Sunday Shorts - Speaking Plainly

Mark 8:32 Jesus spoke plainly about this, so Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

Some people never grow up. In my many years of ministry, I’ve come across some sad people who live as if they’re still adolescents and take no responsibility for their actions. When things get tough, they ignore the crisis and avoid the issues. Some of them retreat into a petulant corner; others become addicted to alcohol, drugs, or porn. Instead of seeking God’s help or good counsel, they carry on their reckless ways. It usually ends in tragic circumstances or bitterness. That’s what makes it all so sad.

I think Peter the disciple had a similar problem. When things were going well, he was probably the life and soul of the party. However, when Christ spoke about arrest and execution, as well as defeat and death, Peter desperately sought to avoid the impending reality. He didn’t want to listen to negative words. He didn’t want to accept Christ’s fearful prophecies. He wanted the sacred circus and miraculous merry-go-round to continue. He couldn’t face the obvious truth that Christ was expressing.

Within all of us, there’s a comparable attitude. We want life to be jolly, our hearts to be happy, and our days filled with gladness. We have made the pursuit of happiness our reason for living, instead of enjoying God and praising Him forever. We don’t want to change our ways or be challenged by Christ’s words. We want our faith to be warm and fuzzy, instead of challenging and life-altering. In other words, we really don’t want us to be focused on Christ; we want Him to be focused on us.

Point to ponder: Do I form Jesus into what I want Him to be, or do I allow Him to re-shape me?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, speak plainly to our hearts and minds. Grant us a better understanding of what You want to do with our lives. Keep us from deluding ourselves and help us to devote our lives to You. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

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

Sunday Shorts: Seeing Jesus

Sunday Shorts: Seeing Jesus

 John 12:21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.”

            There are many people in our communities and around the world who make a similar request about seeing Jesus today. They have heard about the love and teachings of Christ, but when they look at His followers, they sadly see religious people who insist on getting their own way, and whose intolerance suppresses the civil rights, freedoms, and lifestyles of others who get in their way. Rather than seeing Jesus, those seekers see Christians as people who couldn’t care less about the pain, predicaments, and problems of others, even though the One Whom they are supposed to serve told them to love one another, no matter who the other may be.

            Millions of folks will attend church services on Sundays who consider that their lip-service to God, as well as a check mark on a pew form, is all that’s required of them. They personally believe that they know Jesus in their hearts, even though there is a great sickness of ignorance mixed with prejudice in their souls. It’s sad to say, but even they can’t see Jesus for themselves; even they obstruct Christ by putting themselves first.

            I feel deeply for those fellow believers who have lost their way and because of this, I speak out against false leaders, false notions, and false beliefs that are being spread by prejudiced preachers and chagrined church folks who should know better, but who have allowed their social, political, and cultural beliefs to override and overcome their Christian principles. It’s sad to see such potentially good people being duped and misdirected by despicable dictators, even though Jesus Himself cautioned His followers: “Beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing.”

            If we often complain that the world, our nation, or community is not “Christian” enough, then we need to ask ourselves this pertinent and penetrating question: are we actually the ones who are obstructing others from seeing Jesus?

Point to ponder: Does Christ’s love motivate my faith or has hatred contaminated my soul?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help us to truly see You first before we begin to lead others to You. Make us aware of our prejudicial ways and unchristian feelings. Teach us the value of loving the unloved and cherishing those who are different from ourselves, just as You did throughout Your life on Earth. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

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

Sunday Shorts: In Denial

Mark 8:34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. (NIV)

            We’re not very good at denying ourselves, are we? We tend to think that the world revolves around us, so we’ll oppose anything or anyone that gets in our way when we want to please ourselves. I think that Christians are sometimes very bad at this, especially when we seek to create society in our image and make things easier for us to be seen as right, faithful, and true. Instead of carrying our crosses by applying our faith solely to ourselves, we want to impose our beliefs on others and get them to carry our crosses for us. We do this through forcing unjust laws on everyone, banning books in schools and libraries, and undermining public resources which fund education, homelessness, welfare, and equal rights. Jesus would not be proud of the harm we cause through our self-righteous ways; Christ would not condone denying help to those in need of support, counseling, and love.

            I think if Jesus lived among us today, we would end up crucifying Him again. We wouldn’t be able to take His straightforward rebuke of how we’ve dangerously mixed our Christianity with nationalism, or how we cruelly treat people who are foreign, queer, or marginalized just because they live differently from ourselves. Those people are the crosses we are meant to bear, to carry, and support lovingly instead of burdening them with our issues, our prejudices, our bigotries. The Kingdom of God that we all hope for is meant to be like yeast which positively permeates the whole loaf in order to make it rise; it’s not meant to be a poison which kills the spirit and diminishes hope in others.

