Youth Devotions: Hope for Everyone - James 5:19-20

James 5:19-20            My friends, if someone should bring back another who has strayed from the Truth, take note of this: Whoever convinces a sinner to repent of his erroneous ways will rescue that person from death and cover over his many sins. (JSV)

            There is hope for everyone, even the worst of sinners. I know this to be true for I am part of that category. We all make ill-advised choices, especially when we are young adults, some of which can ruin our lives entirely. We follow our own path and determine our own future. We hate being wrong and don't want to repent of or confess our foolish ways. Some of us would rather keep making the same sinful choices rather than admit to being wrong. Being ornery and stubborn, mule headed and strong minded comes with the territory of growing up. What we eventually become is largely based on how willing we are to change direction, especially if we are following a self-centered and self-destructive path.

            When I was addicted to alcohol, I never heeded anyone's advice. My mother wept over me; my father gave up on me; and my friends began to abandon me. I stubbornly refused to concede that I had a problem. I believed that I was right and everybody else was totally wrong. I wouldn’t seek help and almost got myself into a lot of serious trouble. If I hadn't met Christ on the road I was on, I probably would be dead by now. It took His presence in my life and the candid words of His followers, who were my peers, to turn my life around. Their love convinced me to repent. Their understanding and faith saved me from my sinful addiction.

            Sometimes I worry about our young folk at church, college, and in their new careers. Some of them are making foolish choices just like I did, so I pray for them on a regular basis. I want them to know that the lessons of faith they learned as children or teenagers are still relevant in their lives today. I want them to know that when all else fails, Jesus will never let them down. I want them to have a place of acceptance and love, renewal and hope in their lives.They are still, and always will be, children of God’s grace. My fervent prayer is that they will personally know that for themselves in the most crucial time of their beautiful lives.

Questions for personal reflection

Who are the young people in my church? How often do I think about and pray for them?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You personally know the young people in our lives who are part of our family and church. Please be with them this day and bless them with guidance. Let them know that they are fully loved by You, as well as by Your people. Help them to make good choices which will bring positive benefits to their lives. Let all of them experience Your loving embrace. In Your Holy Name, we earnestly 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 of today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is John’s latest Memorial Day drawing called “HERO.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7411/14115352532_981eecd1a7_b.jpg

Church Leader devotions: Running on Empty

My new e-book has just been published on Amazon. I wrote it for pastors and church leaders who often struggle with low energy and weariness because they are constantly giving of their time, talents, and skills, leaving themselves spiritually, mentally, and physically low.

The sixty devotions can be used as daily devotions for two months, or as weekly staff devotions for church teams and other church leaders.

Enjoy the book!

Youth devotional: Precious People - 1 Peter 4:16

1 Peter 4:16                However, do not be ashamed if you suffer for being a Christian; instead, praise God that you bear Christ’s name!

            This Sunday, four of our young people will go through the rite of Confirmation at church and publicly declare their faith in Jesus. They are very bright young people and each of them have prepared Faith statements about their Christian beliefs. They have been nurtured spiritually by their families and our congregation, so the whole event will be both a sacred and special time for all of us.

            They are all deep thinkers which is what Presbyterians are known for. However, they are also Presbyterians in the Bible Belt, which is not always easy to practice. Some of them have been have been confronted and demeaned by their evangelical peers, who seem to take great delight in telling them that they are not going to Heaven simply because they are Presbyterians. It must be very hard for our young people during those moments, but they are all strong in their faith and know who they actually are in Christ’s eyes. One day, each of them will become leaders in our church. They have a great potential and we all feel both honored and deeply privileged to have them among us.

            When Peter was writing about the sufferings that Christians were experiencing in his time, he was reminding them that to follow Christ was never easy. During those dangerous times, Christians were persecuted by both Imperial and religious authorities. They were regarded as seditionists whose beliefs were thought to be corrupt and shameful. They were hunted down and arrested, humiliated and executed for believing in a religious fanatic who had been crucified for his criminal behavior.

            I wonder what Peter would have thought of today’s Christians who bait and provoke one another, causing our young people to reject the church? I think that he may have been both disappointed and righteously angry by our pride and arrogance, our heartlessness and hostility. Perhaps it is time to re-learn our faith from our young people; perhaps it is time to seriously rethink about our divisive ways. I know that I have been guilty of this, too. I know that I need to reconsider that how I express myself as a Christian is more important to our young folks than what I actually have to say.

Questions for personal reflection

How do I convey my Christian faith to those around me? Is my witness to Christ effective or aggressive?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, the world is constantly changing and our young people are the most precious gifts that You bring to our churches. Help us all to support them in their faith journeys, to nurture them spiritually, and to encourage them faithfully, so that they may develop their Christian beliefs in productive and positive ways. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

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

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Pentecost drawings called “After the Fire.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7057/14077009816_c339a8caf4_b.jpg

Gospel devotion: Common Core - 1 Peter 3:18

1 Peter 3:18    For Christ died once for all sins of the righteous and unrighteous, to restore you to God. He was physically executed, but made alive again through the Spirit.

