August 18 devotion - Making a Difference

Judges 6:15 “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” (NIV)

            Like most Christians, I love the story of Gideon in the Old Testament. He starts from humble beginnings and ends up becoming one of the greatest leaders the Israelites had ever known. He was chosen by God to do something significant and make a difference in his generation. In the Bible passage, Judges 6:1-24, when the angel of the Lord visits with him, Gideon cannot believe what is being asked of him. In his own eyes, he’s too small, too insignificant, and too weak to change his people’s world and make an impact on his community.

            In times of turmoil and crisis, we can all feel that way. There are too many problems to overcome and we convince ourselves that we don’t have enough power, resources, or strength to make a difference. We believe that we are weak vessels, unable to stand up to what is going wrong in our society or too insignificant to be able to change things. However, when we read the Bible we soon discover that God changes things when the humblest, weakest, and most powerless of folks become resolute, focused, and intentional. I guess God likes it when we rely on His strength instead of our own and follow His guidance rather than doing it ourselves.

            We can all become agents of change and confront evil in our cities, towns, and communities. We can all stand up for what is right and face down what is false. Instead of worrying about current situations, we need to pray. Rather than buckling under every crisis, we need to build up ourselves as people of faith, compassion, and justice. No matter who we are, God can lead us to do better things. No matter what we’ve done in the past, God can use us today to make a difference, to right wrongs, and build a better, freer, and lovelier world for future generations. After all, if God could take a weak person like Gideon and turn him into a strong leader, then who knows what God can do with each one of us?

Point to ponder

What changes would I like to see in the world today? Am I ready to let God help me make those changes?

Prayer: Lord God, You know every weakness about us and yet You are still willing to call and equip us to do Your work in the world. Allow us to make an impact in our congregations and communities so that changes can be made which will make our world a better place. In Christ’s Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can read the church website at www.erinpresbyterian.org. Come and join us for worship on Sunday mornings at 11:00 AM. You will be made very welcome :)

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

June 16 devotional - WineMaker

John 2:11      What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which He revealed His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. (NIV)

            Even these days, a person who could turn water into wine, would be very popular and handy to invite at any wedding. Despite this, Christ’s first miracle seemed to be unknown to most of the wedding party, in the midst of all the celebrating and carousing at Cana. Only Mary, the mother of Jesus, Christ’s disciples, and a few house servants knew that a miracle had taken place. Everyone else was oblivious to what had occurred; all the other guests had no earthly idea about the heavenly event that had just taken place.

            In the church, we sometimes experience something similar. Miracles of healing, God-answered prayers, gifts of beautiful blessing frequently occur in our congregations, no matter how big or small. People of Christian faith, from many different backgrounds, have actually known of individual miraculous moments in their lives. Sadly, the rest of the world appears to miss out on these special events because folks are too busy, too distracted, too distant, or too unconnected to God to be able to realize, or even recognize, that miracles are taking place in churches all around the globe.

            Each time I come across and re-read the story of the wedding in Cana, Jesus continues to make me smile because I know that He is still in the miracle business, taking empty lives and filling them with His beautiful Spirit. He makes the best out of the worst. He turns critical moments into miraculous events. He changes sinners into servants, as well as making dedicated disciples out of the most desperate and disastrous of people. In other words, He still turns ordinary water into the choicest wine.

Personal questions:             How has Christ wrought changes in me? Where have I seen His miraculous works in my church and community?

Prayer:          Lord Jesus, thank You for the miraculous changes that You constantly make throughout the world. Thank You for turning our lives around by allowing us the opportunity of becoming Your servants. Be with us and help us to carry on Your great work of changing the world. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is currently the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to make a comment or ask questions about today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com. If you should ever find yourself in Knoxville on a Sunday morning, Erin Church people would be delighted to welcome you to their 11:00AM worship service.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest silhouette drawings called “Moon Catcher.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on this link: Moon Catcher.