World Cup Devotions: New Life - Acts 5 v 20

Acts 5:20         "Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people the full message of this new life." 

Yesterday I watched parts of the live concert that was taking place in South Africa to celebrate the World Cup. It was wonderful to see so many people of different cultures and colors coming together to party. Twenty years ago, this would not have been possible. New life has come to the South African people and it was evident in their music, dancing, and celebrations.

When I see joyful and energetic events like that, I wonder if Christ’s Church will ever get together across the world by ridding ourselves of our historical divisions and theological barriers. It would be wonderful to experience a global Christian event where Christ’s people all gathered at the one time to celebrate His Victory over sin and death. If we could have an international festival of faith, the whole world would see that Christ does indeed breathe new life across the globe. I know that one day this will happen when Christ returns, but wouldn’t it be tremendous if we could organize such an event here and now?

Perhaps we can begin this process by making worship on Sunday mornings a priority in each of our lives. If we could all focus our energy into praising God enthusiastically, then we could turn those hollow services on Sunday mornings into holy celebrations. That would be a new life worth preaching and presenting!

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, You brought new life into a deeply divided and dead world. Your message has touched millions of lives across the centuries and we are blessed with Your Spirit in the Church. Empower and encourage us to enthusiastically worship and praise You, especially on Sunday mornings when we meet with our faith communities. 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 pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is a drawing called “African Cross” which John created for his daughter Lauren’s mission trip to Tanzania. Since then, it has been used by several African seminaries, conferences and congregations throughout Africa. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3079/2554574595_18e55d4243_b.jpg

4 Minute Devotions: Skint Knees and Soccer Fields

As a boy, I used to play soccer on a red gravel football field. They still exist and you can see them all over Scotland wherever local schools have soccer fields. The gravel was the color of Tennessee red clay and when it was wet, which was usually every second day in Scotland, it stained my clothing and caused my mom to have a fit.

It was a great surface to play on because the bounce that it gave the football was terrific. Controlling the ball was difficult and the game was always played at a fierce rate. Most of my sprint skills were learned on a soccer pitch. However, there was one almighty drawback about playing on the pitch. When you were tripped up by another player or fell to your knees, the red gravel would cut through the skin, gashing your knees and filling the wound with small gravel stones. The pain was excruciating at times, but most players got up, laughed it off, and kept on playing with ‘skint’ knees.

After such an incident, I dreaded going home; not because I was worried about the mess of my clothes, but I was anxious about how my mom would treat my wounded knees. She would wash them with a hot cloth, and then painfully take out the small stones with tweezers. Finally, came the most agonizing moment when she would apply antiseptic to the wound. That would usually make me jump with pain and I would limp to my bedroom, vowing that I would never let her do that to me again. Nevertheless, within a couple of days, I would have to go through the same painful process.

Psalm 145:14 The Lord upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down.

Sometimes when we fall in life, it’s hard to get up and painful to recover. We all make foolish decisions and fall prey to temptation. We have to live with consequences of our stupidity and sinfulness, but we do not have to be defined by them. The Lord, who watches over us, is willing to help us get back on our feet by forgiving our sins, healing our brokenness, and restoring our lives. It may be emotionally painful for a while and we may have to experience shame and contrition, embarrassment and rebuke for a time, but in the end if we are truly repentant and deeply sorry, God will raise us up through the cleansing blood of Christ.

Prayer: Lord God, we are imperfect, impetuous, and impertinent. We cause others hurt and humiliation, disappointment and dread. Forgive us for being so self-centered and sinful. Teach us the ways of contrition and sorrow, repentance and restoration. Grant us this through our Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior and Healer. Amen.