Teacher Devotions: March 2011

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Teacher Devotions: A Timely Reminder - Proverbs 6:23 & John 14:6

Proverbs 6:23 For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life.

Somehow this verse from Proverbs reminds me of Christ’s great saying: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” (John 14:6)

It reminds us that in the midst of the unknown and uncertainties, Christ is our lamp, our light to show us the way to live our lives, so that we may one day enter God’s everlasting kingdom.

It reminds us that Christ’s teaching is all the truth that we need to know in our lives. If we follow His commands and apply His teachings, we will be content and know that we are doing what God wants of us.

And it also reminds us that by allowing Christ’s Life to influence our own, He will not only accept us, He will also correct us so that we will not stray from His embrace, His encouragement, and His empowerment to challenge our ways and positively change our lives.

Isn’t it wonderful that Christ is our reliable Guide, True Teacher, and great Lover of our souls?

Prayer: Jesus, lover of my soul, let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll, while the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Savior, hide, till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide; O receive my soul at last. Amen Charles Wesley

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

Today’s image is John’s latest drawing in his “Bonnie Scotland” series of prints. It depicts the beautiful West of Scotland coastal town of Oban, which is also the Highland capital of Scotland’s Gaelic speaking people. The initial print of this drawing (#1 of 25) is currently being auctioned on Ebay. If you would like to view the details and see a larger version, please click on the following link: http://tinyurl.com/48uj8da

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Teacher Devotions: Church - Country Club or Culture Club?

2 Timothy 2:13 If we are faithless, Christ will remain faithful, for He cannot disown himself.

Over the years, I have heard some people criticize churches by calling them “country clubs.” What the critics mean by that is that only those with the right background, faith structure, and set of beliefs are allowed into these congregations. Those churches are criticized for looking after themselves and trying to make everyone else fit their expectations. Much of the current ordination debate that we’re having and the different camps that are emerging seem to fit this type of mentality – on both sides.

Some churches are country clubs, sticking to the established rules, the old money, and traditional values. Other churches are becoming culture clubs, driven by what’s fashionable in society, seeking to be loved by everyone, and yearning to be relevant. Both types are being faithful to themselves. Both are also being faithless to Christ.

At times I worry about the future of the Church. Because of the faithlessness that’s being espoused by both sides, the Western Church is losing its voice in the world. We’re so busy contemplating our theological navels that we’re missing the point: Christ needs followers of His way, not borrowers of His Name. Our acts of self-righteousness and point-scoring agendas do not glorify Christ in any shape or form. We may win battles against each other, but at the same time we belittle Christ’s mission to the world.

Thank goodness then, that when we are at our most faithless, Christ remains faithful and will not disown Himself. He can do without the Western church and our centuries-old denominations getting in His way. Without us, Christ will still get His mission accomplished, but without Him, our country clubs and culture clubs have no future at all.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we are so out of step with You because we are marching to our own tunes. We are fickle and faithless, self-righteous and self-centered. We are allowing our agendas to destroy ourselves. We even foolishly think that without us, Your Work will never be completed.

Forgive us, Lord, for focusing on ourselves instead of Your mission. Pardon us for protecting our own rights and beliefs, instead of spreading Your teaching. Help to recover our senses and realign our hearts and minds, churches and congregations with Your Holy Spirit. In Your Sacred Name, we earnestly pray. Amen.

Today’s image is from one of John’s vacation drawings of last year. It depicts the Scots Kirk in Savannah, Georgia. If you would like to view a larger version of the drawing, please click on the following link: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4077/4817326616_ef7ff6f6bf_b.jpg

Monday, March 21, 2011

Teacher Devotions: Love and Hardship - 2 Timothy 2

2 Timothy 2: 3 Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

There’s a new book out that I’m reading which has created a lot of controversy in the Christian media. It’s written by Rob Bell and is called “Love Wins.” I must admit, I had never heard of Rob Bell until I saw his name appear on some Christian websites and blogs that I read on a regular basis. The writers were very scathing about this pastor and were condemning him for being a universalist (someone who believes that everyone gets into heaven, no matter what they do or believe).

Rather than rush into a decision, which was hard for me, I decided to read the book. I downloaded it to my Kindle and started it last week. Sadly, right from the very start, Pastor Bell seems to be going in the wrong direction. I guess I’ll only know where he ends up once I complete the book.

