Daily Devotions: Sending Rain

Matthew 5:45b: He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

It’s been a wonderful summer for growing plants in Tennessee this year. We’ve had plenty of rain and no droughts. It’s a welcome change from what we usually experience and the whole place around Knoxville looks greener than I’ve ever seen it. It also means that I’ve got to mow the lawn more often, but I don’t mind it. It’s nice to see the green grass instead of the usual burned out brown straw that covers my lawn at this time of year.

I also heard someone say the other day that ‘if a person can’t grow tomatoes this year, then they can’t grow them at all.’ It makes me wish that I had planted some at the beginning of the year. Knowing me, if I try to grow them next year, there will be a drought!

I like what Jesus has to say about the sun shining and the rain falling on both the righteous and unrighteous. He’s reminding all of us that God has no favorites and that through His mercy, He showers blessings upon people whether or not they deserve them. We tend to be more judgmental and critical, but Christ is telling us that for grace to be grace, it has to be applied where it is least expected. In other words, God gives every opportunity for souls and spirits to grow under His care. I guess that means that if we cannot grow spiritually under the goodness of His grace, then we cannot grow our souls at all.

Therefore, let’s try to find opportunities of applying God’s grace with the people we meet today. Let’s do it where it’s least expected and totally undeserved. In doing so, we may rediscover the joy of God’s grace that we also don’t deserve.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your words challenge our ways. You show us how God operates graciously in the world. Help us to find opportunities to witness to that great gift and the ability to share it with others. 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.

Impartiality - or How the socially and politically correct thing is not Biblically correct

Audio version here

Leviticus 19:15 Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly. (NIV)

I am terrible about judging competitions. I tend to root for the underdog, instead of dealing with things fairly. In the past I’ve judged Halloween costume contests, cutest pet awards, and cake tasting competitions. A couple of years ago, I even judged a Senior High speech contest and found it difficult not to give higher marks to the kids from rural schools. I wanted to be impartial, but I couldn’t disconnect the kids from their backgrounds. I wanted to make up for the deprivations and disadvantages that the poorer kids had. Instead of judging the presentation and content of the speeches, I gave points for effort. When my marks were compared with the rest of the judges, mine’s were entirely different. I was never asked back to judge the competition again.

The Bible warns us about showing partiality or favoritism. If we decide issues between different parties because of who they are and not what the issue is, then we’re guilty of playing favorites. This is anathema to God and something that we need to really learn. In God’s eyes, there are no favorites – all have sinned and are in need of salvation. He deals with people equitably – on an equal footing – and He expects us to do the same. It may not be socially or politically correct, it is theologically sound. God judges us the way in which we judge others. And if our judgments are poor, slanted, or suspect, then He will deal with us according to our own standards, which could mean that mercy and grace are set aside.

Prayer: Lord God, help us to make better choices, decisions, and judgments in all of our lives. Convict us to be fair and to give everyone, rich or poor, wealthy or working class, impartiality. Teach us the practical wisdom behind such ideals. In Your Holy name, we pray. Amen.