October 24 devotion - Herod's Fate

Acts 12:22-23 They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.

            It was a dreadful end to a wicked leader. One moment, Herod Antipas was being lauded as a god by his supporters for a rousing speech, the next he was dying from a painful parasite which was taken to be a punishment from God. He who once was mighty and powerful was debased and diminished because of his vanity and pride. Instead of being hailed as the kingly champion of the people, Herod is remembered as an amoral schemer whose downfall was brought about by his own narcissistic tendencies and delusions of grandeur.

            This all took place at the same time when the fledgling Christian church was beginning to grow substantially. Herod’s influence was waning whereas that of Christ and His followers were increasing rapidly. The bold Galilean, whom Herod interviewed and sent to His death, would now be praised and lauded for centuries to come. Antipas, however, would remain in the past – along with all of his achievements, buildings, and decisions.

            Good leadership is a gift from God and those who are in positions of power – whether in our congregations or communities – should acknowledge God’s presence in their endeavors, accomplishments, and success. To claim those things as self-made is to rob God of His glory, something which Herod Antipas learned way too late.

Point to ponder

What leadership responsibilities have I been given? Do I thank God enough for any of my successes?

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, help us to remember that everything belongs to God, especially our own victories and successes, achievements and accomplishments.  Keep us mindful of the many blessings that You grant in order for us to fulfill our dreams. In Your Holy Name, we humbly and thankfully pray. Amen.

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

You can also read the church website at www.erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s chess drawings called ‘Celtic King.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: King.

August 15 devotion - Three Important Things

Matthew 4:23           Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.

            Teaching, preaching, and healing – those were the three main strands of Christ’s ministry among His people. He taught them the Word of God in new and authoritative ways. He preached the Word of God by challenging their ideas and confronting their sins. And He practiced the Word of God by healing the people of their illnesses, anxieties, and distresses.

            Teaching, preaching, and healing – these should be the three major strands of Christ’s Church throughout the world. People still need to be taught the Word of God, otherwise, they make up their own set of beliefs to suit themselves. Folks need to be preached to, and at, in order to shake up their choices and lifestyles. And people still need to be healed because there is brokenness, suffering, and despair all over this planet.

            If we are truly taught the Word of God, we can become Christ’s followers. If we are fully receptive to the preaching of God’s Word, we will make good and honest choices. And if we allow ourselves to be healed of the past, as well as cured of our present woes and anxieties, we will discover a newer, brighter, and more blessed future with Jesus.

            Teaching, preaching, and healing – the continuous and effective ministries of Christ which we can still experience today, in any part of this planet, in any place where the Spirit of the Lord can be personally known – which is everywhere and by everyone.

Questions for personal reflection

What part of Christ’s teaching means the most to me? How has preaching increased my faith as a Christian? When and where has Jesus healed me?

Prayer:          Lord Jesus, thank You for being the True Teacher, Preacher, and Healer of the world. Help us to rely upon Your words and ways each day. Grant us the grace to receive, retain, and apply God’s Word through Your teaching, preaching, and healing in our lives. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

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

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Lectionary art images. It’s based on a verse from Psalm 67. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: Psalm 67.

August 13 devotion - A Planetary Plea

Revelation 11:6 They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want. (NIV)

We have some amazing scientists in our congregation, who are world-renowned in their specialized research fields. They all teach at the University of Tennessee and are exceptionally knowledgeable about global issues and environmental matters. All of them are currently concerned about the common rejection of scientific data and research on climate change, industrial pollution, and environmental damage across our nation and around the world. They have years of experience in these major fields and planetary issues; their wisdom is something that could help halt the damage and restore our precious world. Sadly, time appears to be running out for human beings to effectively reverse these concerns. A continued insistence of ignoring the key facts and a foolish denial of adopting real solutions will deeply impact the world that our children and grandchildren exist in. Our pride and contempt will steal their future, causing our generation to be blamed for refusing to deal with our planetary problems.

In ancient times, people were ignorant of what caused water to look like blood (red tide) or how to deal with earthquakes, hurricanes, fires, and floods. They were unable to either flee these terrible events or control the spread of the disaster. The Book of Revelation has many instances of people being destroyed by the elements. All of them were depicted as moments of God’s wrath over sinful people. However, today we have more information and scientific knowledge about what causes these things, helping us to diminish and avoid their major impacts. God gives us the intelligence to deal with them, but even He cannot compel us to accept the truth or facts. Human foolishness and capricious ignorance endanger all of our lives. Just because we don’t like what the scientists are telling us or can’t accept their solutions, does not mean that we are right and they are wrong. If anything, the history of humanity teaches us that when we ignore the facts, we end up suffering from the consequences of our own stupidity and inaction.

When I look into my grandson’s eyes, I think about how much I love him and all that I hope for his future within my heart. Andrew will make his own decisions as he journeys through life, but some of those choices will be affected by what my generation think, believe, say, and do. I pray that I will hand over a planet to him that is worth living in, therefore, I will strive to defeat any ignorance, foolishness, or pride that may threaten his future environment and global existence.

Point to ponder

Do I accept or reject current scientific data on the environment? Why?

Prayer: Lord God, You are the Creator of the world and the Sustainer of our planet. You see all of the damage and pollution that we are foolishly inflicting upon this precious jewel. Forgive our stupidity and open our hearts and minds to all that needs to be done in order to restore our world. Enable us to be willing to make sacrifices, as well as investments, which will heal and restore our planet. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Come along 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 Bible drawings based on a verse from Psalm 119. If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Psalm119.

Daily Bible Verse

Verse for the Day

John 15:9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. (NIV)

Whoever we are, wherever we are, and whatever we are, know this: Christ invites us to be embraced with His love.

Have a great day - feel free to share this. :)