4 Minute Devotions: Straw Hope

A couple of days ago, in Colorado, a cow confronted a bear. The young cub was trying to help itself to some apples from a tree at the corner of the cow’s field. The cow was annoyed (she’s called “Apple”, by the way) and proceeded to eject the bear. The confrontation was caught on camera and lasted about thirty minutes. The cow eventually won the battle and the juvenile bear left empty-handed. So much for the old prophecy of a cow willingly feeding with a bear!

(You can see a slide show of the confrontation at http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/17221993/detail.html )

Isaiah 11:7 The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.

The picture that Isaiah paints in his prophecy is one of planetary peace. Predators sit with their prey and share a meal together. The law of the jungle is cast aside and God’s peace prevails, even in the animal kingdom. It’s a remarkable prophecy and must have seemed absurd to the first people who heard it. After all, who has ever heard of a lion eating straw, or of a wolf lying down beside a lamb?

What Isaiah was trying to tell his people was that God would bring peace back to a wild and wicked world. The Earth belonged to Him and everything contained in it. God would make things right in His own way, by His own power, and in His own time.

As Christians, we interpret this prophecy in the light of Christ coming into the world. He reconciled all of creation to God through His sacrifice. Jesus ushered in a new age of peace, hope, and love. His message, His ministry, and His mission were all combined in a divine effort to cleanse the Cosmos from the contamination of sin, and to restore all creatures to God.

So, how do we apply a lesson like this? If reconciliation is important to God and made effective through Christ’s sacrifice, then we as Christians need to become reconcilers in the world. It’s a hard role to play, as well as a humbling one, but if our mission is to be like Jesus, aren’t we supposed to follow His example?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, our world doesn’t need know-it-all Christians who do nothing about injustice, intolerance, and inhumanity. Help us to heal the Earth through Your words, Your works, and Your ways. Grant us hearts that seek to help other people, and give us opportunities to show Your reconciling, restorative, and redeeming power, In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

4 Minute Devotions: Coyote Ugly

Encountering a coyote early one morning in Knoxville, TN, gave me a greater appreciation of the need for a sacred sanctuary. A short reflection on Psalm 96 v 6.

Psalm 96:6 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary.
I saw my first coyote, very early, the other morning. It was beside the place where I like to fish. I had just put my fishing tackle back into the car, when I saw this thin looking, ugly dog cross the path. It was carrying the remains of a dead fish in its mouth and headed over to some rocks to chew awhile.

At first I thought it was an abandoned puppy. It was gaunt and thin, but as I watched it, I realized it had the wizened look of a fox. There was no bushy tail, so I counted that out. It was the eyes that made me realize this wasn’t an abandoned pet. Dog’s eyes are usually big and round; this animal’s eyes were small and peering at me.

I tried to take a picture of the creature, but my camera was out of focus. When I got home, I looked up a few images of coyotes on the Internet. My suspicions were confirmed. It was a coyote – an ugly looking scavenger, if ever I saw one.

I guess my fishing hole must be part of the coyote’s territory. With all of the development that is going on, its refuge must be constantly diminishing. The woods next to my fishing hole must be its sanctuary. Perhaps I’ll get the chance to see it early one morning again. I hope so.

When we talk about sanctuaries in the church, we’re usually referring to our churches. They have become the centers of our spiritual habitats, where we can feel safe and experience the presence of God’s peace and love. As spiritual places and values begin to diminish around us, our havens of holiness become crucial to our relationship with Christ. In the midst of our troubles, worries, and anxieties, we need the church to be a solid foundation of hope, healing, and holiness for our lives.

So, today, let us give thanks to God for the churches where we engage in worship, experience fellowship, and enhance our discipleship. These sacred sanctuaries add so much to our hearts and spirits, helping us become better followers of Christ and servants of His Kingdom.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank You for the places where we gather for worship, prayer, and praise. We are grateful for these spiritual sanctuaries in our communities where we can feel and know the love of God. Help us to do what we can to support our churches, so that future generations of worshippers will gladly gather in these sacred places, too. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.
John Stuart is the pastor at Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to send him some feedback on today’s message, send an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.