Short devotions: October Skies - Matthew 2:10

Today’s Bible readings:   Isaiah 9:16-21   & Matthew 2:7-12

Matthew 2:10  When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.

I love October skies, especially at night. The sky is filled with a plethora of stars and galaxies on cloudless evenings. Every time I look up, I am in awe of God’s creative power and my heart is filled with joy because I know that the One who made the stars also made me.

Some people talk about us being made from the dust of former stars. I even watched a program recently on television where this was constantly being expressed. I guess scientists and astronomers are enamored by this, but for people of faith, we can go one better: we are not just made of stardust, we are created by the Starmaker Himself.

Tonight, I’ll probably look at the stars again and take delight in recognizing shapes and constellations, planets and galaxies that I have known since I was a young boy in Scotland. But I’ll also take extra delight in knowing that I am a child of God’s grace, created to enjoy His wonders, as well as being eternally saved by His glorious Son.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, thank You for the gift of grace and reconciliation that You bought with Your Life for all of Creation. You have restored the blessedness of all things that God has made and we look forward to the Great Day when You will return to reclaim Your people. Be with us this day and night. Grant us the delight of seeing God’s work in the world and universe. 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 Psalm drawings. It depicts a verse from Psalm 33 where God is said to have breathed out the stars. You can view a larger version of the drawing by clicking on the following link: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3387/3249875950_c61fc2c8f3_b.jpg

Opening Devotions: A Lost Generation - Matthew 2:3

Today’s Bible readings:   Isaiah 9:8-15   and Matthew 2:1-6

Matthew 2:3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.

Herod was a bad ruler and a terrifying king. He murdered both his relatives and rivals. He terrorized his own people. He ruled with an iron fist and a heartless heart. He was an insecure and insane tyrant, so when he became disturbed about the news of the Messiah’s birth, the whole city of Jerusalem also became anxious and agitated.

The people were almost panicked because they knew what Herod was like. If the king was upset, then heads would soon roll. It must have been a terrifying time for the people of God, which was ironic because they were always hoping for the Messiah to be born. As the hymn writer once wrote: “the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” That was about Bethlehem, but it could have been written about Jerusalem too.

These are also anxious days for the Church. Society seems to have gained the upper hand and many young people are moving away from the Christian faith in order to embrace a universal movement of peace, equality, and love. Those are high ideals and noble causes, but we’ve been down this road before in the 60s and 70s. Eventually those high ideals gave way to anarchy, irresponsibility, and immorality. The Hippie movement of 50 years ago, which started with so much happiness and love, degenerated into a despicable drug culture that ruined millions of lives.

Christ is moving among us, but not in the ways that our culture wants or society predicts. The Spirit of God is strong throughout the rest of the world and one day faithful men and women, who have given their lives to Christ in other nations and lands, will come again as missionaries to these shores to revive the Church, reclaim the people, and restore Christ’s Way, Truth, and Life to a generation that is presently lost, as well as to those yet unborn.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, You see the turmoil in the Church and the restlessness across our nations. You’ve seen this all before in other lands and cultures, at other times and ages. Already, You are planting the seeds for a new generation of missionaries to come to our lost generation. We praise Your Name and pray for the time when the Church will be released from its cultural Babylonian captivity and re-brought into the Light of Your True Love. In Your Holy Name, we fervently pray. Amen.

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

Today’s image is one of John’s Psalms project drawings. It depicts a verse from Psalm 37 – “Commit Your Way to the Lord.” You can view a larger version at the following link: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3357/3283895612_313bf65d2a_b.jpg

Advent Devotions for Kindle: Preparing the Way by John Stuart

I’ve written a 25 devotional e-book for Kindle to help people prepare their hearts and minds for the Advent season. As well as Bible verses, stories and meditations, the Kindle book also contains a new Advent/Christmas/winter drawing for each daily message.

It’s an ideal way of keeping Advent and full of finger-tip resources for busy Christians. It only costs $1.99 and may be used as a reflective guide or for opening meetings during the season of Goodwill.

Clicking on the following Amazon ad will take you straight to the book.

Church Meeting devotions: No More Night - Revelation 22:5

Revelation 22:5          There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever.

I love seeing the moon and the stars in the night sky, but I guess that I’m going to miss them in Eternity. This verse from Revelation makes it quite clear that night and darkness will have no place in God’s Everlasting Kingdom. God is Light, so there will be nothing to get in the way of Him and those of us who make it into Heaven. Everything and everyone will be bathed in the glory of God’s infinite glory.

Things will be different, which means that we will be different too. The lives that we live here on Earth are just mere shadows compared to the everlasting brightness to come. We have got so much ahead of us that the present changes, turbulence, and difficulties will quite literally pale next to the heavenly glories that we are still to experience. Compared to God’s Kingdom, the world will just be another dull place.

That doesn’t mean to say that I’m wishing my life away; quite the reverse actually. I’m hoping for more of God’s brightness, light and love to be seen and experienced in the dark places on Earth. I’m praying for a revival in my life, my church, and my faith through the opening up of the minds and hearts of our people, our communities, and our culture. For too long, we’ve let the darkness overshadow our society. It’s time to be truly enlightened by Christ and not artificially brightened by the world.

