Meaningless Times - Ecclesiastes 1:2

Ecclesiastes 1:2 “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” (NIV)

These are times that try the souls of men and roast the hearts of women. These are sadly days of despondency and desperation where human life in all its forms is cheap, where human beings are callously chained to poverty, and woman-beings are severely punished for the sins of brutal men. The old Biblical cry of “Meaningless!” is partnered with a shout of “Powerless!”, along with a scream of “Helpless!” by those whose pleading voices are silenced by strong demands and uncaring words. Common sense is obliterated and the community is deliberately divided by those who want to keep control and seek retribution.

We are in the midst of a moral civil war which was once prophesied by the Good Shepherd of our souls. Mother against daughter, father against son, brothers and sisters against one another. But, instead of seeking the Prince of Peace to allow His compassion to make every life meaningful, instead of looking to the Lord of Light to eliminate the darkness of our hearts, we let the thorns of unbounded pride and self-righteous spears pierce the lives of those who plead for help, support, and understanding.

These trying times demand of us a serious self-reflection and honest introspection of our deepest motives. If we truly recognize and become plainly aware that we are not without sin, then surely, we of all people will stop throwing stones to destroy others, or penalize the powerless because they do not meet our moral expectations. After all, if God treated us the same way we treat and condemn others, none of us would survive and every part of our faith would be meaningless.

I wrote this devotion for me, as a challenging and necessary reminder that I am a terrible sinner in need of a gracious Savior. Every. Single. Day.

Questions to ponder

What sins do I secretly embrace that condemn me by God? Why does Christ allow me His grace? How should I faithfully apply that grace to others?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, none of us are perfect, nor are we better than anyone else in Your eyes. Humble our pride and help us to show Christian love and compassion to those who are outcast and defenseless, weak and powerless. In Your Holy Name, we despicable sinners humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Come along and join us for worship on Sundays at 11:00 AM. You will be made very welcome 😊

Today’s image is one of my Good Friday drawings called ‘Forgive Them.’ If you would like to view a larger version, click on this link: Forgive.

First Love - Revelation 2:4

Revelation 2:4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. (NIV)

The great leader of the Indian nation, Mahatma Gandhi, was once reported to have said to a pastor, “I love your Christ, but I do not like your Christians.” From his own experiences in many places, he had seen Christians being arrogant and cruel, pompous and insensitive, as well as prejudicial and racist. Gandhi could not understand how a faith, which was based on Christ’s command of loving one another, could end up being so hateful and selfish, narrow-minded and bigoted. He was drawn to Christ’s teachings but was repelled by Christ’s disciples. Christians were more interested in power than the poor and justifying themselves rather than seeking justice for others. It was a harsh indictment of the failure of Christianity, especially when it allied itself with a colonial-minded tyranny over the people. Instead of sharing love, Christians shed lies; rather than showing grace, they supped on greed.

In the Book of Revelation, the charge that is written against the church at Ephesus was of forsaking their first love. Some scholars think that this was their first love of God, but I believe it was the initial love and enthusiastic joy that they shared when they began worshipping and fellowshipping together. Ephesus was a strong church full of strong-minded people. It had once been the jewel in the Apostle Paul’s crown and had become a refuge for many Christians fleeing persecution. However, as the years sped by, the Ephesian Christians became self-centered and self-righteous, making them forget their original roots and the love that they once had for one another. They had become the kind of Christians that Gandhi would criticize centuries later.

As I see it, post-modern Christianity has forgotten how to love other people and instead it craves power, prestige, and personal recognition. Perhaps when future historians come to write about the history of our faith, they will bewail the fact that we forgot our first love. However, perhaps there is still time to recover who we once were and reclaim that forsaken love. It will require some deep critical thinking, a personal as well as a corporate confession of our mistakes, and a commitment to reforming our allegiance to Christ through how we actually love one another – otherwise, the world will continue to be attracted to the love of Christ but will be repelled by unlikeable Christians.

Point to ponder

Am I a likable Christian or a self-centered one? Do I attract people to Christ or repel them?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive us for failing to share Your love and repelling others by our selfish ways. Open our eyes to what is happening in the world and keep us from being deluded by our desires and prejudices, denials and disbelief. In Your Holy Name, we humbly and honestly pray. Amen.

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

Today’s image is one of John latest Communion drawings called ‘Cup of Hope.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Cup.

Short devotion: An Obsolete Word - Matthew 1:21

Matthew 1:21  “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

            As far as the world and the post-modern church is concerned, sin is an obsolete word. Decades ago, people understood that sin was something more than just a mere mistake or a foolish choice – it was a deliberate defiant act against God’s Word, which had eternal consequences. To sin was to put yourself under God’s judgment and expect His wrath. It was a word that people feared because it revealed to them the terrifying prospect of being damned forever. Sin severed people’s souls from God.

            These days, sin doesn’t appear to have any fearful aspect for us. We either take Christ’s saving ability for granted or we disregard the whole concept of sin. Most folks opt for the latter because it’s far easier to live life without being burdened by a religious standard or a faith morality. It’s much more convenient to excuse our sinful ways as being deeply personal and no one else’s business. In fact, some folks say, didn't Jesus tell us ‘not to judge others lest we be judged ourselves?’ In other words, they believe that what Jesus was expressing was a moralistic free-for-all where every individual was free to choose to do whatever they wanted and that no one else could condemn them for it.

            If Jesus actually meant that, then He didn't have to go to the Cross to die for our sins. If Jesus truly believed that everyone could make their own choices and no one else could judge them, then He didn't have to be crucified for our calamities. You see, Jesus went to Calvary because He was absolutely certain that sins have dire eternal consequences if they are left unconfessed, unrepented, and unredeemed.

            The world and the post-modern church may like to do away with the word sin, but they cannot deny that this has become a sinful world or even a sinful church. Sin still separates people from God and it needs to be forgiven through Jesus Christ. As it states in today’s verse, He was born to save His people from their sins. Without Jesus, we cannot get back to God. Without Christ in our hearts and lives, we cannot be restored to His Kingdom. Just because we don’t like a word or feel that it is antiquated, archaic, or irrelevant, does not mean that it does not exist. Sin Separates us from God, Isolates us from His grace, and Nullifies our consciences into a misguided denial that could ultimately cast us away from God forever. As C.S. Lewis once gravely remarked, “There is not one person in Hell who did not choose to be there.”

Questions for personal reflection

What are the major sins in my life? Do I take Christ’s grace for granted or do I truly repent of them?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You died for our sins for that was the only way in which we could ever be forgiven. We know that the world hates the word sin and that Your Church is often accused of being judgmental, narrow-minded, or even bigoted when confronting sin. Forgive us for our own failings, faithlessness, and fearful ways. Grant us Your grace and give us the courage to change our lives by living according to God’s Word. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message or have questions, please contact him by email at Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s Good Friday drawings called “Sin Bearer.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on this link: Sin Bearer.