            So, if we truly want to follow Jesus, then we have to lift up those crosses which seem so unfair, unequal, and burdensome – the crosses of unity and diversity in our community, the crosses of respect and humanity in our world, the crosses of love and understanding to all, the crosses of equality and liberty that Jesus would have us bear.

Point to ponder: How do I impose my Christian beliefs on others? How can I remedy this?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, being a Christian is not for wimps and was never meant to be easy. Forgive us for wanting things to be the way we want, instead doing the things and being the followers that You want. Open our hearts to Your teaching, so we may help and love the world You came to save. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

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

Sunday Shorts: Where Would Jesus Go? - Mark 1:21

Mark 1:21 They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, Jesus entered the synagogue and taught. (NRSV)

Occasionally, I see a post or a meme on Facebook that states something like: “You don’t have to go to church to be a Christian.” It’s a common understanding among some people that church is no longer relevant, so we should all just follow our own individual spiritual path to get closer to God. Unfortunately, most folks think that this means they can believe anything, go anywhere, and do everything they want, and somehow God will understand. That’s exactly what the forces in opposition to God want us to believe; that’s a blind spiritual path that leads to nowhere.

            So, what would Jesus have us do to be Christians and what example did He show us to follow?

            Today’s verse provides the answer: Jesus attended weekly worship and taught in the synagogue. Now, out of all people on the Earth, Jesus could have stayed away from weekly worship because He knew God intimately and obeyed God completely. He could have been given a first-class exemption from weekly worship to go and pursue His own spiritual path, but instead, Jesus chooses to worship with the people of God in their local holy place. We can make as many excuses as we like, but if we claim to be Christians and to follow Jesus, then weekly worship with the people of God needs to be a priority.

            For some folks this can be hard because of infirmity, illness, or issues. For others, they may have been burned out by the church or broken by church folks. But here’s the thing: there are millions of Christian congregations throughout the world, and in our local communities, there are different worshiping centers. There are also many more congregations who provide online services, either live or pre-recorded, for those who cannot leave their homes. In other words, there are plenty of places where we can follow Christ into Christian worship, so what’s keeping us back? It’s certainly not Jesus because He is providing us with many holy places to join Him in worship, fellowship, and discipleship.

            So, if we want to, or even believe that we do follow Jesus, then which church are we going to attend on Sundays?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help us to overcome our indifference or reluctance to worship You with Your people. Open our hearts and minds to the blessings of faith that we can encounter and receive together. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

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

Short devotion: What is Ministry?

Matthew 9:35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. (NIV)

I love this Bible verse because it contains what ministry is all about. There are three main tasks that Jesus accomplishes here and throughout my many years of ministry I tried to fulfill them.

The first task was to teach the people about the Kingdom of God. This meant reading, sharing, and studying the ancient texts of the Jewish people. God had given them history, poetry, wisdom and prophecy through these texts. Christ’s task was to interpret those sacred words with a new understanding that would extend God’s blessing of salvation not just for the Jewish people but for the entire world.

Secondly, Jesus proclaimed the good news about God’s Kingdom which meant that He preached the word in local synagogues, as well as in marketplaces and homes. He preached to them the truth about God’s existence and how mindful God was of their lives. His preaching was radical because it turned their cozy spiritual world upside down where the poor were blessed and the powerful were rebuked, where the vulnerable were uplifted and the vain were undermined; where the weak were strengthened and the strong were diminished; where the first would be last and the least would be first in God’s eyes.

And the third task that Jesus was given was to heal broken people of their illnesses, injuries, and issues. He made the lame to walk and the blind to see. He liberated people from their demons and obsessions. He gave faith to the fearful and granted peace to the possessed. He healed hearts that were broken, minds that were mangled, bodies that were crippled, and souls that were enslaved.

So, this beautiful verse reveals to us all that Jesus set out to do: to teach the truth, preach the Word, and heal the people – three things that all who minister should also seek to accomplish.

Point to ponder: What kind of ministry has Christ called me to undertake and fulfill?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your ministry still continues in our world today. Grant us opportunities to share Your truth, spread Your Word, and offer healing to others. In Your Holy Name, we simply pray. Amen.

 

John Stuart is a retired Scottish pastor who now lives in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Sunday Shorts: Come and See

John 1:45-46 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth."

Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."

I love this conversation between Philip and Nathanael. The two of them must have been the best of friends and shared many experiences together. The fact that Philip approaches Nathanael first with the exciting news that he has found the long-awaited Messiah means that he must have been very close to his friend. He had already been given the blessing of Jesus in his life, so Philip wanted his best buddy to experience the same thing.

