Family devotions - Worse Than An Unbeliever? - 1 Timothy 5:8

1 Timothy 5:8             If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Money can be a terribly divisive thing. In my many years as a pastor, I've sadly seen families falling out over wills, estates, property, and heirlooms. I’ve seen an old man give up his home because his stepchildren forced him out. I've known of an old lady being duped of all of her finances by a greedy nephew. I've seen divorces destroy partners because of money. And I’ve also known of families forcing other relatives to give up their rights of inheritance because of greed.

These types of wickedness (because that’s what these are) always astound me. I grew up in poverty, so money and possessions don’t mean a lot to me. I’m also just a pilgrim who is travelling through this world, so earthly objects don’t possess me. When it’s my turn to go, my loved ones will have what I presently own. I won’t be needing them any longer. And even if I could, I won’t be wanting to take them with me either.

Paul’s admonition to Timothy which we can read in today’s passage (1 Timothy 5:1-15) is about caring for our loved ones and relatives. Providing for our families is of prime importance; if we neglect to do this then, according to Paul, we have denied the faith and are worse than unbelievers. That’s a harsh and severe judgment. However, it makes me wonder if those who duped loved ones or greedily pressed others to give up their rights will ever get to Heaven. It seems to me that Jesus also covered this with His ‘camel through the eye of a needle’ story.

So what’s the lesson for today? Simply this: Practice our faith by providing for our families. Sounds like good advice to me.

Questions for personal reflection

Does greed ever get the better of me? If so, how does it affect my faith and family relationships?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, help us to be better Christians by providing for our loved ones. Keep us from being greedy and enable us to support our families when they are in need. Be with us and bless us this day. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, TN. If you would like to ask a question or make a comment about today’s message, please send him an email to traqair@aol.com.

Today’s drawing is one of John’s latest in a new art series called ‘Art Gecko.’ This one is called ‘Geckosville.’ If you would like to view a large image, please click on the following link:

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2835/12579159574_ab150d742a_b.jpg

Stewardship devotion: Excelling in Giving - 2 Corinthians 8:7

Today’s readings: Judges 9:7-21 and 2 Corinthians 8:1-12

2 Corinthians 8:7       But just as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us--see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

We've just completed a new stewardship campaign at our church called Consecration Sunday. A lot of hours, effort, and focus were put in by members of the Stewardship Team, along with prayers and presentations. It was a very upbeat method of helping the members of the congregation to think about not just what they give, but also how and why they give. I think most of the good folks bought into the aspect of honoring God with their financial commitment. There were no guilt trips or undue pressure put upon the people, so we’ll find out if this approach has worked in the weeks to come.

Most pastors, like myself, worry about giving, especially in uncertain economic times. Added to the burden is the sad fact that folks are beginning to adopt a laissez-faire attitude to church all across society. People say that they are spiritual and thankful to God, but it sometimes does not manifest itself into regular worship and giving. Taking God for granted has always been a part of the human condition; these days it appears as though more people are majoring in self and minoring in God, forgetting that we live as creatures in His Creation.

Giving money, giving our time, and giving our hearts to God shows others that our faith is actually real. Being a Christian is the hardest faith on the planet because it requires commitment, devotion, and loyalty to Christ above everything else. As human beings, we all have skills, pursuits, activities, and gifts that we excel in; the tough question that we should be asking ourselves this morning is this: do we also excel in giving?

Questions for personal reflection

What do I give to Christ through the church? Am I excelling in giving?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You are the greatest gift in the history of the world. For our sake, You left the riches of Heaven and became part of a poor refugee family on Earth. For our sake, You gave everything that You had, including Your precious life, on the Cross at Calvary. Without Your gift, we would be cut off from God forever. By Your blood, Your Church was established to continue Your mission on Earth. Challenge us today, so that we may cheerfully, faithfully, and exceedingly give to You. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

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

Today’s drawing is one of John’s latest Nativity images called “Bethlehem Lullaby.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7459/10916628304_9c9bf3f08f_b.jpg

Stewardship Devotion: Christian Compassion - Psalm 118:26

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you.      Psalm 118:26

I like to think that churches are all blessings to the communities where they reside. I know that when I was growing up in a deprived area of Glasgow, Scotland, the local churches had various programs, Sunday schools, and services that meant a lot to my family and friends.