One of the problems that Bell’s book raises for me is that old issue of “I’m OK; you’re OK.” I’ve come across this several times in different books like Eckhart Tolle’s New Earth and William Young’s “The Shack.” Hardship and conflict are to be avoided by respecting everybody’s beliefs and not criticizing their understanding of God. We are all meant to get on together, loving one another unconditionally and creating harmony by not upsetting one another. Unfortunately, this is a cultural denial of what actually exists and a path which leads to spiritual oblivion. As Jesus Himself put it so succinctly – it’s a case of the blind leading the blind into a ditch.

Christianity is a hardship when it’s lived out properly. There are no short cuts to peace nor avoidance of conflicting issues. In fact, Christ’s teaching did not bring about harmony for Himself, but ended up putting Him on a painful and shameful Cross.

As we continue our journey though Lent, we should become aware of the fact that truly following Jesus will bring us into conflict with our culture, society, and civilization many times. The challenging questions for us today are these: which side of the conflict am I on? How much hardship am I willing to accept? Am I ready to surrender myself to Christ, or am I only too willing to appease my peers?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, being one of Your followers is never easy. The path to heaven is littered with many false trails and dead ends. Only You are the True Way to salvation. Only You have the right and the power and the authority to forgive our mistakes and restore us to God’s Love. Keep us focused upon Your Teachings and help us to endure the hardship of being unpopular to the rest of the world. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Today’s image is another of John’s digital glass representations of the Psalms. It’s based upon a verse from Psalm 105. If you would like to view a larger version, please visit the following link: http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5019/5539089558_b31c75e062_b.jpg

Friday, March 18, 2011

Teaching Devotions: Passing It On - 2 Timothy 1:14

2 Timothy 1:14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you--guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

In the midst of the present theological wars, it’s very easy to become weary with Church World. We never seem to have any peace because someone or some group somewhere wants things to be different, relevant, and post-modern instead of keeping things sacred, divine, and eternal. I know that I am struggling with this and so are many in the congregation that I serve. Christianity is a hard faith to truly practice and live by in today’s society.

I also find it intriguing that when Paul is writing to Timothy, he is urging him to guard the faith. This is only about 30 years after Christ was crucified and resurrected. With a faith so freshly born and the gospel so newly written, you would think people would be more secure with what they believed. However, it seems that the New Testament Church was also divided and so, to sustain Christ’s Peace, second generation Christians like Timothy had to maintain guardianship over the essential tenets of the new faith.

I heard a pastor once preach that if no one in the present generation shared the faith or spread the gospel, then within four generations Christianity would die. I don’t know if that’s true because it’s never been truly tested, but it does lay an onus on every Christian to pass on the faith to the next generation. What makes it all the harder is that we have to do this on Christ’s terms, and not our own.

So today the challenge is this: to whom, in the next generation, have we shared our Faith?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, sometimes we forget that the Christian faith is not a private or personal matter. You called upon Your followers everywhere and in every time to go out into the world to share the Gospel. Forgive us if we have failed to live up to that challenge. Help us, in the life time that we have left, to faithfully share Your Good News with the upcoming generations. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Psalm drawings. It depicts a verse of Psalm 102. If you would like to view a larger version of the drawing, please visit the following link:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5292/5519117740_cf1a7fa46f_b.jpg

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Teacher Devotions: Patrick Power - 2 Timothy 1:7

2 Timothy 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

Today is St. Patrick’s Day, so we’re supposed to wear green, put on a shamrock, and go around saying, “Erin Go Bragh! (Ireland forever)” in our best Irish accent. All over Ireland and in different cities around the world, people will be singing in the streets, drinking green beer, and celebrating their Irish connections. My granny was Irish, so I guess I can join in the fun at any time.

Originally, this day was a church holy day, set aside to commemorate the ministry and mission of Saint Patrick who brought Christianity to Ireland. He lived in the 5^th century AD. As a boy, he was kidnapped by raiders and sold into slavery to an Irish chieftain. Patrick spent six years of his young life herding sheep and learning the Celtic language. He escaped from captivity and when he returned home, he decided to commit his life to God.

When Patrick was ordained, he decided to go back to Ireland as a missionary. He wanted to bring the light of Christ into the hearts of the same people who had kidnapped and enslaved him. During his ministry he endured many hardships and fierce opposition. Eventually, his persistence paid off and Ireland became a Christian country before he died on 17 March, 493AD.

Patrick was a powerful missionary whose zeal for Christ defeated the superstitious paganism which had enslaved the hearts, minds, and spirits of the Irish for hundreds of years. His ministry was so effective that the next generations of Christians under his leadership crossed the Irish Sea and brought the gospel to another pagan country: Scotland.