Nathanael’s response is comical – he doesn’t believe Philip and even doubles down on this by asking if anything good could come out of Nazareth. For some reason, Nathanael did not have a high regard for Nazareth – perhaps it was morally corrupt, economically insignificant, or just a rival town to his – whatever the case, Nathanael is reluctant to believe his friend and probably preferred to stay away from this Jesus – whoever he was.

Philip’s response is wonderful. He doesn’t confront his friend’s uncertainty or get into a religious argument about the Messiah. All that Philip gives is a simple invitation. “Come and see,” he says. In other words, humor me and then make up your mind for yourself. It’s a beautiful way to bring someone to Jesus; it’s a non-compelling invitation to allow his friend to freely decide for himself.

Perhaps we have someone who is close to us that we would love to come to church. Maybe we worry about their salvation or are anxious about their beliefs. Instead of forcing them to come to worship or confronting them about their religious ideas, we should just simply invite them to come and see for themselves what church is like – and then leave it with them to decide whether or not they wish to initially come without coercing them with guilt, disdain, or even fear.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we love You and we wish that our families and friends could love You, too. Help us to find ways to encourage our loved ones to come and experience You, to see who You are for themselves, and to find in You all that they have been looking for. In Your Holy Name, we earnestly pray. Amen.

 

John Stuart is a retired Scottish Presbyterian pastor who now lives in Knoxville, Tennessee. 

Short Church devotion: Everyone Else

1 Thessalonians 3:12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. (NIV)

Recently, I was teaching a Sunday school class on the third chapter of Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians. We had quite a good discussion on what Paul wrote long ago, especially when his deep concerns about the young Macedonian church were diminished when he received word from Timothy that the congregation’s faith was firm and flourishing. It was a wonderful moment of joy and relief for Paul who was worried about the spiritual strength of the church folks.

As he exalted in their faithfulness, Paul also gave them a special blessing by writing, ‘May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.’

It’s a beautiful word of encouragement because Paul was asking God to increase their love for one another which would effectively build up the congregation, but then he added something greater: he asked the Lord to let their love overflow ‘for everyone else.’ In other words, Paul hoped that the church people would not just keep the love of God to themselves, but that they would love everyone else with no exclusions. What a wonderful blessing for any church!

Sadly, some Christians in our current communities have forgotten this. They love their own people exclusively and treat others around them disdainfully. They wound minority groups with words that sting and marginalize others by condemning their lifestyle choices. They earnestly believe that they are faithfully fulfilling Christ’s mission with hateful rhetoric and brutal attacks. They hide behind their bibles and flags in order to protect themselves from being swayed from their strict beliefs. Their words are venomous, and their hatred is vile. They really represent themselves and totally misrepresent Christ. They have forgotten or have never accepted Christ’s command to love one another, or even Paul’s words to let their love overflow for everyone else. It’s a great shame because they undermine God’s work to make this world a better place and instead end up creating a bitter planet.

If we want to change this counterfeit Christianity, it has to begin with us personally and individually. God’s love is not just for ourselves, our church, or our faith – as Paul stated, it’s for everyone else. And if all of Christ’s congregations could practice this faithfully, what a wonderful way to be church in the world!

Point to ponder: How would loving everyone else challenge and change my faith? Am I willing to follow Christ and share Him in a loving way?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You loved the whole world so much that You died for everyone, not just for some. You loved Your people and everyone else, so encourage us to do the same. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can check out what’s happening at the church by clicking this link: www.erinpres.org

Race Devotion: Running On - Hebrews 12:1-2

 

Hebrews 12:1-2          Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (NIV)

When I was in High School, I used to enjoy long distance running. Going around the track twenty times or more gave me moments of solitude and clarity that enabled me to find solutions to some of the problems and issues I faced as a teenager. Most of the things that burdened me were brought on by my foolish and selfish ways. Running around the sports field gave me the time that I needed to sort things out in my heart and head. It was an effective way of facing my faults and thinking through my thoughts. Usually, when it came to running around the last track, I felt much better than I did when I started.

The older I get, the more I realize that life itself is a long-distance run. Through the years, I’ve made more mistakes than I can possibly remember and am burdened with a number of regrets. I cannot change the past, nor the route that I have followed, but my faith has endured so that when I look ahead and think about what’s left of this lifetime run, I see Jesus at the finish line. Knowing He is there, encourages me to throw off those past burdens which hinder me and fix my eyes on Him. That’s when I realize that this whole journey of going through life has but one purpose: to run to Jesus, the perfecter of my faith, and be welcomed by Him.

I don’t know what problems you are facing or how many burdens you’re carrying in your hearts; I don’t know what fears you have or regrets that weigh you down, but this I do know, you can throw them all off today and lay them down before Jesus – then you can continue to run this beautiful race that we call life, knowing that at the end Jesus will still be there, waiting for you.

