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

Teacher Devotions: A Real Promise - Genesis 8:22

Genesis 8:22   (God said) “As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease.”

I am not a scientist so I have to trust what the environmentalists tell me about what’s happening to the planet. I also don’t fully understand what global warming may or may not be, so I have to depend upon them to let me know the truth. If they have a political agenda or an ecological philosophy to push, no matter what the facts present, I wouldn’t know because I am no expert in their fields. It’s all a matter of trust and faith, good will and wise conclusions.

I’m a theologian and a biblical scholar, so when I read in Genesis that God says everything will be okay on this planet so long as the Earth endures, then I trust that His promises are true. Throughout my life, I have never known of God breaking His Word, so I can readily accept that thousands of years ago, when He stated that the agricultural and weather cycles on Earth would persist, as long as the Earth endures, then it will always be the case. I realize, however, that these cycles will only continue so long as the Earth herself is sustained. If we destroy the planet by abusing the environment then those cycles, upon which all life on Earth depends, will be absolutely ruined. In other words, we don’t have to worry about God bringing the world to an end – we can manage that tragedy all on our own.

Question for personal reflection

­How can I faithfully serve God through cherishing the Earth and protecting its environment?

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, You are the King of all Creation and we best serve You when we look after others and the world that we live in. Help us to recycle our faith through sharing it with others, as well as combining our resources with other Christians to renew and value the Earth. 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 latest digital glass drawings. It’s called “The Bright Morning Star.” If you would like to view a larger version, click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7187/6997700470_2e5fe82c6e_b.jpg

Teacher devotions: Sacred Seeds - Genesis 1:11

Genesis 1:11   Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so. 

For the first time in years, I’ve planted some seeds in a box and am hoping to grow perennial flowers that I enjoy. The plants are nasturtiums and lupines. They are both different kinds of plants. The nasturtium is a Chinese creeping plant with beautiful orange and yellow flowers. Butterflies are attracted to them and when the Fall comes, they’ll probably be covered in a host of caterpillars. The lupines are tall plants which attract honey bees. They are usually white, pink, and lavender blue. If they grow successfully, they will constantly re-seed and eventually cover a large area of my front garden.

I need to look after the seedlings in order to give them a strong chance of growing and developing into mature plants. If I neglect to water them or if a late frost gets to them, they will soon die. Every day I keep an eye on them and so far I am delighted with their progress. Hopefully, I will be able to plant them outside in a month’s time and watch them bloom all summer long.

I am constantly amazed at Creation. God’s imagination, artistry, and skill are all around me and I feel both humbled and privileged to enjoy the wonders of His natural works. I like to think that when God first created plants, flowers, and trees on this planet, He not only saw that they were good but that He was absolutely delighted and thrilled with His own work.

Within each of us, God plants seeds of faith that have the potential to bear fruit and multiply through the sharing of our beliefs, the worshipping of Christ, and our participation in His ministry in our own communities and throughout the world. God’s work never stops growing because He is actively involved in the Church’s mission. Our task is to discover where our faith can best be used to bear fruit and where our Christian beliefs can blossom among the people we love, work with, and encounter.

Question for Personal reflection

Where does my faith in Christ produce the most fruit for the future?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, thank You for creating the Church in the world and for allowing us to be participants in Your mission. Help us to rely upon You to guide our thoughts, ways, and deeds so that we may produce fruitful works that glorify You and attract other people to Your Kingdom. 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 on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org. John is always delighted to read your comments and to receive feedback.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest drawings called “Smoky Mountain Sunset.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click the following link: http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5330/6926536366_3bd793f073_b.jpg

John’s drawings can also be found on his art website which you can view at www.stushieart.com.

Teaching Devotions: God's Smiley Face - Isaiah 49:13

Isaiah 49:13    Shout for joy, O Heavens; rejoice O Earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. 

Like most people, sometimes all that I need are a few kind words and a smile to get me through the day. A little kindness, mixed in with some encouragement, goes a long way. In the busy-ness of our own activities and careers, it’s nice to be applauded and appreciated once in a while.

Sometimes when I’m writing emails, I put one of those smiley faces at the end of what I’ve written. Emails are great, but they often don’t communicate gratitude and grace very well. A little yellow smiley face or even the typed equivalent J helps the recipient to understand that you are pleased with what they are doing and encouraged by what they have written.

I like today’s verse from Isaiah because seeks to bless His people with comfort and compassion. They have endured a lot of suffering through the years of exile in Babylon. Their faith has been stretched to its limit and their beliefs have been battered and bruised. God wants them to know that in the midst of their struggles, He is still with them.

