New Year devotion: Serving God - Ephesians 6:7-8

Ephesians 6:7-8          Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.

We all have good intentions at the start of the New Year. We think about what we would like to do and accomplish, and maybe even dream about making fresh starts and fulfilling our long-term goals. It’s a great time of year to think about the future rather than dwell on the past. As we cross over this new threshold, we all hope for something good and significant to happen in our lives. It could be the birth of a whole bundle of blessings; it could be the start of something special.

            As a pastor, I like to use this time to seriously contemplate what God wants me to do with this year. I think about the path that the congregation is taking and try to work out how I can enable and encourage the good folks to find new ways and opportunities of supporting the church and serving Christ in our community. Each year is different from the past and God usually adds new folks, new missions, and new ideas to the whole process. It’s a large part of my ministry to see that God’s chosen people are placed in positions to be effective servants of Christ. If I can manage to do that well, then God’s work will be glorified and the congregation’s ministry will flourish.

Question for personal reflection

Do I feel called to a special ministry and mission in my congregation and community? Am I willing to talk to my pastor about it?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, we are all blessed to be Your servants. We each have unique backgrounds and gifts that are useful to Your continuing ministry. Help us all to pray about where You want us to serve You in our churches and communities. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to ask a question or make a comment about today’s message, please contact him by email at traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest winter drawings. It’s called “Winter Cardinal,” and it features a beautiful red cardinal perched on a winter branch during snowfall. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5525/11634466773_6186ee6629_b.jpg

New Beginning Devotion: Save Me, Shepherd - John 10:11

John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” 

I am a sinful creature and have gone astray at times. I meander through life and muddle through each day. Sometimes I accomplish much; at other times, I waste the opportunities that God has given me. The good that I want to do is sometimes never fulfilled; the badness that I want to avoid plagues and overcomes me. I am a sinner and a lost sheep. I need a Savior and a Shepherd.

Thankfully, Christ is both. He guides me each day and saves me from the worst of my choices. He forgives my failings and sets me on the right path. He is always there, before me and behind me, beneath me and above me. He watches my daily walk and corrects my foolish choices. He is the Savior of my soul and the Shepherd of my life. Without Jesus, I would be lost to God forever; with Him, I find my way back to God and can abide in His everlasting presence.

Perhaps you are meandering through life and in a muddle right now. Maybe your New Year resolutions have fallen by the wayside or your hopes have been quickly dashed. Perhaps you feel like giving up because you have nothing left to give. Please don’t despair. In our worst of times, Christ becomes the best of our choices. In our moments of sorrow and fear, He becomes the center of our strength and faith. He gives every part of Himself, so that we may experience every part of life with God. With Jesus, we are not alone. In Him, we are kept safe forever.

Questions for personal reflection

Have I lost my way? How can Jesus help me find my way back to God?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, being human is never easy. There are so many decisions to be made and daily distractions to encounter, that we sometimes end up losing our way, our meaning, and even our faith. Help us to turn to You for direction; open our hearts and minds to Your Guidance. Show us the Way, become our Truth, and let us experience the Life. In Your Holy Name, we faithfully 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 traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Psalms Project drawings. It features a verse from Psalm 128, interpreted as a Christ centered prophecy. If you would like to view a larger version of the drawing, please visit the following link: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8052/8347771327_83aef164e7_b.jpg

New Year devotion: Healing Blindness - John 9:11

John 9:11       He replied, "The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see." 

I’ve always loved this Gospel story of Jesus healing the blind man (John 9:1-12). When I was a child, I owned a small picture book with drawings of Jesus and His disciples. In my mind’s eye, I can still see the old picture of Jesus standing over the blind man, just after He healed him. The man is looking with amazement at his own hands which he has just seen for the very first time. Behind Jesus are all of His disciples, who are all awe struck about what their Master has just accomplished. It was a beautiful picture and it captivated my heart as a child.

Growing up in the world, I began to see that blindness is not just a physical ailment; it’s also a spiritual malaise among many people. As a young alcoholic, I could not see the real Jesus or even worse, I did not want to see Him. I wanted to live my life in my own way without Christ judging me for being selfish and sinful, misguided and lost. It was only when I reached rock bottom in the depths of darkness that I began to see Christ’s Light. My self-imposed blindness was penetrated by His love and mercy. He found me and healed; He restored my sight and led me by His astonishing light.

To make my healing effective, I had to do the same as the blind man in the Gospel story. I had to do what Jesus told me. In the blind man’s case, he had to go to the Pool of Siloam and wash the mud from his eyes. In my own case, I had to give up alcohol and trust in Christ completely. In both events, Christ’s healing prevailed.

Perhaps you are worrying about the future or you are carrying baggage from the past. Maybe your life has meandered for a while without purpose, direction, or meaning. Today I’d like to encourage you to honestly and simply give your heart to Jesus. He won’t break it; He will mend it. He’ll also lead you by a new light of faith, hope, and love in your life.

Questions for personal reflection

Have I been losing my way recently? Will I turn to Jesus and be restored to the light of His path for my life?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, sometimes we are blinded by our own ways, works, and words. We get distracted and misdirected by greed and ambition, insecurity and fear. Reach out to us and heal us of all that harms us. Beckon to us and call us back into Your Everlasting Light. 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 traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is another of John’s Epiphany drawings for church bulletins. It’s called “Fit for a King.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8361/8334144969_0f958571f3_b.jpg