Q: What is burdening me right now and hindering my enjoyment of life? Am I ready to hand it over to Jesus and let Him cheer me on?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You know us completely and fully understand our weaknesses and worries, anxieties and cares. Help us to lay them down before You, as we fix our eyes upon You. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

 

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can read the church website here: www.erinpres.org

Today’s image is an old favorite drawing of John’s called “A New Earth.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on this link: New Earth.

Short devotion: Raiders - Revelation 11:19

 

Revelation 11:19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm. (NIV)

            Evelyn and I went to see “Raiders of the Lost Ark” at the Tennessee Theater in Knoxville yesterday afternoon. I had forgotten what a wonderful film it is. To watch it once again on a big screen was very enjoyable and a great way to unwind after a long and arduous week. Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones has always been one of my favorite movie characters, so I enjoyed the whole event.

            The movie never stops or slows down – there’s always something going on. I remember talking to my Dad about it and he said the movie reminded him of the cliffhanger films that he saw as a child. I agreed. The movie has aged well. In yesterday’s audience, there were lots of people who had never seen it. They were just as enthralled as I was. It was a terrific movie theater experience.

            The story is all about a race between rivals who are looking for the lost Ark of the Covenant. The Ark contained the Ten Commandments etched on the original stone tablets, as well as Aaron’s Rod which he used to impress Pharaoh. For centuries, the Israelites used to carry it wherever they were and into battle. At some point, the Ark became lost and archaeologists have been looking for its whereabouts ever since.

            However, the Book of Revelation tells us that the Ark is no longer on Earth. According to today’s scriptural verse, it resides in God’s Heavenly Temple. Searching for the Ark may make the basis for a great Spielberg movie, but it’s a futile endeavor. God has it and we won’t see it again until the end of time when Heaven is opened and the Ark of the Covenant is once more revealed.

            As human beings, we can spend our lives looking for things in all of the wrong places. We can follow our own path, make our own way, only to realize that it leads to a dead end. We can ignore God’s guidance and end up nowhere fast. Or we can follow Christ and discover that faith, hope, and love not only exist, but that they endure forever. Now that’s a treasure worth finding, a discovery worth seeking.

Q: What am I looking for in life? Can God help me find this?

Prayer: Lord God, help us to focus on the things that You want us to experience and accomplish. Keep us from going down the wrong path. Lead us to Your Eternal Kingdom. In Christ’s Name we pray. Amen.

Today’s image is one of John’s Pentecost drawings called “SpiritFall.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on this link: SpiritFall.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you want to know what’s happening at the church, please click this link: ErinChurch.

Short devotion: Love Each Other - John 15:12

 

John 15:12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. (NIV)

When I think of my Savior’s love for me, I am reminded that I did not deserve one ounce of it. I am thankful that Jesus did not say, “I’m tired of doing things for other people. I’m tired of those who expect me to heal them for nothing. I’m tired of those who take everything from me. I’m tired of those who don’t deserve to receive God’s resources or Heaven’s wealth. I’m tired of those who take me for granted and constantly call on God to help them. I’m tired of looking after their spiritual welfare, especially when they neglect their spirits. I’m tired of feeding them when they turn up hungry, looking for food. I’m tired of being treated this way and just won’t save them because they’re just too lazy to save themselves.”

I am grateful to God that Jesus never said that – instead, He loved immensely, broadly, richly, wonderfully, and beautifully. And then He asked His followers to do the same: ‘Love each other as I have loved you.’ His followers, mind you; His disciples, you know the folks like us who call ourselves Christians – we’re meant to love each other in Christ’s way, not on our own terms. There are no boundaries, there are no walls; there are no restrictions, there are no barriers – not if we call ourselves ‘Christians.’

Yep, calling ourselves ‘Christian’ is easy; being a Christian is one of the hardest things to do in life.

So, Christian sister or brother, do we honestly love each other as Christ loves us?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we confess to being shallow people and hollow Christians. Forgive us when our prejudices prevail and we forsake our faith through pride. Lead us back to be embraced by Your love and then move us forward into the world with Your love. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Check out what’s happening at the church on our website: www.erinpres.org.

June 22 devotional - The Man Who Has Everything

John 4:10      Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

            The Man who has everything – that’s who Jesus was, still is, and will always be. I often wish that I could find some positive way of letting my family and friends know this amazing truth about Jesus. They all seem to be constantly striving, under a lot of pressure, and continually trying to keep on going with no real understanding about where life is headed. They are all good people and I love them dearly. I just wish that somehow I could convince them that in Jesus they would find all that their restless hearts, minds, and souls are looking for.