In our own congregation, I have also seen that same blessing at work among the lives of our people. Whenever there is a crisis, illness, or sadness, our church people rally to kindly, lovingly, and compassionately support those in need. It’s a wonderful way to express our living faith; it’s a beautiful blessing to bestow on other people.

Question: How does my giving empower the church to become a blessing to other people?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your churches and people all over the world. May we and they be a blessing to others in need of faith, hope, and love. Amen.

Stewardship devotion: The Lord Needs It - Luke 19:34

Luke 19:34 They replied, "The Lord needs it." 

I wonder how much our faith would affect our daily lives if we lived to serve Christ’s needs instead of our own? Is that even possible? Would our churches be filled with people on Sundays because the Lord needed them to be there? Would missions throughout the world be fully funded because the Lord needs affluent Christians in the West to ‘pony up’ and provide from their ample resources all that is needed by Christ to medicate, educate, feed and clothe people living in poverty across the globe?

If we are comfortable doing religious things without being challenged by the scandal of the Gospel, then we are going to go through life as spiritually shallow people. However, if we take time to really think about what Christ needs us to do with our lives and resources, then everything will change about how we ‘do’ church and how we share our faith. The owners of the colt in today’s Gospel passage (Luke 19:28-36) could have told the disciples to clear off, or that it was inconvenient, or that it would be okay the next day. They didn’t do that; when they heard the words “The Lord needs it,” they gave over the colt freely and perhaps gladly.

Questions for personal reflection

What does the Lord need of me? Am I willing to give my time, talents, and money to Him for His work?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, Your Gospel brings goodness and forgiveness, strength and love into our lives. It also presents us with challenges and causes us to reflect upon our daily choices. Help us to live according to Your needs and liberate us from our insecurities, as well as our desires. In Your Holy Name, we cheerfully pray. Amen.

Stewardship devotions: Their Own Means - Luke 8:3

Luke 8:3         Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means. 

            We tend to forget that there were on-going costs involved with Christ’s ministry. After all, when He traveled around the Galilean region with an entourage of at least a dozen others, someone had to foot the bill for their lodging, food, and clothing. A three year itinerant ministry would cost a lot in sandals and sandwiches, even if you could every now and then feed a multitude of five thousand people.

            From Luke’s Gospel, we get an idea of those who supported Christ financially – they were women who had been healed miraculously. They were grateful for Christ’s compassion and His holiness which completely restored them to their personal domestic lives. Whatever they had suffered from, Jesus cured them. Whatever pain, isolation, depression, or sickness they had had in the past, Christ healed them.

            Their gratitude was expressed in financial terms. Whatever they had to give from their own means, they gave cheerfully and willingly to support Jesus. His ministry meant everything to them, so they wanted to help Him financially. Whenever we think about the effective support that was given to Christ’s work, we tend to think in terms of the number of disciples; however, without the quantity of money that was given for His ministry, even Jesus would not have been able to complete His work across the Galilean region.

            Perhaps the main lesson that we all can learn from this passage is one of cheerful stewardship. After all, Christ still depends upon how gratefully we give to the work of His church, in order to continue His ministry in our world today.

Questions for personal reflection

Why do I give money to the church? How do my contributions help to fulfill Christ’s ministry in my community and around the world?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, without financial support Your Church, in local communities and throughout the world, could never function or flourish, or even fulfill the Great Commission. Your ministry on Earth still needs our resources and money to effectively accomplish Your work around the globe. Help us to reflect upon what and how we give of our means to You. 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 one of John’s latest digital glass designs. It’s called “Common Cup.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click the following link: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8424/7713499924_2648e0ed42_b.jpg

Stewardship Devotion: Stewardship Season

Matthew 6:1   “Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”

Like most churches, it’s Stewardship Season in our congregation. For six weeks, we are all supposed to focus upon what we give to God through the local church. Each Sunday, church members give testimonies about why they support the congregation and how they feel drawn closer to God by the worship, fellowship, and faithfulness at Erin.

