May 30 devotion - Anything and Everything

Luke 7:48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” (NIV)

            Like most churches, our congregation has a time of silence during the prayers of Adoration and Confession. It is a holy moment when we humbly approach God quietly to individually seek His pardon for the mistakes, faults, and sins that we each have committed since the last time we came to God in prayer. I usually have so much to confess that I never get my petitions finished before the silence is broken by the Prayer Guide. However, as soon as we have concluded our prayers with the Lord’s Prayer, there comes an even better moment: the Promise of the Gospel when all of us are assured of the forgiveness that Christ has obtained through His sacred sacrifice. It’s that beautiful time when He speaks to our souls and says, “Your sins are forgiven.”

            The woman in today’s Gospel story (Luke 7:36-50) must have been waiting to hear those words of assurance for a long time. We do not know her name, but we do know that she sought Christ and lavished Him with her most precious possessions – her perfume, her hair, and her tears – in order to be both forgiven and accepted by God. Up till that point, her life had no meaning or purpose. She was treated badly, especially by the religious folks and leaders who should have known better. Christ’s compassion for the woman is evident in how He responds. He forgives her sins and restores her as a favored daughter of God. It is a wonderful moment of liberation and love; it is a lesson which continually teaches every generation about the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

            Perhaps you are carrying a burden of guilt from the recent past or even from a long time ago. Perhaps it overshadows your soul and depresses your spirit. Maybe you can’t forgive yourself for the wrong choice you made or the hurt you inflicted on others. Perhaps your secret shame is a painful and heavy burden to bear. Please know this today: Christ is willing to hear your prayer of confession and sorrow in the quietness of your heart. Be assured, He forgives anything and everything that you or I have wrongfully committed: all we need to do is ask Him for God’s grace.

Point to ponder

What burdens do I still carry in my heart and mind? Am I willing to come to Christ to confess and receive His mercy, peace, and love?

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You know everything about us and are just waiting for us to approach You humbly with our confessions. You want to set us free from our captive and sinful past. You want us to experience a new beginning in our lives. Help us to seek Your forgiveness and compassion. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the Scottish pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can read the church website at www.erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s church bulletin drawings called “Hands.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Hands.

How to Begin Again - James 5:19-20

James 5:19-20             My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins. (NIV)

            When I think about how I became a Christian, I sometimes shudder at what would have happened to me if I hadn’t found Jesus. Like most young Glaswegians, I was besotted with alcohol and couldn’t get enough each day to feed my addiction. Somehow I managed to keep my job as an insurance clerk during the day, but after my work, my sole quest was to get to the nearest pub and drink as much as I could buy or mooch until I got drunk. It was a self-destructive cycle which worried my parents and deeply concerned my true friends. When I eventually came to Jesus and poured out my heart to Him, He turned my life around and set me on a path which, thankfully, I am still walking upon.

            Some people think that Christianity is just about loving one another and being at peace with other folks. Those are great gifts to the world, but there’s more to our faith than the Earth dreams of. Christ has the power to change our lives completely for the better, totally and forever. Most folks fear change and resist the urge to humble themselves before Christ, to plainly ask Him for mercy and grace, support and renewal. We all make mistakes in our mortal lives, but perhaps the greatest mistake of all is not taking the opportunity that Christ graciously and lovingly gives us – to stop heading down the wrong path, to turn around to face Him and to allow Jesus to direct our future lives.

            Perhaps you are in a muddle or your life is an actual mess. Maybe you’ve made some decisions recently that have harmed you or hurt others. It could be that you don’t know what to do or how to change things. You may even feel trapped by your own choices. Please know this: Jesus has the power to overcome what you are presently facing and He is willing to give you His power in order to prevail. It is no shame to admit that you have made some bad decisions – we all do that at times – but what would be a shame would be to miss out on a wonderful opportunity to re-set your life and begin again: Jesus can give you that, even now as you read these words.

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You know of all the bad choices and sad mistakes I have made. Despite these errors, You are still willing to grant me forgiveness and allow me a fresh start for my life. Help me find the courage to admit my mistakes and then turn to You for mercy, grace, hope, and love. In Your Holy Name, I pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to ask questions or make comments about today’s message, please contact John by email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s Cross drawings called ‘First Dawn.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3353/3326921922_68d111931e_b.jpg

Devotion: Two Places at One Time - John 11:21 & 32

John 11:21    “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 

John 11:32    When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

            It seems that even Jesus could not be present in two places at the same time. His friend Lazarus died, and when Jesus finally arrived at his home, both the sisters, Martha and Mary, express their grief and disappointment. If Jesus had arrived sooner, they each told Him, their brother would still have been alive.

            Looking back over the whole story, we discover that Jesus deliberately delayed Himself and continued His teaching in Jerusalem when He first received the news that Lazarus was ill. We now know that He did this in order to perform an amazing miracle. However, the fact that He was only 2-3 miles away from where Lazarus was sick, must have confused, and possibly angered, the two concerned sisters. Jesus deliberately chose to stay away, despite their pain and their pleas.

            We all go through times like that. We can’t ever be in two places at the one time, so we make choices based upon our personal priorities. Sometimes we get it right; on other occasions we end up disappointing someone who could do with our help, encouragement, or even our prayers.

            At the end of the story, Jesus resurrected Lazarus and restored him to his sisters. There appeared to be a happy ending and the time of brief disappointment gave way to a wonderful celebration. However, this is more than just an amazing miracle; the whole incident is parable about how we deal with death and who has the power to resurrect our souls. We may encounter loss, grief, and disappointment on Earth, but through our faith in Christ, there is a special time ahead when He will wipe away all tears from our eyes and restore us to our faithful loved ones, who have undergone that mysterious journey before us, and have been welcomed into God’s everlasting Kingdom of peace, love, and life.

Questions for personal reflection

Have I ever disappointed someone by not being there for them when they needed me? Have I ever been disappointed by someone who did the same to me? Am I willing to seek or give forgiveness?

Prayer:          Lord Jesus, sometimes we get hurt by other people because we expect too much from them. At other times, we disappoint others by not living up to their expectations. Help us to be sensitive and supportive to those who need us; allow us to be gracious and forgiving of those who have failed us. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is currently the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to ask questions or make comments about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Celtic Cross drawings. It’s called Celtic Sunrise. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on this link: Sunrise.

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