            I enjoy seeing their pictures on Facebook, with all of the different and wonderful experiences they have, as well as seeing the places they visit all over this planet. Yet, I sometimes wonder, when they get back from their exciting trips and amazing events, what do they think about when they are alone with their thoughts? What are their hopes and dreams? What do they ponder and wonder about their own existence? Do they have any understanding of their mortality? What beliefs do they have about life after their own inevitable deaths?

            In today’s passage, Jesus encounters a Samaritan woman who has no earthly idea about who He is, what power He possesses, or how He can significantly change her life. She is surprised by His presence and even more amazed at His asking of her for some water. She knows that Jesus is Jewish, so she is startled that He is having a conversation with someone that His race was known to vehemently despise.

            At one point in the conversation, Jesus relates to her about what He can actually do for her. He could refresh her weary soul with His power. As Jesus says, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

            I hope and pray that all of my loved ones, my family and friends, will one day realize, recognize, and receive all that Jesus – the Man Who has everything – can actually give them. It will be a wonderful day for them, and a great blessing to me.

Questions for personal reflection

Which of my loved ones do I wish that Jesus would become their personal Savior? Am I willing to continually pray for this to occur?

Prayer:          Lord Jesus, thank You for saving me and for Your wonderful love being continually present in my life. Please help my loved ones open their own hearts and minds to Your presence, so that they may also experience the wonderful joy of truly, personally, and eternally knowing You. In Your Holy Name, I pray. Amen.

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

Today’s image is one of John’s latest sunflower drawings called “Just Around the Corner.” If you would like to view a larger image, please click on this link: Sunflower.

Hard Times - Mark 9:24

Mark 9:24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (NIV)

            I call it ‘spiritual paralysis,’ and it usually occurs when people are overwhelmed with unrelenting worries or deep concerns about their family and loved ones. Sometimes it happens because of a serious illness or a long-term addiction; at other times it’s caused through career failures, broken relationships, or financial stress. Whatever the circumstances, the issue or crisis is so devastating that prayers are hard to say, faith is difficult to maintain, and belief in God is almost unsustainable.  People feel forsaken by the Lord and drained of their hope. Their spirits become depressed and the ability to voice their concerns to God is badly damaged. During those moments, the prayers, support, and love of the faith community are crucial.

            When Jesus dealt with the man whose son was gravely ill, He encountered this spiritual paralysis (Mark 9:14-29). The father was so overwhelmed with the boy’s illness that he doubted Christ’s ability to cure his beloved child. It was a painful moment for the man because he wanted so much to believe that his son could be healed, but his fears diminished his faith and crushed his confidence in God. His anxiety overwhelmed him and he agonized over his unbelief.

            Jesus could have walked away and left the boy unhealed. He could have blamed it all on the father and abandoned him at the time of his greatest need. Instead, Christ compassionately confronted the spiritual paralysis, the debilitating illness, and the overwhelming circumstances. Jesus restored the boy to his father, as well as his faith in God.

            Perhaps you are going through a time of spiritual paralysis or unrelenting worry. Maybe your reliance on God is wavering and your faith is weak. Whatever is at the heart of your turmoil, please know this: God still loves you and with Christ’s help, you can be repaired and restored through grace and love. You are not alone nor abandoned; you are totally loved and embraced by Jesus.

Point to ponder

What are my main worries and deepest concerns? Am I able to voice them to God? Am I willing to hand them over to Christ?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we believe; help us overcome our unbelief. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

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

Today’s image is of a Blue Christmas candle which is traditionally lit for folks who find this time of year difficult. If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Candle.

Choices - Hebrews 1:9

Hebrews 1:9    “You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” (NIV)

            We live in an age of moral ambiguity. There is so much distrust in our society right now that we’ve forgotten how to tell the difference between righteousness and wickedness. Fear and suspicion cause division; only faith and trust can restore the unity that communities and civilizations need to thrive. If we equate righteousness with self-righteousness and excuse wickedness as a means of getting what we want, then we will lose our connection to godliness and one another. And if we think that our society is immune from immoralism, then we have also forgotten the lessons from both History and the Bible.

            In today’s highlighted Bible verse, we read the words of commendation that God gave to Jesus, His Son, for being obedient and authentic. Christ kept His integrity by both loving and living righteousness; He also opposed and condemned wickedness wherever it occurred. Loving righteousness was an act of faith; confronting wickedness was an act of courage. Christ could never have been accused of mendacity or duplicity. He remained loyal to God and spoke the truth, no matter how unpopular or how unacceptable it had become. The world rewarded Christ with a Cross for His integrity; God rewarded Him with a Crown for His loyalty. Jesus loved righteousness and hated wickedness, therefore God anointed Him with the oil of joy.

            If we believe we are followers of Christ and disciples of Jesus, then we must guard righteousness and confront wickedness. It may cost us a great deal and make us unpopular, but to reward wickedness and to follow in its wake is to disregard all that Jesus taught, all that He stood for, and all that He died for. At the end of our days, when we will all stand before God, would we rather receive the oil of joy or the slime of wickedness? The choice, as always, is ours.

