Teaching devotions: My Eyes Have Seen - Luke 2:30-32

Luke 2:30-32              “For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”

I have seen God’s salvation in the lives of other people, as well as my own. I have seen addicts turn their lives around and their families restored. I have seen people healed of various illnesses and injuries, and have watched them continue to enjoy life. I have seen the work of many churches across various cities, towns, and villages seeking to support the weak, love the lost, and embrace the hopeless. I have seen the work of missions and missionaries among the poorest of people and in the most deprived communities on Earth. In all of these places and among all of these people, I have seen the continuing ministry of Christ and God’s unending work of salvation.

The prayer of Simeon of old is still relevant in today’s world. All over globe, Christians are working for the Lord to bring salvation to anxious persons and healing to broken hearts. Life is a constant struggle for most people on this small planet, but Christ’s work, words, and ways still manage to bring light and love, as well as hope and healing to billions of human beings in hundreds of nations.

The prophecy that Simeon expressed in the Temple courts is still being experienced today. If we open our eyes to see, our ears to hear, and our hearts to receive, we will notice what God is truly doing among us. Christ’s light reveals to us the redemption, renovation, and restoration of lives throughout the Earth. We only have to be open to His Spirit; we only have to be willing to serve Christ in order to see.

Questions for personal reflection

Where is God at work in my life, community, and world today? How may I help Him?

Prayer:             Lord Jesus, You are the Light of the world and we look to You for everlasting hope and eternal life. You came into this planet to restore us to God through mercy and forgiveness, grace and love. Thank You for these priceless gifts and infinite blessings. 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 comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s drawing is John’s latest stained glass design. It’s based upon windows that he saw as a child when living in tenements in Glasgow, Scotland. The drawing is called both “Halfway Up the Stairs” and “Glasgow Rose.” If you would like to see a larger version, click on the following link: http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8158/7458512986_9fc4bdf206_b.jpg

Teacher devotions: Created to Be - Luke 1:30

Luke 1:30       But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.”

Every day I try to please God, but I know that at some unguarded daily moment, I’m going to say or do something wrong that will both displease Him and disappoint others. I could justify my mistake by shrugging my shoulders and saying, “I’m only human. What do you expect?” but that would be doubly sinful. If I want to find favor in the eyes of God, I need to confess my sin and makes reparations for my mistake.

Being humble does not come naturally to me and I guess if everyone was to be truly honest, they would say the same. I read a poster this morning which stated something like: ‘I do not seek God to make me what I want to be; I want to become what God created me to be.’ It’s a profound thought and something that I really need to write down and carry with me each day.

When the angel Gabriel visited Mary, he told her about God’s plans for her young life. She was to become the mother of God’s Son, just as He had created her to be. Mary could have rejected this blessing, but instead she accepted this special calling and humbled herself before God by saying, “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.”

It’s an amazing moment in the history of our faith. A young woman yields to God’s Holy Spirit and, in doing so, sets in motion an event and produces a life that will change the world forever.

Questions for personal reflection

What has God created me to be? How can I fulfill His purpose for me today?

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, Your mother Mary humbly accepted the divine role and sacred responsibility of bringing You into the world. Without her obedience, our faith history would not be the same. Today, we each seek to fulfill Your calling in our lives in order to serve and please You. In Your Holy Name, we humbly 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 John’s latest wildlife drawing called “Cheerful Chickadee.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7224/7373844830_2ce5af2fdf_b.jpg