            Today’s chosen verse contains the common core of our Christian beliefs. Jesus died for our sins because there was no one else and no other way that this could be accomplished. Without His crucifixion, there would be no sacrifice. Without His death, there would be no forgiveness. And without His resurrection, there would be no hope of everlasting life.

            Some people claim that Christ died accidentally for being in the wrong place, at the wrong time, and confronting the wrong authorities. They say that He never meant to die, but would have continued preaching, teaching, and healing well into His old age. They say this because they can’t cope with the fact that God required His Son to die for us. They don’t believe it because their pride won’t allow anyone to die for their sins. It’s almost as if they think that they will be able to advocate for themselves in the after-life without having Christ as an intermediary.

            Sadly, they are both deluded and wrong. None of us can talk to God face-to-face. We don’t have that right because we are not equals. We won’t be given that opportunity, no matter how cosmically unjust we might think that would be. God does not apply Himself or live by our rules. We, on the other hand, live under His authority and sovereignty. The rules belong to Him.

            Thank goodness, then, that Jesus actually died for our sins. In Him, we have the perfect Savior of our souls and the everlasting Advocate before God. Because of what He has done, we can be forgiven. Because of the blood that He shed, we can be restored. Because of His sacrifice, we can be hopeful of Life beyond death, Heaven beyond the universe, and Love beyond all of our imaginings. He died for our sins – to restore us to God totally, finally, and eternally.

Questions for personal reflection

What does Christ’s death mean to my faith in Him? How else could my sins be forgiven?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You are the Source of our Salvation and the Living One who leads us to eternal life. There is no one else in History, on Earth, or under Heaven who could give us this Blessing of all blessings. We thank You for Your sacrifice and we praise You for Your victory over sin and death. In Your Holy Name, we cheerfully and gratefully pray. 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 traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is part of a Holy Week series of images that John created for 2014. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7194/13939576594_9f95bfb516_b.jpg

Church Staff devotions: All It Takes - 1 Peter 3:11

1 Peter 3:11    He must turn away from wickedness and instead do good; he must be a peace seeker and constantly practice it. (JSV)

I recently read that in order to eradicate poverty across the planet, it would cost about $125 billion per year. It sounds like an immense cost, but then I read the next line: the world spends $1738 billion each year on war. In other words, we could eradicate poverty for ten years with what we spend on fighting one another in any twelve months. It made me think that if ever there was a Universe award for Stupid Species across the Cosmos, it would surely go to humankind each year.

What we do to one another is monstrous and it may be that we will eventually destroy ourselves completely because of our stubborn, prejudicial, and belligerent ways. This year sees the centennial anniversary of World War 1, which used to be called “The Great War” because it was thought to be the war to end all wars. Sadly, within a generation, World War 2 occurred, proving to God and the rest of the universe how foolishly bellicose we really are.

As human beings, we have the potential, as well as the resources, to rid our planet of the scourge of poverty. Instead, we sinfully waste and squander our opportunities by enslaving or slaying one another. We have the ability to conquer many diseases, as well as to feed, clothe, and educate every person on this planet, but we throw it all away on war.

As Christians, we should be at the forefront of seeking and making peace across the planet because we call our leader the ‘Prince of Peace.’ Sadly, we are just as bellicose inside and outside of the church, following our own heresies of pride, prejudice, and protagonism, on both sides of the theological spectrum, creating our own little wars which shamefully divide the Church and diminish Christ’s work in the world.

One day, Jesus will return and, as the old song states, we will study war no more. However, between now and then, we should prepare His way among us by practicing His way between us. Otherwise, we are just wasting our God given talents and squandering our sacred resources.

Questions for personal reflection

How do I seek and practice peace in my life? How does this shape my Christian beliefs?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, sometimes we are hopeless when it comes to being peace seekers in our homes, churches, and communities. We let pride painfully separate us from our loved ones. We allow prejudice to contaminate our souls. We allow belligerence to dictate how we express our faith. Forgive us, Lord, for being peace breakers instead of peace seekers. Challenge our sinful ways so that we may truly cherish You as the Prince of Peace. 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 or ask some questions, please send him an email to traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Pentecost drawings. It’s called ‘Promised One.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7441/14146360152_17b1a0693a_b.jpg

Church devotion: Gender Genocide - 1 Peter 1:6

1 Peter 1:6      In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.

There is no rejoicing among Northern Nigerians whose daughters were brutally kidnapped recently by the Talibanic terrorist group, Boko Haram. While we are excited about final exams and proms, a whole community across the world is totally devastated. Almost three hundred girls, who were taking their final exams, were inhumanely abducted at gunpoint and are now suffering under the wickedness of this hostile group. Their families are anguished and, until the world rallies to their defense, their hearts will remain broken and their losses will be difficult to endure.

This kind of callous kidnapping has been going on for centuries. All over the world millions of women and young girls are abducted, sold into slavery, and trafficked as sexual chattels each year. Corrupt governments and greedy leaders turn a blind eye to what’s going on in Africa, Asia, Europe, and even here in North America. It’s a scandalous situation, a shameful issue, and a sinful blight upon the whole of humanity. Until women are properly treated as equals across the entire planet, these inhumane practices, which really should be called ‘gender genocide,’ will tragically continue and never be resolved.