Point to ponder

What righteousness does Christ love in our community? What wickedness does He hate in our society?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You never said that having faith in You was going to be easy, or that following Your ways were going to keep us safe. Open our eyes to really see both the righteousness and wickedness in our community. Help us to embrace goodness and to avoid evil. In Your Holy Name, we humbly and earnestly pray. Amen.

If you enjoyed this devotion, you can read more in John's devotional e-books like "The Light of Love" which has forty-two devotions inspired by the Gospel of John. You can find the book at this link: 

"The Light of Love."

Today’s image is one of John’s simple bulletin cover designs called “The Way.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Way.

Get Ready to Go - 1 Thessalonians 4:17

1 Thessalonians 4:17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. (NIV)

            It’s called ‘The Rapture,’ and is one of the greatest mysteries in the Bible. The apostle Paul describes it as an amazing moment at the end of time when Christ suddenly returns to our planet. After initially raising the faithful dead, Jesus will then transport all of His living followers to be with Him above the Earth, just before all sorts of calamities and judgments take place. We don’t know how or exactly when it will happen, but everything – absolutely everything – will be changed in a microsecond. One moment, the Earth and its inhabitants will be what they always appear to be and then, in the blink of an eye, the world and everyone in it will be changed forever. There will be no point in praying or appealing to God for mercy after that dread moment; we will either be with Jesus above the Earth or we will be stranded on our planet awaiting the Final Judgment.

            Frequently, the Rapture is something that unnerves, scares, and confuses a lot of church people. Mainline pastors don’t preach on it very often because it creates a lot of discomfort and unease in the hearts and minds of congregants. We all just want to get on with our lives, be happy, and, at the end of our time on Earth, be accepted and welcomed into God’s eternal bliss. However, as each day passes, we get one day nearer to Christ’s sudden return. He could come back today, so the question we need – absolutely need – to ask ourselves is this: at that astounding moment, will I be taken up into the clouds to be with Christ or left on Earth to await His judgment?

Point to ponder

Am I ready for Christ’s sudden return? What needs to change in my life in order for me to be prepared?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we carelessly live our lives as if they go on forever. We take Your mercy and grace for granted, believing we can live how we want and do what we want. You know that there are things in our lives which need to be changed. You know there are promises we have made to You which we have broken or failed to keep. Help us, Lord, to mend those failures and enable us to become ready for Your Return. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Come and along and join us for worship on Sundays at 11:00 AM. You’ll be made most welcome 😊

Today’s image is one of John’s Communion drawings called “Time Stood Still.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Time.

We Have No King - John 19:15

John 19:15 But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”

“Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered. (NIV)

            It was the ultimate act of betrayal. The chief priests in Jerusalem were the highest officers and leaders in the Jewish community. They represented centuries of their faith and all of the people. They were meant to be living examples of how to serve God and follow Him faithfully. They were supposed to be the upholders of the Law of Moses and all of their religious traditions. But in one hate-filled answer, they betrayed all that was dear to them and denied God’s authority over them.

            What was this act of betrayal? The answer that they gave to Pilate: “We have no king but Caesar.” God was their King and He was their Sovereign. The whole of Jewish history was built upon having no other god or ruler before God. Sure, there had been kings in the past who tried to rule the people as God’s chosen servants, but there was always a struggle between being ruled by God and governed by local kings. In the Book of Judges, the great warrior Gideon refused to be made king with these words: ‘I will not rule over you…the LORD rules over you.’ (Judges 8:22-23).

            When the chief priests said to Pilate that only Caesar was their king, they were betraying all of their beliefs in God and trading them in for a foreign despot to rule over them. Their hatred for Jesus was so intense that they were willing to displace God with a Roman Emperor. It was a scandalous act of betrayal and one which doomed Jerusalem. Forty years after this event, the Roman Emperor crushed the priests in Jerusalem and destroyed most of the great city. Allying their faith with a tyrant brought this upon themselves; putting their faith in a political figurehead created a situation where eventually their religion and nation lost God’s protection and wrought calamity on themselves.

            As Christians, we are supposed to remind ourselves each day that Jesus is our Savior, Lord, and King. Our allegiance belongs to Him and we are meant to serve His ways by applying His teaching in our daily lives. His words and ways are specifically meant to overrule any notions or ideas that go against God’s Will. Christ is our only King on Earth and in Heaven. If we displace Him with any other being, then just as the chief priests sadly did long ago, we betray Him.

Point to ponder

How often do I let Jesus shape my ideas, opinions, and choices? Am I guilty of rejecting Him in order to follow other people and other ways?