The same sorts of stories are being told all over the land. Churches are gathering centers of like-minded people who pool their resources together in order to become effective vehicles of Christ’s ministry and mission at home and abroad. Stewardship is a key element to the impact that any church makes on the surrounding community. Without the money that people give, without the resources that people offer, Christ’s work could not be done.

At our church, people are given an annual invitation to re-make a personal financial pledge to the congregation. Even in tough economic times, Erin Christians are still willing to make money commitments to sustain the work that Christ has asked us to accomplish. It’s very humbling and uplifting to see the pledges coming in from all different sorts of folk. The people who pledge are making an investment in the future of the church and making a difference in the world. They look for no reward or public recognition; they give for all of the right reasons – to glorify God and to support Christ’s mission.

The challenge for all of us who are reading this today is this: have we prayed about our financial commitment to God’s work this year? Are we willing to invest our money and resources in the future work of our church, so that Christ’s ministry may continue to be worshipped, honored, and supported through our faithful giving and generous love?

Prayer:                       Lord Jesus, You call us to be disciples of Your way, messengers of Your truth, and stewards of Your life. Open our eyes to Your work in our church; open our minds to Your mission in our community; and open our pockets to Your purposes for our congregation. In Your Holy Name, we humbly 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 one of John’s latest Lighthouse drawings called “Guiding Light.” You can view a larger version of this picture at the following link: http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6225/6290707518_a96fd3c801_b.jpg

Stewardship Devotions: The Swan Pond - Ecclesiastes 11:1

Ecclesiastes 11:1       Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again. 

Some of the simplest joys that I can remember of living in Scotland were the times when Evelyn and I would take our two daughters to Culzean Castle to feed the birds at the Swan Pond. It was always wonderful to watch our girls smile, laugh, and be happy as they threw the bread to the beautiful swans.

The swans knew what to expect and they would majestically glide across the water to feast on the bread. Usually a number of mallard and tufted ducks would try to get into the action, but because of their bigger size, the swans would get most of the bread. As the sun shone on the water and we heard the giggles and laughter of our girls, life felt so good.

I wonder what bird-less waters that the writer of Ecclesiastes wrote about. Whenever we threw the bread on the Swan Pond waters, everything was soon eaten. If we went back there in three hours time, we would find nothing left, so this verse puzzles me.

I’ve heard people use this verse, including some preachers, to encourage others to give their money to God because it would be returned to them. I also know that some people claim this to be true, but I wonder about their motive for giving in the first place. If we give to God because we want to get something in return, is that an offering or bargaining? Isn’t it more Christian to give without expecting anything in return, in order to live by Christ’s teaching that “it is far better to give than to receive,” as the Apostle Paul pointed out? (Acts 20:35)

So, by all means, let’s cast our resources upon the living waters of Christ and His Church, but let’s also not look for anything in return. After all, aren’t the complete forgiveness of our sins and the promise of everlasting life more than enough?

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, thank You for giving everything of Yourself so that we may be restored to God’s eternal love. Help us to give what we can of our time, talents, and money to those needful opportunities that will come our way this week. Enable us to do this selflessly so that You will receive all the glory and honor for the good deeds and charitable giving that we do in Your Name. Amen.

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

Today’s drawing is one of John’s wildlife drawings called “Swan Pond.” If you would like to see a larger version of it, then please click on the following link: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4031/4373092333_3d5cd56d51_b.jpg

Stewardship Devotions: Money Matters

2 Corinthians 8:3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.

It’s Stewardship season in many churches across the country. Before the end of the year, congregations try to anticipate what their budget will be for the next year. In these tough economic times, it’s hard to estimate what people will actually give of their money. Time and talents are sometimes easier to share with the church rather than income and resources. Sadly, when people hold back or cut back on their giving, the work of the church is deeply affected.

The Macedonian Christians were not wealthy. They had limited finances in troubled times, but when their hearts were given to Christ and their lives were kindled by the Holy Spirit, they cheerfully wanted to give to the church, even beyond what was expected of them. When Paul writes about them, he does so with a great deal of pride and pleasure. The Macedonians were a great example to the rest of the young Mediterranean church. Their enthusiasm in giving acted as a wonderful motivator for other Christian communities to go all out and do more than their fair share of pledging and giving.

