Do Not Forget - Hebrews 13:15-16

Hebrews 13:15-16 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. (NIV)

Anyone can say from their lips that they love and serve Jesus. It doesn’t mean that they actually believe it or even practice what this entails. Healthy folks can also post religious verses or statements on the internet to indicate their beliefs, but they may not even go to church on Sundays. This is not a new issue, however, because the writer of Hebrews reminds the young Christian Church that praising Jesus also involves doing good and sharing with others. In fact, the author urges the new congregations not to forget about doing these things because some of them became so centered on their personal beliefs that they neglected to follow through with good deeds and Christian love.

Application: Is my faith deeply personal or distinctly relational? Who can I help to love and support today?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help us to proclaim our faith in You by practicing Your teaching through helping and caring for others. 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 each Sunday at 11:00 AM. You will be made very welcome 😊

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

Eyewitnesses - 2 Peter 1:16

2 Peter 1:16 For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. (NIV)

            Almost every day, I receive emails from Christian ministries and organizations with invitations to subscribe to a special conference or video series about church growth. They usually try to entice me with special gifts or claim to have a wonderful seven-step plan that will double congregational membership within a year. All I have to do is sign up, pay hundreds of dollars with my credit card, and everything will be well.

            Years ago, I did participate or sign up for a few of these conferences and plans, but after more than 30 years in ministry, I have found that the most productive way of making a church grow depends on individual congregational members asking and inviting others to come to a worship service or special event. It seems that the personal invitation is more effective than anything else; no other program, plan, or project accomplishes this.

            I think this is what the Apostle Peter was referring to when he mentioned the eyewitness accounts that he and other people shared. His personal relationship with Christ was what he wanted to tell others about. Even in old age, with death by execution imminent, Peter expressed his total confidence in Jesus. His ministry was based on his personal testimony and because there were others who expressed the same, the Christian Church grew all over the world. In the end, it was the personal invitation and individual witness that was most effective.

            We all want our churches to grow because our Christian faith is important and we believe that the world will be a much better place with a living and loving relationship between us and God. What Christ and His disciples repeatedly tell us through the New Testament is to share the Gospel and invite other folks to church. If we want our congregations to increase, we have to be willing to ask others to come and worship with us. We need to become eyewitnesses of the Spirit of God moving among us by letting folks know about our faith, about our church, and about our personal commitment to Christ.

Points to ponder

Am I concerned about the numbers of members at my church? Who have I invited this year to come to a worship service? Have I followed up with that invitation?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You inspired Your disciples to go out into the world to share the Gospel and invite others to follow You. Help us in this generation to take up this challenge and give us the desire to ask others to come to our worship services and other church events. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

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

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

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