Romans 11:5-6 So
too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by
grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be
grace.
Yesterday, we celebrated Rally Day
in our wee church. It’s a special Sunday because it officially kicks off the
new Church year with regard to discipleship. A lot of good people put in a lot
of time and work to make the whole venture successful. Breakfast and buttons,
classrooms and coffees were all prepared for this annual occasion.
God is so gracious to us! Many
families and members turned out, not just to enjoy breakfast, but to also get
actively involved in discipleship. It was wonderful see people of all ages make
an initial commitment of their time to learn more about God, to share their
spiritual experiences, and to make strong connections with their peers. At
Erin, we all want to grow in hope, faith, and love. God has graciously made all
of this possible, so we are truly thankful to Him for allowing us such a
blessing.
Grace is a wonderful gift in any
church, congregation, or community. Later on, during the worship service, we
were reminded of the hostility and violence that our Egyptian brothers and
sisters are currently experiencing. Their churches are being burned and their
Christian faith is being severely challenged. Compared to what they are
presently enduring, we are so blessed with peace, fellowship, and love. The
challenge that we now have today is this: how
can we prayerfully support and care for the Coptic Christians in Egypt? What
can we do, in the midst of our blessings, to ease their distress and rebuild
their faith communities?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help us to remain committed
to growing more in faith, so that we can support those whose faith is being
attacked. Keep us focused on strengthening our congregation and churches, so
that we may support, send aid, and stand with other Christians around the world
who are facing real persecution in their lives. 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
or ask a question about today’s devotion, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.
Today’s
image is from one of my collectible card drawings called “Cat’s Eye Moon.” If
you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3806/9420111961_5c2249a355_b.jpg