Today, we are all faced with the same exciting challenge. Christ’s work in the world is needed as much now as it ever has been. Our faith is connected to our finances and our beliefs are indicated by our bank books. If we feel insecure about our resources, then we may be also insincere about our faith. If we hold back our money, then what else are we holding back from God?

Cheerful, considerate, and generous giving can release us from our financial worries and money woes. In doing so, we show that we do not depend upon the dollar or pin our hopes to the pound; by giving honestly, sincerely, and cheerfully, we liberate ourselves from the chains and burdens that a love or obsession of money can trouble us with, and show our true devotion to the Lord.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, it’s so easy for us to get caught up in financial worries and cash concerns. Sometimes we live beyond our capacity to give. Sometimes we burden ourselves by borrowing more than we can afford. Teach us the biblical principles of money management and help us to release our resources to You and Your church. 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 John’s latest night time drawing of Knoxville’s Sunsphere at the World’s Fair Park. A larger version of the drawing can be viewed at http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4128/5095209018_cf3f00de0f_b.jpg

(John has a limited number (25) of signed and matted prints for sale)

Daily Devotions: Soul Searching - Acts 27

Acts 27: 22      But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed.

What is the main concern of our churches today - to stop losing members or to start saving souls?

That’s the challenge that most mainstream denominational congregations are currently facing. So many people are giving up the idea of belonging to institutionalized churches that local congregations are beginning to falter and struggle to survive. I think I read somewhere that in the USA alone, 400 churches close each month whilst only 100 new ones are established. If that is the case, then around about 2025 most mainline denominations are going to have to merge together in order to get through to 2050. Similarily, by the end of this century, denominationalism will have run its course in the Reformed Movement. The ship that we’re holding together will have sunk; but what about the souls of those on board? Will they have been lost too?

If we are so busy keeping the ship afloat and struggling against the storm of secularism, then we will begin to fail and rightly so. We will have forgotten the reason why churches were established and lost the purpose of what we do for God’s Kingdom. We exist to bring others to Christ – everything else is merely coincidental. In the end, it’s not about how big the boat is or how long it has been kept afloat. In the end, the eternal success of our churches will be measured by how many souls were brought to Christ in our individual congregational histories.

So the question we all need to ask of our churches today is this: are we solely struggling to individually survive or are we intentionally seeking the souls that need to be saved?

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, in the midst of our congregational struggles to survive, we seem to have forgotten who we are and to whom we belong. Restore to the hearts of our churches the initial purpose for our existence: to be soul searchers and to lead others to You alone. Forgive us for failing to remember this primary and most crucial task of the church. 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 one of John’s latest drawings. It is called “Autumn Garden.” If you would like to view a larger version of the print, please visit the following link: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4124/5021960250_bc0caf559c_b.jpg

Daily Devotions: A Fatal Mistake - Acts 5

Acts 5:5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 

The sad story of Ananias and his wife Sapphira troubles me. It seems to be such a harsh and unjust punishment in a faith community that was supposed to be built upon love and compassion. The couple were guilty of keeping back some of their resources for themselves, which is something that we’re all guilty of at times. The questions that arise in my mind are these: why were they killed instantly for their greed and insecurity? Why weren’t they given the opportunity to repent of their lies and shown Christian mercy?

The circumstances behind this event also bother me. The young Jerusalem Church, which was led by Peter, believed that Christ was going to imminently return. Because of this, they thought that they had no need for possessions and that whatever resources they owned, they would share these together until Christ came back. This sounded ideal, but in practice it was an unmitigated disaster. Within a couple of years, the Church was starving and this was one reason why Paul had to collect money for the Jerusalem Church in the years to come.

So if the Jerusalem Church was wrong in its beliefs about Christ’s return, why were Ananias and Sapphira so dreadfully punished?

It looks like they blasphemed against the Holy Spirit which, according to Christ, is the unforgiveable sin. Members of the Jerusalem church, like Barnabas, were inspired by the Holy Spirit to sell what they owned and give the proceeds to the faith community. Ananias and Sapphira were guilty of publicly making a show of what they were giving, so that they could be praised instead of God. And when they held back some of the proceeds for themselves, they were usurping the work of the Holy Spirit and being faithless. If they truly trusted the Holy Spirit, then they would have given cheerfully and not held anything back.