Perhaps today you need a kind word and a smile from God. Through the grace that Jesus Christ brought into the world, we are given God’s comfort and compassion. Come to Him today with your worries and woes, your problems and pressures. His promises will help you; His love will sustain you…. J

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, You are the instrument of God’s blessing to the world and the channel of His cherished love. Grant us comfort in the midst of all that unsettles us, and compassion in all that worries us. 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 my latest chess drawing called “Indian King,” featuring Indian designed chess pieces. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7197/6854840939_1a83f370e8_b.jpg

Teacher devotions: I AM - Isaiah 45:5-6

Today’s Bible readings are Isaiah 45:1-7 and Matthew 23:1-12

Isaiah 45:5-6  I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other. 

How clear does God have to be? What more does He have to say that will convince the world that He is God alone? How long will we go on thinking to ourselves that this does not matter?

The scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation, are consistently clear about God’s exclusiveness. If we believe otherwise, then from where did we garner that belief? Certainly not the scriptures.

Maybe we have to seriously think about our world view and personal philosophies again. Maybe we’ve got it wrong and God, as always, has it right.

Prayer:                        Lord God, You are almighty, unique, and exceptional. There are no other gods. Give us the courage to surrender our hearts and minds in faith to You alone, instead of giving in to the ways of the world. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is currently 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 winter drawing of the beautiful Northern Lights. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7025/6773836733_67954361dc_b.jpg

Teaching Devotions: A Believer's Catechism - Matthew 20:28

Today’s Bible readings are Isaiah 41:17-24 and Matthew 20:20-28

Matthew 20:28            “Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Why did Jesus die? To save us from our sins.

Why do we need to be saved? Because God is holy and perfect and cannot abide sin; our sins separate us from God, so if we die in sin, we will be separated from Him forever.

Why can’t we save ourselves? Because we are not perfect or holy. We are human and sinful, selfish and proud, greedy and faithless, self-centered and conceited. Our sins are many and our good deeds are too few to purchase salvation.

What did Jesus mean when He said that He came to give His life as a ransom for many? Jesus was telling His followers that only He could pay the full price for our salvation. Without His perfect and supreme sacrifice, the ransom that God demanded would never be paid.

What did Jesus mean by ‘many?’  Not everyone will be saved. There will still be those who will choose to die in sin. There will still be those who choose to reject Jesus. There will still be those who will not repent of their sins, so they will never be restored to God. Jesus died for all, but not all will be saved.

How can I be saved?  Completely believe in Jesus and fully accept His words. Sincerely repent of your sins and seek His forgiveness. Respect Him as Your Savior and serve Him as Your King. Then you will know the joy and experience the blessing of being eternally saved by Christ.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, we come to you as sinners needing to be saved, as followers seeking forgiveness, and as servants searching for Your blessing. Forgive us of the past. Reclaim us at this present time. Restore us eternally to God. 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 my Good Friday drawings from last year. It’s called “Death by Dali” and is my crayon version of Salvador Dali’s ‘Christ of St. John of the Cross.’ The original painting hangs in the Kelvingrove Art Gallery of my hometown Glasgow, Scotland. If you would like to see a larger version of my drawing, click on the following link: http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5061/5630260156_4cd6a2e7b5_b.jpg

If you would like to view an image of Dali’s original painting, please click this link: http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/museums/FullSizeMuseumPhotos/ac_id/87/image_id/361/imageno/1

Devotions for Teachers: Fall Breaker - Jude 1:24

Jude 1:24             To Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy.

Like everyone else on this planet, I am a sinner in need of saving. I try to be a good person, but usually there are moments each day when I succumb to temptation. Perhaps it’s when someone else upsets me, or something that I selfishly want. Maybe it’s something I’ve neglected to do, or someone that I’ve offended. Whatever the circumstances, I end up with a list of sinful things that I need to confess at the end of each day.

There are even times when I’m too busy or too tired to really pray. I end up taking God’s grace for granted and cheapen Christ’s ability to forgive me. In fact, as I’m writing this, I realize that I’ve forgotten to ask forgiveness for something that happened yesterday. I need to stop what I’m doing and make amends with the Lord right away.

We daily try to be Christians and some days are better than others. We wrestle with life and struggle to be faithful to Christ in all things. It’s never easy, but it can frequently be joyful. I like what Jude has to write at the end of his letter. He refers to Jesus as the One who keeps us from falling and who presents us before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy. We all may be great sinners and make mistakes each day, but we have a Great Savior who will forgive us for everything. That’s what makes our faith a joy to experience. That’s what makes Jesus so wonderful to follow.