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are our King and there is no other power or person who can take Your place. We call ourselves Christians, but we can only prove this to be true by how we embrace and apply Your words. Keep us from displacing Your authority and help us to truly serve You. In Your Holy Name, we earnestly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can read the church website at www.erinpresbyterian.org. If you would like to send John a question or a message, please email him at Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s church banner designs called ‘Christ is King.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: King.

True Love - John 16:27

John 16:27    No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. (NIV)

            We live in a world where many people believe that God loves everyone, therefore, we can do whatever we want and God won’t mind. Sadly, it’s the biggest misconception that good folk have, and may even be a questionable idea which promotes a teaching of false assurance. It’s very easy to embrace this impression because none of us are comfortable with the notion that some folks are not loved by God. Even as a pastor, I struggle with this one but when I see the consequences of a carefree, casual approach to faith – moral anarchy, self-indulgence, and narcissism -  I question the veracity of such a popular misconstrued philosophy.

            As usual, when I get perplexed about this, I look to the Gospels and try to focus on what Christ actually taught, as opposed to common misunderstandings of what He said and did. In today’s passage (John 16:16-33), I am intrigued by Christ’s remark that God solely loves the disciples simply because they love and believe in Jesus. As a parent, I can understand this – whenever I see my daughters in the company of good and reliable friends, I love those friends dearly for loving my daughters. I think God, as Christ’s Father, felt the same way about the disciples who truly loved, believed, and supported Jesus. This, in turn, causes me to ponder on the whole idea: does God truly love us when we faithfully love and believe His Son?

            If this is the case – and remember, it comes from Christ’s lips – then doesn’t the Church do a disservice to Jesus, as well as to the world, when we dilute the faith by presenting it as a vehicle for being nice to others rather than being true to God? As I see congregations dwindling in mainline Christianity, it makes me wonder if our one-god-fits-all message has lulled us into a false sense of security and sadly doomed many people, including our own loved ones, into being separated from God forever for not truly loving and believing in His Son.

Point to ponder

Who do I truly believe that Jesus is? Is this what God expects me to believe?

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, Your words often challenge us and Your ways confront our choices. Open up our hearts and minds to Your Gospel. Help us to read Your life story and teachings carefully, so that we may live our lives by loving You faithfully. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can read the church website at www.erinpresbyterian.org. If you would like to communicate with John, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s psalm drawings based on Psalm 149. If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Psalm149.

Looking for Jesus - John 6:24

John 6:24 Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus. (NIV)

            Quite recently, I was seeking an old recording of a conversation that some friends of mine had at a radio station several years ago. One of them had just died and I was wanting to hear his voice again, as well as the remarkable story of his life. I hunted high and low in my home, my study, my garage, and church office, but sadly I didn’t come across the CD. I know that it is somewhere safe and I’ll probably discover it when I’m looking for something else. Until then, I’ll just have to rely on the memories that I have of my friend and the good times that we shared.

            At the end of today’s Gospel passage (John 6:22-24), the people are looking for Jesus, but He is nowhere to be found. The previous day, He had miraculously fed 5000 people, which made the crowd want to make Him their king. When they discovered that Jesus had gone, they set out on their boats and sailed up to Capernaum where He usually resided. I’d like to think that they were looking for Christ for all of the right reasons, but I suspect that human nature being what it is, they were mostly looking for more miraculous food.

            This made me reflect on my own search for Jesus. Have I been seeking Him for all of the right reasons, or do I have some selfish desires that I want Him to fulfill? Am I looking to Christ to straighten out my problems, overcome my difficulties, and fix my issues, or I am I just humbly seeking to serve Him because He is my Lord and King? I hope and pray that it is more to do with the latter.

Point to ponder

Am I looking for Jesus to do something in my life or am I seeking to do something for Him?

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, You are the Lord of our lives and the King of all Creation. We are supposed to be Your servants and faithful followers. Help us to seek Your will in all that we accomplish and experience today. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can read the church website at www.erinpresbyterian.org. You can also email John with your questions, feedback, and thoughts at Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest drawings called ‘Jazz4Jesus.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Jazz.

Table Turner - Matthew 21:13

Matthew 21:13           “It is written,” Jesus said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’” (NIV)

            The Temple in Jerusalem was meant to be a sacred place where anyone’s prayers could be heard. It didn’t matter who you were or where you came from, if you sincerely wanted to ask God for help, you could actually do it within the Temple courtyards. Even foreigners and aliens were granted this privilege because the outer court was designated as a place of prayer for them. Unfortunately, in Christ’s time, the elite worshippers treated this area as an extra space to set up their money-changing tables, as well as the selling of all sorts of animals. It meant that the whole area became a menagerie of moneymakers, instead of being a quiet dignified place where foreigners could safely pray.