Did their sin merit the death penalty? I personally don’t think so, but obviously something gravely offended God. It seems harsh to us today because we want God to bless what we do and ignore our shortcomings. But perhaps we are deceiving ourselves by molding the Holy Spirit into what we want, instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to shape us. And isn’t that the very sin that Ananias and Sapphira were guilty of committing?

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, this passage really troubles us because we know that we could be in the same shoes of Ananias or Sapphira. Forgive our insecurities and pretence. Help us to adhere to Your ways and apply Your teaching in our daily lives. In Your Holy Name, we humbly 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.

4 Minute Daily Devotions: Prolonging Our Lives

Proverbs 3:1-2                   My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity.

A lot of my time lately has been taken up with our church’s Capital Campaign. Every day I am dealing with a new item on what I call the Campaign Trail. It’s a fascinating process, but it also can get very burdensome at times.

The purpose of the Campaign is to prolong the life of the church. We are renewing ourselves for the missions and ministries that are yet to come. Our church has constantly grown because we try to apply God’s teaching to our community. Every week, people come to church to hear more about God’s Word, to seek guidance for their lives, and to be challenged by Christ in ways that will make our world a better place.

We grow because God gives us this blessing. We increase because Christ inspires us. We add to our numbers because the Holy Spirit activates our faith.

When the Campaign is over, the true work will begin. I look forward to what lies ahead for our church because we will have more opportunities to glorify God, praise Jesus Christ, and be led by the Holy Spirit.

Prayer:                 Lord Jesus, we thank You for the privilege and blessing of serving You. You take imperfect and unholy people and shape them into a church. You work in our midst and inspire us through Your wonderful words and glorious ways. Thank You for such gracious blessings. In Your Holy Name, we praise and 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.

Daily Devotions: Better Things

Hebrews 6: 9   Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are confident of better things in your case-things that accompany salvation.

For the first time in its history, our church at Erin is undergoing a $1 million Capital Campaign. It’s a high bar to reach and has shaken us up from the cozy culture that we have embraced over the years. We want to be more effective and influential for God’s Kingdom in our community. We want to reach out to more people and families in our surrounding neighborhood. We want to update our facilities and offer our members, worshippers, and visitors an attractive building and a welcoming experience. These are the better things that the writer of Hebrews expresses in his letter – the better things that accompany salvation.

These changes are not easy to accomplish. We all have grown used to our church and treat it like a comfy spiritual sofa. We tend not to see the building’s wear and tear. We tend to put up with an old sound system. We tend to ignore the state of our classrooms because we only use them once per week. But what if the state of the building actually reflects the neglect of our spirits? Don’t we just tend to put up with things spiritually and rely on God to ‘understand’?

The more that I get involved with this campaign, the more that I understand that it’s not about the money. It’s about who we are as Christians and how we practice our faith. It’s both a cultural revolution and a spiritual rebirth, which makes us honestly review our personal commitment to God and how we seek to serve Him. The better things that accompany salvation means that the old way of thinking “that will do” just will not do, and that “that’s enough” just isn’t enough.

This campaign will change our church for the better. It’s also changed me. My prayer is that our whole congregation will embrace those changes too.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, keep us alive and in tune to Your Spirit moving among us. Remind us that we belong to You and that our purpose is to faithfully serve God’s Kingdom. Help us to work for the better things that accompany salvation, so that we may attract and welcome others to Your Church. In Your Holy Name, we expectantly 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.

Daily Devotions: Commitment and Celebration

Luke 10:20 (Jesus said,) “However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

Our not-so-wee church made a brave decision last Sunday morning. We agreed to ask the bank for a $500,000 line of credit so that we can begin the much needed renovation and construction work in our building. It was an almighty leap of faith for our congregation, but through the presentations of our campaign and construction teams, we now all share the belief that this is what we are meant to be doing.

It’s the biggest decision and commitment that our church has made since the present building was opened in 1955. Over the next three years, we are going to raise over $1,000,000 so that we can upgrade the church campus and have an attractive site that will bring in more people for Christ.

Sunday was also a beautiful moment in the life of our church because of two important things. Firstly, we were making a commitment to the future well being of our congregation. Most of us will not be around to see the fruits of our endeavors, so this is an almighty act of faith by this present generation. And secondly, we were gratefully showing God that we have been truly blessed by His Son’s work and ministry amongst us.

