Short devotion: Step Back - 1 Corinthians 13:4-6

 

1 Corinthians 13:4-6 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. (NRSV)

 

One of the great sadnesses that I have noticed about this prolonged pandemic has been the lack of love that is constantly missing when people argue about their personal choices. It’s far easier to berate and ridicule our opponents, just like those who mocked Christ on the Cross, rather than have a healthy conversation to exchange fruitful ideas which may get us nearer to solving and ending this crisis. Perhaps if we as Christians were to apply Paul’s teaching about love not insisting on its own way, we might be able to combine our focus and strength to get us out of this pandemic pit. Sadly, however, if we keep attacking one another, we’ll be continually divided and eventually conquered by a coronavirus which doesn’t care about our personal freedom, faith, or notions.

 

I believe that this is one of the moments in history when the Church could make a substantial and crucial difference by showing love and helping folks to care for one another. If we become consumed by our internal divisions, then we’ll be guilty of burying the talents of faith, hope, and love which Christ has given to us. If we pander only to those who are like-minded, then we’ll be ignoring the empathetic compassion that Jesus urged His disciples to display when He told us to love one another. This is not an individual option either; it’s a personal command from Christ.

 

So, let’s all step back from the lines in the sand that we have drawn by honestly reflecting on Christ’s love and what it means to be a Christian. Let’s take time to reconsider what our faith is, and to whom we can effectively and lovingly share it. The world is broken right now – Christ’s Church can do much to repair it.

 

Prayer: Lord God, You know us fully and Your Son expects much of us. Challenge our ways and misconceptions. Fill us with love, instead of pride; grant us compassion and teach us to be humble.  Heal us of all that would harm us and help us to be whole. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

 

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to see what the church is doing, check out its website at www.erinpres.org.

 

Psalm 85: A Beautiful Song

 

Today's devotion: A Beautiful Song

Psalm 85:7 Show us your unfailing love, Lord, and grant us your salvation. (NIV)

There’s something simply beautiful about the whole of Psalm 85. The writer tells of a time when the people of God were looking for forgiveness and mercy for the foolish and sinful mistakes they had made in the past. The whole community felt as though God was angry with them, so both the psalmist and the people prayed for God’s grace.

The psalm begins with a plea for forgiveness of the past and then develops into a prayer for restoration. It’s a very simple way of expressing faith in God’s love for people, and of asking for reassurance in a troubled time. The psalm ends with a song of praise about God’s goodness and leaves the reader, as well as the singers, with a lot of hope for the future. It’s a beautiful song of faith which during this whole pandemic crisis becomes a perfect poem of restoration and renewal.

I don’t know about you, but I needed to re-read and embrace this psalm today to know and experience God’s love, mercy, and grace. I hope and pray that you can do the same. 😊

You can read all thirteen beautiful verses of the psalm at this link: Psalm 85.

Prayer: Lord God, thank You for Your mercy and grace, especially when we feel unworthy to receive it. Restore us with Your Spirit of goodness and lead us into a better future. In Christ’s Name, we gratefully pray. Amen.

Pastor John

www.erinpres.org