            This commercial set up angered Jesus for two reasons. Firstly, it dishonored God’s House of Prayer – it was a holy area for meditation, confession, and worship, not a wholesale arena for markets, commerce, or wares. Secondly, the place that was set aside for the foreigners had been designated by the grace of God; now it was being desecrated by the greed of men. Jesus condemned the bigotry and injustice that was taking place in God’s House, which is why He angrily turned over the tables and threw the money-changers out of the Temple courtyards.

            Faith and justice, as well as grace and mercy, were key components of Christ’s ministry. In this passage, He teaches all of us today that places of worship are holy areas and that how we treat foreigners does not go unnoticed by God. In a world which is increasingly beset by religious intolerance and contempt for outsiders, Christians should actually remind themselves of what Jesus did in the past and how that should influence what we do now. Such a personal reflection will not be comfortable, but then again, who said that having faith in Jesus was ever going to be easy?

Point to ponder

What made Jesus angry? Why should I deeply care about those things, too?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You want all people to freely come to God and receive His blessings. Help us to be gracious, compassionate, and loving to others, especially those who seem so different from ourselves. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

Today’s image is one of John’s stained glass designs called ‘A New Earth.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click on this link: New.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. You can read the church website at this link: www.erinpresbyterian.org.

Once and For All - Hebrews 9:14

Hebrews 9:14  How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

            Sometimes when we disappoint people, they find it hard to trust us. We may try to make things better or show some remorse about what has occurred, but that cannot guarantee things will ever be the same again. People have feelings, so when they are hurt, injured, or disappointed, they feel vulnerable and unprotected, perhaps even gullible or stupid. We may regret causing some injury, but we cannot make others forgive us or forget what happened. The sad consequences of our actions may ruin relationships or fracture friendships. We cannot change the past, nor can we insist on mending the matter.

            With God, things are different. His Son has died for us in order to heal the breaches we have caused between ourselves and our Creator. When we disappoint God, He could punish us severely; instead, He chooses to forgive us completely. The death of Jesus, as bloody and as brutal as it was, paid the price for our sins, so our contaminated spirits can be cleansed once and for all. This is what it means to be washed in the blood of Jesus – His sacrifice makes us whole once more; His death deletes the disappointments; His crucifixion wipes out every sin we have ever committed.

            So today, let’s all rejoice in the wonderful fact that Jesus is our Savior and we are eternally restored to God’s grace and love.

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, thank You for deleting our sins and eliminating our faults forever. We are grateful that You cleanse us of our past mistakes, so we can joyfully serve God from this moment on. Be with us and bless our spirits this day. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. 

House of God - Hebrews 3:6

Hebrews 3:6    But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.

            Coming from Scotland, I am part of a network of millions of people who belong to the House of Stewart. My family’s own particular branch of that royal clan is Stuart of Bute, which influences most of the South West region of Scotland. Generations ago, my ancestors were tenants on a farm in Kintyre, which Sir Paul McCartney now owns. When the Industrial Revolution began in the 1800s, my folks left the countryside and moved to Glasgow, where they found work as weavers, clay pipe makers, and carters.

            As members of the House of Stewart, my family wears its tartan with pride and theoretically our life-long allegiance is meant to be given to the living monarch of Scotland, presently Queen Elizabeth. In the past, this allegiance laid feudal obligations upon my family to defend the Scottish sovereign to the death and I am sure that some of them did. These days, however, that connection to the House of Stewart is a celebratory one, so whenever I go to Scottish festivals, Highlands Games, or Burns Suppers, I wear both the Royal Stewart and the Stuart of Bute tartans. It’s my way of identifying with the past, but also of proclaiming my Scottish heritage to my peers.

            I like today’s verse from Hebrews because I understand Christ’s loyalty to the House of God. He is faithful to His Heavenly Father and totally obedient to His will. He is proud of what His Father has accomplished and seeks to glorify God through all that Jesus does. And, as we know from the Gospels, Jesus proved His loyalty to God by sacrificing His own life because God demanded it from Him in order to save the world. Christ’s perfect allegiance to God cost Him His life, but it won for us the opportunity to become a privileged part of God’s eternal household, which is something that we could never have accomplished for ourselves.

            So let us rejoice in what Jesus has achieved. We are restored to God’s favor forever and are always welcome in His House.

Questions for personal reflection

What do I know of my own ancestry? How has it shaped my faith?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, thank You for honoring God with Your perfect obedience and total commitment to His will. We know that we have been blessed through Your loyalty to God, so we thank You for the gift of salvation which allows us to be embraced in the House of God. In Your Holy Name, we gratefully pray. Amen.

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

Today’s image is one of John’s Scottish drawings called “Dunure Sunset.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on this link: Dunure.