Prayer:                 Lord Jesus, thank You for allowing us to confess our mistakes, repent of our sins, and receive Your forgiveness. We know that we are imperfect, foolish, and selfish at times. We praise You for being Perfect, Wise, and Gracious. In Your Holy Name, we joyfully 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 pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is one of John’s sunset drawings of Pawley’s Island in South Carolina. If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1217/4608181438_01d3daf318_b.jpg

Teachers Devotions: Infinite Value - Mark 12 v 16

Mark 12:16     They brought the coin, and he asked them, "Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?"     "Caesar's," they replied.

It’s amazing what some people will pay to own something of a famous person. Earlier this morning, I was on Ebay looking at trading cards. I came across one that is described as ‘the holy grail of sports cards.’ It’s a 1952 autographed card of Mickey Mantle when he played for the Yankees. There are only 29 of these cards in existence and this one is in near mint condition.

The asking price? A mere $115,000. If you don’t believe me, then you can view it here: Mickey Mantle. Not bad for a mere portrait and inscription. I would have to sell half of my house to buy it, so I guess I won’t be adding it to my collection.

When I read this morning’s Gospel passage (Mark 12:13-17), I couldn’t help but smile. I wondered how much the Pharisees and Herodians would have valued the denarius if it had Christ’s portrait and a “Love One Another” inscription on it. They probably would have thrown it back in Jesus’ face. They were looking for a reason to trap Him and make Him look foolish in the eyes of the people, but they ended up with egg on their faces and left bewildered and amazed.

The story also makes me wonder what price I would be willing to pay for my salvation? A denarius? A dollar? $115,000? How much is God’s grace, Christ’s forgiveness, and everlasting life worth to me? Even everything that I own could never be enough to pay for those gifts of infinite value. I need Christ to inscribe the word ‘forgiven’ on my heart. I need His blood to cleanse me of my unholiness. I need Jesus  to sacrificially offer Himself on the Cross at Calvary in order to be completely and eternally saved, and so does everyone else.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, there are many things we own in the world that become valuable possessions and priceless items in our lives. But no matter what we have or even covet, they are nothing compared to our salvation through You. When all of our possessions, money, trading cards, and treasures have turned to dust, Your Cross will outlast and outshine them all. Thank You for the everlasting gift of salvation. We are indebted to You forever. 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 taken from John’s Psalm collection. It depicts Christ on the Cross in the style of Van Gogh’s Starry Night. The written verse comes from the 86^th psalm. A larger version of the drawing can be viewed here: Psalm 86.

Teacher Devotions: Unfailing Love - Psalm 33 v 22

Psalm 33:22    May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.

I don’t know if you watched the Masters from Augusta yesterday, but I managed to see the last hour of the broadcast and witnessed one of the best ends to an international golf tournament. It didn’t happen on the golf course, but it took place after Phil Mickleson won the event for the third time.

Phil found his wife Amy in the crowd and tearfully embraced her. It was a very touching moment because Amy has been undergoing treatment for breast cancer. You could see that both of them were very much in love with one another and that Mickleson was sharing his win with his wife. He played courageously throughout the last round and I feel certain that he was playing as much for Amy as he was for himself.

I hope and pray that their unfailing love and support for one another will enable and empower Amy to overcome the cancer.

We all face battles in life – sometimes through illness, sometimes with fear and anxiety, sometimes accompanied with despair and depression. I like what the psalmist prayed long ago for God’s people –“May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.” I think that’s a wonderful, powerful, and yet simple prayer that we all could apply in our lives. It helps us to do two things: to look for God’s unfailing love in the midst of our sorrows, and to place our hopes in Him.

It’s called faith and throughout my own life, I have frequently used that prayer and have known the precious and positive empowerment that God gives through just being simply and sincerely asked.

Prayer:                        Lord God, thank You for loving us unfailingly. Thank You for allowing us to trust in Your ways, to rely upon Your promises, and to know Your favor. In Christ’s Name, we thankfully 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 drawing of Hogan’s Bridge at Amen Corner in August. You can view a larger version here: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4333271971_84d55b7508_b.jpg

Teacher Devotions: Leaving Our Nets

Mark 1:18 At once they left their nets and followed him.

When I was a pastor in Scotland, I loved working with the local fishermen. They were a hardy breed of manly men. They were coarse and rustic, weather beaten and strong. Each week they put their lives at risk looking for a bounty of fish. They worked long hours and in conditions that were sometimes terrifying. Whenever there was a storm at sea in the middle of the week, I used to pray constantly for their safety. On Friday afternoons, I gave thanks to God when I watched the fleet of fishing trawlers return home.

The faith of these fishermen was amazing to experience. Because they put their lives on the line week after week, they had a stronger connection to God than most everyday folk. I guess when you face death each day, then you find God a lot more closer to you. Whenever the church needed help or support, the fisherman families were amongst the first to volunteer. They were the heart and soul of the parish church and, throughout the years that I spent with them, I came to admire and respect their fearless faith and total commitment to God.

