Daily Devotion: The Gift of Teachers - Mark 1:22

Mark 1:22       The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 

I love teaching the Faith and I am proud to be called a ‘teaching elder.’ I’m told that it’s one of my strengths and I appreciate the people who are willing to allow me to lead Sunday school classes, Bible studies, and retreats both in and outside the congregation. I am also humbled by the many people around the world who use my studies online, read these devotions, and buy my books. Teaching the Faith is a privilege and I thank God for each opportunity that He gives me to do this.

I also admire teachers in our schools and colleges. They are often overworked and underpaid for what they do. For each generation to be successful, it needs dedicated teachers. For each profession to progress, it relies upon the research and imagination, hard work and determination of its teachers. To me, there is no greater profession in the world than that of teaching, because all that we accomplish depends upon who teaches us and what we are taught.

Jesus was an amazing teacher. His theological insights and grasp of God made Him exceptional in the eyes of His community. He taught with absolute authority because He was absolutely confident about who He was and what God wanted Him to accomplish. I would love to have sat at His feet to listen to Him tell stories, give lessons, and answer questions. It must have been astounding.

Christ’s teaching has survived two thousand years and His insights are still relevant to our lives today. Billions of people on Earth are affected by His life, His ministry, and His teaching. We have been blessed with an amazing Teacher in our lives and His words will lead us back to God’s kingdom. The challenge that we have today is this: how can we share what we have been taught by Christ?

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, we thank You for the teachers and professors, lecturers and speakers who have taught us many things and through whose wisdom and dedication, we can accomplish much with our lives. We thank You also for the teaching of the Church which carries on Your ministry and mission in the world today. And we praise You for being the Greatest Teacher in our lives and that one day we will get to thank You personally, face to face. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the teaching elder at 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 drawing is one of John’s Lent Cards for the Church kids at Erin. It’s a depiction of Christ carrying the cross, with the words “Take up your cross and follow Me” at the bottom. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7205/6950845059_375b3a1ca5_b.jpg

Daily Devotions: The Bereans - Acts 17:10-15

Acts 17:11       Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

I like what Luke has to write about the Berean people. They would be precious gifts in any church. They eagerly accept the Gospel and seek the scriptures diligently to find the prophecies from the past that were being accomplished in their own time. They must have been a great crowd of people to preach to and teach. I think that if any Christian church was to have an ambition, it should be to be biblically-centered in a Berean way.

Thankfully, I have been allowed to serve three churches in my lifetime that were full of people who thirsted for the Gospel and the Word of God. They have sought to seek God’s guidance over their lives and to increase their knowledge of the Bible. It is a rare and wonderful gift in these secular times, and I am truly grateful to God for allowing me the privilege of sharing the Gospel with such faithful followers of Christ.

Yesterday, I wrestled with God in prayer for one of my friends who had a severe heart attack. As I was praying in the hospital chapel, I looked for some words from the Bible to help my friend and to help me know that God had heard my prayers. My eyes fell upon two verses from the 41^st psalm: “The LORD will protect him and preserve his life; he will bless him in the land and not surrender him to the desire of his foes. The LORD will sustain him on his sickbed and restore him from his bed of illness.” (Psalm 41:2-3)

I could not have chosen two better verses. Today my friend is resting comfortably and the crisis appears to be over. He has long way to go before he fully recovers, but I thank God for His Words. He showed me that there are often times when we are powerless, but there is never a time when we are prayer-less.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, thank You for the promises of the Gospel and the blessings of scripture. Thank You for Your power in the world and for the prayers that are spoken to You every second of the day. Help us to become like Bereans of old, to receive the Gospel gladly and to read the scriptures faithfully. 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 Appalachian drawing. It depicts a stream in the Smokies during the Fall. It’s called “Fall in Leaves.” You can view a larger version at the following link: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4095/4877571660_cc7d070bb8_b.jpg