In years to come, our church will become stronger and more influential in our resident community. Hopefully, we will look back and understand that this was the moment when didn’t glorify ourselves but chose instead to rejoice in the goodness of the Lord. This is a special calling, and I believe that we are both humbled and honored to be given such a privilege from Christ.

When the disciples came back to Jesus from their own winter ministries, they were full of stories about how God’s authority had been channeled through them to overcome evil spirits. They were amazed at the powers they had been given and wanted to boast about their victories. Jesus, however, reminded them to rejoice in being saved and of the fact that God had given them a place in heaven. This was infinitely worth more than any power to subdue earthly devils.

I believe that Christ is telling Erin church to do the same. We can express and boast about how much we have done and of what we are going to do, but the real rejoicing and glory belong to God. This Capital Campaign is not just a commitment, it’s a celebration of the fact that our not-so-wee church called Erin is also known in heaven and blessed by God.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the calling that You have given to all of our churches. Help us to celebrate this blessing and to glorify You through what we give from our resources, as well as expressing our faith by what we do each day. In Your Holy Name, we humbly and cheerfully pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the Scottish 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.

Daily Devotions: In Deep Water

Matthew 14: 28 "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."

There’s an old joke in Tennessee that the last words of many a redneck are: “Watch this!”

I don’t know about you, but I get the feeling that the Big Fisherman Peter was more of a redneck than the Bible lets on. I’ve heard many sermons about Peter’s faith and how he stepped out on the water to try to prove to Jesus how loyal he was, but somehow I get the feeling that Peter is just showing off to the other guys in the boat. He wants to be exceptional and show the others how important he is to Christ, so when he calls out to Jesus and asks Him to command the fisherman to walk on the water, I really think Peter is saying to the rest of the disciples on the boat: “Watch this!”

I also wonder if Jesus smiled at that request. Peter was being audacious and I can just see Christ shaking his head good humouredly and laughing because He knows what is about to happen. At some point, He’ll have to help Peter from sinking below the waves, but Jesus knows how reckless Peter is. I guess that Jesus is using the event to teach Peter a lesson about pride. The Big Fisherman wants to impress the others with a supernatural act of faith, but he is really putting his life at risk and getting into deep water – literally.

Our wee church is about to embark on a large financial campaign and some people are worried that we may be taking on more than we can handle. To tell the truth, I’ve had a few concerns about the same things. However, I realize that this campaign is more than just foolishly walking on water or becoming overwhelmed by the amount we need to raise. It is a calling which this present generation has been given by Christ.

It’s not a double dare or an audacious act of pride; it’s a response to what Christ plans to do with our church in the years to come. We’re being given an opportunity that only comes to a minority of mainstream churches. Jesus is not asking us to walk on water, He is calling us to prepare the way for a future generation of believers, whose mission and ministry work will be a lot harder. If our present generation can give them a campus and a building that is well-equipped and highly renovated, then they will have a grand opportunity of making more disciples for Christ in years to come. In other words, we are being asked to make the sacrifices necessary now for people that we do not even know.

We are not walking on the water to make ourselves look good, nor are we saying to the other churches around us, “Watch this!” We are just following Christ’s plan and allowing Him to grow His Kingdom through us, our resources, our time, and our talents.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You call upon us to follow You and sometimes You ask us to make sacrifices. Help us to obey Your bidding and fulfill what You desire. Empower us to act courageously and consistently, not foolishly or feebly, in matters of faith. In Your Holy Name, we sincerely 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.

4 Minute Daily Devotions: Earth Day

Isaiah 54:5     For your Maker is your husband--the LORD Almighty is his name--the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the Earth.

Today is Earth Day and all around the world various people are celebrating this new tradition by bringing attention to the plight of the planet. Some protest and environmental groups will be petitioning their governments to reduce carbon emissions and end global warming. Others will be celebrating the diversity of customs and costumes around the world.

I like the idea of Earth Day and I think that Isaiah gets it right when he reminded his people long ago that the Lord is the God of all the Earth. This means that we are just tenants and not owners of the globe. Kingdoms and governments may think they possess their own parts of the world, but God is the Sovereign of the whole planet. Everything belongs to Him.