Perhaps in the midst of our revelry today, we should also take up the cause that Patrick espoused. If we are given the opportunity to share our faith with someone else at work, school, in our neighborhood, coffee shop or even on the internet, then let’s pray that we do it boldly and powerfully, effectively and wisely, lovingly and faithfully. Who knows, perhaps what we say about our Christian faith to someone else today may have an even greater effect to someone else in the future.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You have blessed us with a Spirit of power, love, and self-discipline to overcome our weaknesses, timidity, and faithlessness. On this day of celebration, help us to be captivated by the spirit of St. Patrick, so that we may share the glory of the Gospel with someone else. Grant us the courage to express our faith clearly, candidly, and compassionately. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Today’s image is one of John’s Irish drawings. It depicts the beautiful shoreline of Keem Bay in Ireland. If you would like to view a larger version of the picture, please visit the following link:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4409459421_667037da34_b.jpg

John has a limited number of 8x10 prints available of this beautiful drawing. If you would like one, just contact him by email for information.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Teacher Devotions: The Fighter - 1 Timothy 6:12

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Yesterday I was reading about two pastors and their wives who were arrested in Iran about 9 months ago for preaching the gospel. They have been charged with sedition and have endured many beatings whilst they have been in prison. One of the women also miscarried her baby due to the lack of pre-natal care in her jail. These four young Christians are fighting the good fight and truly suffering for their faith.

In the Western church, we are just fighting. Issues have become incendiaries; theological tussles are creating turmoil; and church problems are preventing Christ’s peace from being embraced. The question we need to honestly ask ourselves is this: are we fighting the good fight or just battling ourselves?

When I see the horrific destruction in Japan and read about the blatant persecution of Christians all over the globe, it makes my own problems and conflicts seem trivial. I ask myself two important questions: Where is Christ in the midst of this mess? What is the Spirit really doing across the world?

Fighting the good fight may not necessarily mean being doggedly dogmatic and solidly scriptural. Perhaps in today’s world it means fighting against despair, struggling with survivors, and mightily loving those whose losses are overwhelming their lives.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You live and walk among the ruins of Japan, as well as the isolated cells in Iran. You fight for the faith by embracing the shattered souls and helpless hearts of people everywhere. Your Spirit seeks the lost and weeps with those whose lives are wrecked. Enable us to be empowered by Your empathy and to conquer despair with compassion. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Japanese prints. It’s simply called “Geisha.” I heartily recommend that you view the larger version of the drawing which brings out the beauty of the girl’s hair and comb. You can view it here:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5020/5511261006_91b8a00621_b.jpg

Monday, March 14, 2011

Teacher Devotion: Memory Surfing - Proverbs 4

Proverbs 4:13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.

Yesterday evening, when I was channel surfing the television, I came across one of my favorite musical movies. It was “My Fair Lady,” starring Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn. They just don’t make movies like that anymore.

As I watched entranced by the ghosts on the screen, I started to quietly weep. It wasn't the story that was affecting me; it wasn't even the beautiful songs and music. It was something that I had forgotten from long ago.

You see, I can practically sing all of the words of “My Fair Lady.” When it was first released, my Mum and Dad went to see it. Soon after this, Dad bought the vinyl album of the musical and each evening for a couple of months, he played it again and again.

I closed my eyes last night and listened to the songs. As I did this, I was transported back to my home in Glasgow and I could picture my Dad pouring over massive engineering blueprints on his desk. As he looked at the drawings, he listened to the musical. My mother was sitting across from him, either reading a book or knitting a cardigan. My siblings were playing on the floor with toys or coloring with crayons. The room was warm and peaceful. As I re-experienced that beautiful moment, I wept. It was wonderful to go there again.

The wise writer of Proverbs talks about holding on to instruction because it is our life. Precious times are Life’s lessons that teach us about the sacredness of simple things. That forgotten memory is priceless to me because a large part of who I am today was borne out of those past experiences. Growing up may not have been easy and there was some pain and bitterness, but the beauty of just ‘being there and being here’ still teaches and affects me. I weep not for woe, but for the wonder of Life itself.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, life is precious and we each are part of a grand journey of personal experiences, wonders, and precious moments. We applaud and adore God for allowing us to live, to laugh, to sing, to weep, and to love. In Your Holy Name, we thankfully pray. Amen.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Psalm drawings. It depicts a verse from Psalm 104 which is an ancient song about the wonder of God’s creativity and providence. If you would like to view a larger version of the image, please click on the following link:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5014/5525542400_9d38e160ed_b.jpg

John’s Psalms art project can also be viewed as a slideshow at the following internet location:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/traqair57/sets/72157603288751629/

Friday, March 11, 2011

Teacher devotions: Turning Away - 1 Timothy 5

1 Timothy 5:15 Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.

I’ll say this about Paul: he didn’t believe in pulling any punches.

