Sabbath Psalms - Sacred Sanctuaries

Psalm 26:8 Lord, I love the house where you live, the place where your glory dwells. (NIV)

            We all get attached to the sacred buildings where we worship. Within the bricks and walls, stones and stained-glass windows, we create a womb-like sanctuary where we feel the presence of God when we pray silently, or as we praise God with others around us. In the midst of a world which is always in a hurry and sometimes hostile, it’s therapeutic and refreshing to find a place of peace and acceptance, faith and love.

            Over many years, I’ve worshiped and served in different churches with varied ministries and missions, programs and projects that displayed their congregational focus and how the people practiced their faith. No matter how different the churches were denominationally or spiritually, I always felt being in a place of peace where God’s presence was experienced, whether it was in a small country church or a grand Gothic cathedral. They were, and still are, special places to me, where Heaven and Earth seem to meet, where the Eternal One abides with mortal ones.

            I think that the psalmist of old understood this, too, which is why he preferred God’s company and sacred house, rather than sitting around with dishonest and deceitful people. In the midst of a culture that was destroying itself with greed and corruption, the writer of Psalm 26 took solace in being with God, away from the maddening crowd. I think this is something important that we still need today – a place of quiet in a noisy world, a sanctuary of hope in chaotic times.

            Perhaps you are undergoing a lot of pressure in your life right now. Maybe you are in a situation that burdens you, or in the midst of circumstances that threaten to overwhelm you. Perhaps you have been too strong or self-sufficient too long, and now feel stretched, exhausted, and vulnerable. Maybe you don’t know what to do or where to go. Can I suggest that you find a nearby church sanctuary where you can bring your heartfelt pleas and personal prayers to God? Like me, you probably need somewhere to lay down your burdens and just be embraced by the Living and Loving God. A local church building or even a large cathedral may be just what you’re looking for. Try it and see.

Point to ponder: Where can I go to find God’s peaceful presence in my life?

Prayer: Lord God, Whose presence abides on our planet and Whose blessing can be found in many holy places on Earth, we seek Your peace and love to help us endure and overcome our problems and troubles. Guide us to a sacred place where we can quietly pray; lead us to special sanctuary where we can experience Your loving presence and praise Your Holy Name. Amen.

John Stuart is a Scottish Presbyterian pastor now living in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Short Devotion: Calling on God

 

Genesis 4:26b At that time people began to call on the name of the Lord. (NIV)

 I don’t know how many times in my life that I’ve called on the name of the Lord, but I’m thankful for God’s gracious response when I’ve needed reassurance, guidance, deliverance, and support. Sometimes the Lord didn’t answer me in ways that I expected, so I struggled with those moments, but overall, when I’ve gone to God for help, the Lord has patiently shown me what to do and graciously led me through whatever I was painfully or fearfully experiencing.

 I guess that’s what led people way back in history to call upon the Lord. Whenever they experienced something too big to handle or too puzzling to understand, they looked to their Creator to give them answers. It seems to be an important part of human nature to call on a higher power or even Supreme Being for help. I think I once read somewhere that 92% of the world’s population still pray to God – that’s amazing and just adds to my notion of faith in God. It means that the vast majority of people on Earth, throughout history and up until the present day, believe in God. For me, I find that comforting, so I will continue to call on the Lord in time of trouble and fear, as well as in moments of gladness and celebration.

 As we wander through this new year, I wonder how many times we’ll each call on God in prayer. And how many times will God lovingly answer our requests?

 Prayer: Even now, Lord, as we read or speak these words, we’re calling on Your Name. We’re asking for guidance and blessings, comfort and support. Be near to us even when we wander away; be close to us when we feel lonely or vulnerable; be real to us when reality perplexes us. In Your Holy Name, we make this prayer. Amen.

 

John Stuart is a retired pastor living in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Short devotion: Seeing God - 1 John 4:12

 

1 John 4:12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. (ESV)

 Throughout my many years in ministry, I’ve recognized that the invisibility of God is a problem for some people. Because He cannot be seen in person, they refuse to accept God’s existence. If He were to turn up one day and walk among us, then they would have no problem in believing that God is alive. Until that happens, however, they will simply not believe.

 But God isn’t invisible; His existence is seen in the lives of many people. As the Apostle John wrote long ago, ‘God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.’ This means that if we want to convince someone else that God is alive, then they need to see Him in us. If God’s love is perfected in us, then it should be apparent to others in our relationships and through our deeds. If we sincerely care for others, show compassion, and share love to the world, then we will display God’s existence. However, if we present to the world disdain, indifference, and dishonesty, then God will never be seen by those around us.

 So, perhaps next time when we hear from someone or read in a post that they don’t believe in God because He cannot be seen, let’s not argue or get into an online debate, Instead, let’s try to show God’s perfect love through what we say, write, or do because those will be more effective than scoring over others with theological or Biblical points.

 Q: Do I believe that God abides in me? Do others recognize this?

 Prayer: Lord God, help us to be open to Your love and grant us opportunities to show Your compassion to those we encounter today. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

 John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to see what’s happening at the church, click on this link: www.erinpres.org.

 Today’s image is one of John’s latest drawings called “Fall Communion.” If you would like to view a larger image, click this link: Communion.