has passed, so the support begins.

Point to ponder

How often have I been helped by others in my life? What can I do to help those in need today?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we pray for all of those who are impacted by the recent hurricanes. We realize that our lives are frail and vulnerable. Help us to reach out to those in need through the giving of gifts, and not just the praying of prayers. In Your Holy Name, we ask. Amen.

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

Today’s drawing is one of John’s stained-glass designs called “Jesus Calms the Storm.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Storm.

Daily devotions: Making a Difference - 1 Peter 4:10

1 Peter 4:10    Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others,  faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.

Tonight, on NBC news (6:30PM EST), several of our church members will be highlighted on the “Making a Difference” spot. Steve and Tracy Foster formed a non-profit organization several years ago called “Project Being There.” The focus of the organization is to help orphaned children, some of whom are severely handicapped, in Vietnam. It’s an amazing project and very worthy of national attention.

Tracy and Steve adopted three Vietnamese children years ago to give them a loving home and better opportunities in their lives. But the Fosters wanted to do even more for the many children in Vietnam who live in the orphanages that the Fosters visited. They have dedicated much of their lives to the well-being of St Ans Orphanage and have also given their children an amazing way of how to serve other people. Many of our church folks generously support this project and it’s great to see Steve and Tracy get national recognition for what they seek to accomplish over there.

They are a wonderful example of people using their God-given gifts to serve the needs and better the lives of other people. God’s grace is being faithfully administered to those young children in Vietnam. Their lives are significantly and positively changed through the work, care, and focus of the Fosters and their friends. Those orphaned and handicapped children were once set aside and forgotten by their communities. Now they have better opportunities of care and education, nurture and love.

I heartily recommend that you watch the “Making a Difference” segment on NBC tonight. You can also read about, view, and support some of the work that the Fosters are currently proposing on the “Project Being There” website – just click on the following link: https://projectbeingthere.org/Home_Page.html

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, thank You for the generous hearts and minds that You inspire in people every day. Thank You for the gracious work of organizations like Project Being There which seek to help the most helpless in our world. Bless them with support and enable them to truly make significant differences in the lives of those they seek to aid. 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 on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.