Prayer:                       Lord Jesus, You are the Light of the World. You come into our dark ways and times in order to show us the everlasting brightness and glory of God. Open the eyes of our hearts, so that we may truly see God’s everlasting brilliance in the world. By the power of Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

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

Today’s image is John’s latest drawing which is simply called “Surfer.” It features a surfer within a wave. If you would like to see a larger version of the picture, please click on the following link: http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6177/6201329105_b1e187698e_b.jpg

Short Devotions: King of kings - Revelation 17 v 14

Revelation 17:14 “They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings--and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”

Before I became a US citizen, I was a subject of the UK. This literally meant that I was under the authority Queen Elizabeth II’s government and subject to the laws which her Government decreed. Living under a monarchy is not the same as being a free citizen of a Republic. Before any laws are fully passed in Britain, they must be signed by the Queen. Without her signature, the laws are null and void. If the Queen ever refused to sign a law, then a Constitutional crisis would occur that would probably bring about the end of the British monarchy.

I sometimes wonder what free born, free-spirited and independently minded Americans think when they read about Jesus being called “Lord of lords and King of kings.” Those terms are so alien to American culture that I wonder if they can really imagine what is being related to them. Lordship and Kingship are ancient terms of autocratic power. To call Jesus “Lord” is to submit your whole self to His commands. To accept Him as “King,” is to place Him at the top and at the center of our lives. There is no such thing as lip-service to a Lord or carefree service to a King. It’s all or nothing. It’s His ways, His Words, and His Works that we honor and glorify.

So today, let’s all ponder what it truly means to call Jesus our Lord and to accept Him as our King. And then let’s try to apply that meaning in our lives.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, You rule over the Earth and are the Sovereign of the Universe. You are the Holy Son of God and the King of all Creation. Help us to humbly submit our hearts and lives to You alone. Grant us the faith to live under Your Everlasting Monarchy and Eternal Rule. 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 pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest chess drawings. It’s called “Battle Scarred” and features several chess pieces on a board. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6087/6117600335_1c11500f3d_b.jpg

Church Devotions: Changing Swords - Isaiah 2:4

Isaiah 2:4        He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.

Two weeks ago I was at a conference in Duluth, Georgia. It was taking place at the world renowned Crosspointe Church and I felt refreshed and renewed in my spirit. I enjoyed the worship and the preaching, the testimonies and faith sharing. It was a very uplifting time and I am now looking forward to next year’s conference.

On the last day of the conference, I was listening to a conversation by one of the deacons at the church. He was explaining to a visitor that the church building used to be a Sidewinder missile factory thirty years ago during President Reagan’s administration. After the taking down of the Berlin Wall and the subsequent thawing of the Cold War, the factory was no longer needed. Eventually, the growing Crosspointe congregation bought the building and converted it into an amazing church space, where thousands of people gather each week to praise the Lord. Instead of a place of death and destruction, it has become a house of peace and prayer. The Lord has truly turned swords into plowshares!

In our own lives, we go through times of conflict and argument, disagreement and trouble. We fall out with family and friends, colleagues and acquaintances. Our hearts become hardened and our tongues fire verbal missiles that are meant to hurt, anger, or upset other people.

God wants to turn the swords of our spirits into plowshares of peace. As always, He has the power to make those changes, but we need to begin the process by swallowing our pride, humbling ourselves, and acting upon God’s guidance.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, You are the Prince of Peace to our planet and the Healer of the Nations. We pray that You will help us overcome the conflicts and disputes in our lives by leading us with Your Spirit to resolve the differences and disagreements we have with others. 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 a question about it, please send John an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest stained glass designs of a Siochain – a Celtic Peace Cross. If you would like to view a larger version of it, please click on the following link: http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6064/6113973739_53680e29ee_b.jpg

Church Meeting Devotion: Red Letter Day - Isaiah 1:18

Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”

I haven’t written a devotional in about two weeks. A lot of things have been going on in my life – some good, some bad, some really sad. It’s been about the rockiest two weeks that I have known in a long while.

I guess I’m still affected by the decisions that took place in the PCUSA this summer. I’ve tried to come to terms with it and have sought to understand what occurred, but honestly, I have not had any real peace. It’s hard place for a leader to be in because if I lose my sense of God’s Spirit, then how can I know the right path to take on behalf of the people I shepherd?

My style is usually to retreat and get back to the basics. It’s like getting lost and then trying to retrace your steps in order to reach the point where things went wrong. In this case, I go right back to God’s grace, my need for repentance, and Christ’s love. Those are the points where my faith sprung from, so those seem to me to be the very places that I spiritually need to revisit.

In today’s verse from Isaiah, God is once again taking the initiative by allowing His people to turn from their sinful ways in order to rediscover their salvation. Even though their sins are as brazen as scarlet, God’s grace can clean and purify them completely. That’s where I need to be; that’s where we all need to be; at that wonderful moment of true grace where our sins are completely forgiven.

It’s from that turning point, at the foot of Christ’s Cross, that we can all begin again. That’s where I am this morning; are you here too?

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, You are the Savior of our souls because Your sacrificial blood from the Cross has washed, cleansed and purified us. We are made holy through Your sacredness; we are restored to God’s favor through Your righteousness. Help us today to kneel before Your Cross and to begin our faith journey anew. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is currently the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. He is also the author of three new devotional ebooks which are available on Amazon.com. 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 called “Peace of Christ.” It features a lion and a lamb lying together in peace as symbols of Christ’s Coming Reign. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6066/6142730168_4352b42b62_b.jpg