I’ve started to boldly capitalize the letter ‘E’ in the word Earth. That reminds me that this planet is a precious jewel in God’s eyes and that we as human stewards should do our utmost to look after it. Respecting the environment, recycling our waste, and reflecting upon the wonders of this Earth is a good place to start. Life on Earth may be the most precious gift in the entire universe. It’s time that we chose to really respect that amazing gift of grace which our God has created.

Prayer:                        God who made the Earth, the air, the sky, the sea; Who gave the world its birth, please care for me. In Jesus’ Name. 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.

4 Minute Daily Devotions: Where Best to Invest

Now is not the time to invest in stocks; now is the time to invest in church.

John 4:34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.”

In these uncertain times, we are all faced with financial worries and concerns about money. For some, it seems to be that saving for the future is futile because the financial market is on a catastrophic roller coaster. For others, the worry about losing their jobs and busting their career goals seems imminent. Hardship and recession, anxiety and depression are lurking everywhere. There just doesn’t seem to be any end to the uncertainty and, across the country, millions of families are trying to make ends meet.

How long this economic downturn will last, no one knows. So where can we invest our resources, time, and talents in something that will have a lasting effect and will endure for the rest of our lives? I think that the answer is simply this: our churches.

Now I know what you’re thinking: just because I’m a pastor, I’m bound to say this to make sure that the church survives this crisis. But that’s not the case. What I’m saying is this: in these uncertain times we should draw closer to God, to let the broken world see that our faith can overcome the worst of times. If we are just fair-weathered Christians who believe in God when things are going well, then our faith is shallow. However, if we continue to praise God and support Christ’s ministry during tough times, then our faith will be tested, tried, and turn out to be deeper than we have ever known.

During different crises in the past, the Church continued to flourish because it was needed to help heal and support those who were broken in the world. At the time of the Black Plague, many churches became hospitals in Europe. After the Reformation, the Church combated ignorance and poverty by setting up parish schools for young people, to make something better of themselves through the power of knowledge and education. And during the last Great Depression, churches ran soup kitchens, clothing centers, and support groups that enabled small communities and many families to overcome the hardship of the times.

In these uncertain times, we need to invest in the Church, because the Church ultimately brings out the best in humanity through faith, hope, and love to the many people who are struggling.

The Christ we serve is the Lord of all Compassion. So let’s use these times as an opportunity to show the world who Jesus is, by investing in our churches and applying our faith in meaningful and supportive ways.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, the world is hurting and our economy is struggling. People that we know have lost their jobs, whilst others are losing their hard-earned savings. In the midst of all this uncertainty, let Your Church become a constant haven of salvation and support, kindness and compassion, charity and love. 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.

4 Minute Devotions: Blind Faith

In these harsh economic times, how can we maintain our faith and excel in giving to the church? A story from 19th century France shows us the way. A reflection on 2 Corinthians 8 v7.

Podcast version here

There’s an old story told about a seamstress in 19th century France who happened to be blind. One day her church was trying to raise some money for a mission and she handed over 20 francs. In those days that was a lot of money and her seamstress friends around her wondered how she could give so much to the church.

“What does it cost you,” she asked them, “to pay for kerosene to light your lamps, so that you can work at night?”
“About 20 francs a year,” they replied.
“Therefore, because I am blind,” the seamstress explained, “the Lord saves me 20 francs per year. I want to give it back to Him, so that this mission can bring the light of the Gospel to other lands.”

2 Corinthians 8:7 But just as you excel in everything-in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us-see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

It’s a beautiful story and a reminder that even in these trying financial times, the Lord’s work carries on throughout the world. As we each try to budget because of high gas prices and the soaring cost of food, let’s not forget the blessings that God sustains us with each day. Even in the midst of an economic recession, God never holds back or diminishes His blessings to us. So let us all take this lesson to heart and make an intentional effort to excel in this grace of giving, even in these trying times.

Prayer: Lord God, if we take time to really look for them, we will discover wonderful blessings in each of our lives. We take so many of them for granted that we forget to truly thank You for all that You do for us. Thank You for Your loving kindness, grace, and love. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.