As Christians, we need to advocate on behalf of women everywhere, not solely in a feminist way but in an entire human way, where women and men stand together and truly fight for these inalienable rights. Those who hide behind religious doctrine or masculine supremacy need to be totally confronted and made to change their ways or pay for their crimes. We cannot wait for another century or even another millennium for this to occur. We need to act now; we need to pressurize our politicians and write to our representatives, boldly demanding these changes and continually calling upon them to actively advocate for women in this land and everywhere else.

This may not seem to be much of a devotion to you, today; but sometimes in our devotion to God we need actively practice our faith by being advocates for freedom and equality, faith and love. If not, then all that we have is a heavenly faith that is no earthly use at all.

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, You treated women as equals and honored them for their gifts, their love, and their faith. Help us to do the same in our churches, communities, nations, and continents. Keep us mindful of the inhumane trafficking of people, especially women and girls across the world. Grant us the courage to stand together against these sinful, ungodly, and wicked practices. In Your Holy Name, we fervently pray. Amen.

Church meeting devotion: A Tale of Two People - James 5:17

James 5:13     Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.

            Yesterday morning, I was supposed to attend our quarterly Presbytery meeting which was being held at our beautiful John Knox Center. It’s always a delightful place to visit because of the wonderful scenery which surrounds the campground. However, God had other plans.

            As I was driving down the Interstate, I saw two people walking along the shoulder. Both of them were wilting under the tremendous heat of the sun. I thought that one of them was a woman and she seemed to be carrying all of her belongings in a rag bundle. After passing them, because I was in a hurry to get to Presbytery, I couldn't get the image out of my mind.

            I took the next exit and doubled back. By this time, they had stopped walking and were sitting on the metal railing in the shade. I eventually came around their way again and stopped the car on the shoulder beside them. They were relieved that someone had actually stopped.

            They hadn't eaten anything hot in two days. They were both unwashed, sunburned, and suffering from exhaustion. They had been on the road for four days and still had another six days journey ahead of them. They were heading to Arkansas but hoped to reach Nashville that day, whereas I was heading to the camp just a couple of miles up the road. As my exit came up, I decided to take them to get them breakfast and then drive them to Nashville.

            After they had eaten, I told them to go to sleep in the back of the car if they needed it. Within minutes, they were sleeping like babies. Nashville was almost a three hour drive and they slept all of the way until we reached the outskirts of the city. We stopped for coffee and lunch. I then took them to one of the biggest churches in the city, which has a large benevolence ministry. I knew that they would be well looked after. Today, they may be on a Greyhound bus traveling home. It my fervent hope and prayer that they get home quickly and safely to be with their families.

            As I drove back to Knoxville, I wondered if it had been a wasted day. I could have spent it at the Center enjoying the scenery and getting involved with a few theological tussles that us ministers like to provoke and participate in. And then I remembered the smiles on their faces when I stopped the car, as well as the laughter that we shared over lunch.

The day was not wasted; it was totally blessed.

Questions for personal reflection

What are my plans for today? Am I willing to let God’s plans change those of my own?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, help us in Church World to become part of the Real World. 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 or ask a question about today’s message, please send him an email to traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest drawings called “Emmaus Window.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7193/13905769187_8b7a246e57_b.jpg

Church Devotion: Blessed are the Caregivers - James 3:17

James 3:17     But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

Caregivers are the most undervalued people that we can ever encounter. Over the past twenty five years, I've seen many caregivers who look after their spouses, their parents, or their special needs children and I have marveled at their patience, their commitment, and their love. I know that sometimes they feel worn down and in need of care for themselves. I'm also aware that some of them don't feel appreciated by those to whom they give all of their time, energy, and love.

Most caregivers experience a lot of stress, especially those who look after elderly parents. Age does not come on its own at times, and where disability or dementia are evident, the caregiver usually bears the brunt of their loved one’s frustration, bitterness, and hostility.

When I read today’s verse from James 3, it made me think about the many caregivers that I know who try to be peace-loving, submissive, considerate, and full of mercy. Their service to the person who needs care is remarkable; their dedication to a complaining loved one is courageous. If ever Jesus could have added another beatitude to His sermon on the mount, it should have been this one: Blessed are the care givers for they also will be given care.

Churches are good places where caregivers can find friends who support them, other members who pray for them, and compassionate people who love them. A good congregation knows who the caregivers are in their church; a loving congregation continues to offer caregivers support, respite, and above all sincere affection and encouragement to sustain them.

Questions for personal reflection

Who are the caregivers in my family and congregation? How am I/ can I support them effectively and sincerely?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, today we pray for the caregivers in our community who sometimes feel isolated and forgotten, overwhelmed and anxious. Bless them, encourage them, strengthen them, and give peace to them in the midst of their burdens and pressure. Keep them close to Your heart and enable us to give care to them when they need it most and expect it the least. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

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

Today’s image is one of John’s latest drawings called “Secret Dancer.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2895/14038380245_29919ca86e_b.jpg