As I read through this personal first letter to Timothy, I get the impression that Paul was very direct when it came to dealing with issues of faith. He didn’t beat about the bush or dance around the issue. He went straight to the heart of the problem and dove deep into the center of the enemy’s stronghold. If some people left the church to fulfill their desires, he let them go. He wasn’t the type to stand still and wring his hands. He wasn’t into bemoaning and bewailing the fact that some people couldn’t maintain their faith. He just spoke the truth and boldly stated what needed to be said: that they had turned away to follow Satan.

I wonder how Paul would have survived in today’s church world. That kind of blunt, direct, and candid way of speaking is nullified, diminished, and discouraged in our current ecclesiastical circles. Paul would be labeled as a narrow-minded, intolerant bigot whose words were reckless, rancorous, and disrespectful. He would be categorized as a cold-hearted conservative whose words went against the all embracing love of Christ.

But if Paul was all of these things, then why did Christ choose him on the road to Damascus? If Paul was such an odious and ornery buffoon, why did the resurrected Jesus appoint him as His Apostle to the Gentiles?

Perhaps the answer is this: Paul became Christ’s chosen servant because the Gospel confronts us into making a bold decision to give our hearts to Jesus and His Kingdom, instead of Satan and the world.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, keep reminding us of Your message of repentance and love. Keep challenging our ways and rebuking our wrongs. Deliver us from delusions that would separate us eternally from You. Protect our souls from passively accepting the world’s ways instead of Yours. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Today’s drawing is one of John’s latest waterfall prints. It features the well known Running Eagle Falls in the Glacier National Park. If you would like to view a larger version of this drawing, please click on the following link: http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5134/5514129374_ac4e954bbc_b.jpg

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Lent devotion: Growing Godliness - 1 Timothy 4

1 Timothy 4:8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come

Tomorrow, Lent begins with Ash Wednesday and people all over the world will be thinking about what they can give up throughout the next six weeks. For some, it will be chocolate, candies, or desserts. For others, it may be red meat, fatty foods, or high calorie dishes. Still others may give up bad habits like smoking, drinking, or gambling. However, isn’t the whole point of Lent about trying to prepare ourselves spiritually to receive Christ, but not necessarily as thinner or healthier people?

So what about doing something positive for Lent instead of just giving up on something negative? What about growing our godliness instead of healthiness? What about cultivating the spiritual side of our lives instead of just looking after the physical frame we belong to?

How about setting aside time to read the Bible instead of Facebook? What about taking time to really pray instead of winging it each day? What about asking God to guide our future and show us what He wants for our lives, instead of taking Him for granted and automatically asking Him to bless our choices, our decisions, and our plans?

That would be a Lent worth keeping. That would be enriching our godliness and growing our faith. That would be worthy of our time and Christ’s ways.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, as we begin the Fast of Lent, show us new ways to grow godliness in our lives. Help us to see what is eternal and everlasting within us. Enable us to focus upon increasing the fruits of the Spirit each day of Lent. Draw us nearer and closer to You. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Lighthouse drawings. It depicts a silhouetted Venetian lighthouse at sunset on the Greek coast. It’s called “Katapausis,” which is the Greek word for “Sabbath Rest.” You can view a larger version of this drawing at the following link:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5095/5484353176_e200186e6b_b.jpg

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Teacher devotions: Tainted Past - 1 Timothy 1

1 Timothy 1:13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.

It’s hard to imagine that Paul, the great hero of the New Testament church, was once a blasphemer, persecutor, and violent man. This must have been part of his testimony when preaching to the Jewish communities and Christian churches located in the Mediterranean coastal towns. Both groups would have known about his reputation and could have rejected him because of his past – the Jews saw him as a traitor; the Christians suspected him of being a spy.

Paul didn’t hide his past either. It was an important part of who he was. He referred to his past because people would see how much he had changed. His testimony brought glory to Christ for the changes that He had wrought in Paul’s life. Before meeting Christ on the Damascus Road, Paul thought that he knew everything about God and had served Him faithfully. After personally encountering Jesus, Paul’s life was never the same.

The question that we should ask ourselves today is this: how has my life changed since I came to personally know Jesus?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, just as You did to Paul, You come into our lives to challenge our ideas and change our ways. Things are totally different when we give our hearts to You. Help us to make those changes real, lasting, and effective. Let our living testimonies bring glory to You. 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 John’s drawing based upon the famous Sinai Icon of Jesus. He calls it “Christ Icon.” If you would like to view a larger version of this image, please click on the following link:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5255/5457191479_6bdca8084f_b.jpg