I think I can understand why Peter and Andrew, James and John left their nets to go and follow Jesus immediately. Fishermen are ‘all or nothing’ kind of people. Being timid or half-hearted just isn’t a part of their personality. It takes a great deal of courage to be a fisherman and they boldly go where angels fear to tread water. I think Jesus knew this when He asked the Galilean fishermen to follow Him. If they joined His team, then they would give their hearts and minds, souls and strength to His ministry and mission. There would be no half-measures and there would be no holding them back.

We are all called to become disciples of Christ, but sometimes we let other things get in the way. Instead of leaving our nets behind and walking on with Jesus, we keep a hold of them and drag them with us. Christ needs us to let go of the past, so that we can let Him lead us on to a more faithful future. If we truly want to serve Him, then it’s all or nothing.

Prayer:                 Lord Jesus, You called fishermen to Your ministry because You knew that through their commitment You would be able to build the Church. Thank You for choosing them and for selecting us. Help us to give You our all, so that You may become everything to us. 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.

Teacher Devotions: Hopes and Fears - Advent 3 - Job 23 v 16

Job 23: 16 God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me.

I feel sorry for Job. He was living at a time when people believed that personal pain and suffering occurred because God was angry with them. This meant that any tragedy was clouded with a terrifying fear that God was punishing the people. Any illness or sickness, any setback or obstacle was seen a sign of God’s wrath. Only repentance and sacrifice would suffice to appease God. Only humility and contrition would placate the Almighty.

Thank God then that we are New Testament people! We are no longer bound by those primeval fears. Christ has come into the world to tell us not to be afraid. Christ has given the ultimate sacrifice for all of our mistakes and sins. The threat of divine punishment is no longer to be dreaded. Instead of being terrified of God, we are attracted to Him through the love and grace of Jesus Christ.

Out of the 6.5 billion people on this planet, about 5 billion live under the religious fear of God’s wrath. They are terrified of plagues and famines, wars and earthquakes, floods and disasters. They are anxious about offending God and worry over the smallest of mistakes. They constantly spend their resources on appeasing false gods and try to buy divine blessings. Christianity, however, has a real message of hope for all of these people who are plagued by superstition: Do not be afraid and be of good cheer.

In this pre-season of Christmas that we call Advent, we should constantly pray for the world to be open to Christ’s message of goodwill, forgiveness, and peace. It has the potential to save the entire world from its fears and to lovingly restore everyone to God’s favor and blessings. If only Job knew way back then what we know now, he would never have been driven to despair through his fear of God. He could have been comforted, embraced, and encouraged by God through the presence of Jesus Christ in his life.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, we all carry hopes and fears in our hearts and minds. We pray that You will diminish our anxieties by graciously responding to our concerns. Guard us and guide us. Embrace us and bless us. In Your Holy Name, we confidently 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. He enjoys reading your reflections.

Teachers Devotions: The Lost Ring

Psalm 36: 7     How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.

My wife Evelyn lost her engagement ring the other day. She had put some hand cream on her fingers and the ring must have slipped off. She left a message on my cell phone to let me know. It saddened both of us to think that something so significant could be lost.

We bought the engagement ring with my last tax rebate before I went to college to study to become a minister. That was thirty years ago. I can remember shopping for it in Glasgow’s Argyle Arcade where most couples in the city bought their rings. It was an exciting time for us and eventually we found the one clustered diamond ring that Evelyn liked after wandering from store to store. It cost us every penny that we owned at the time, and through the years it has become priceless.

Thankfully, Evelyn found the ring on the carpet next to her exercise bike. That was both a moment of relief and jubilation. This weekend, we’ll be taking it to a jeweler to have a clip put on it. We both don’t want the ring to be lost ever again.

When the writer of Psalm 36 talks about God’s unfailing love, he calls it ‘priceless.’ He cannot buy God’s love nor can he compare it to anything else in the whole universe. Believers in Christ know and understand this to be true, for how can we put a price on complete and everlasting salvation? How can we estimate the cost of Christ’s atonement for our sins?

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, You are priceless to each and every one of Your followers. We can never repay the debt that we owe to You for redeeming our souls and restoring us to God. Thank You for such wonderful, amazing, and priceless love. In Your Holy Name, we cheerfully 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.

Teacher Devotions: Band Aids

Romans 8:15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."

The current economic situation gives us a wonderful opportunity, as Christians, to show our support to those who have greatest needs. We have a faith that not only gives us comfort in times of despair, but it also grants us the confidence not to be enslaved by our worries, anxieties, or fears. If Christians are insecure about life, then what is the point of our faith?

Last night, when I was watching the College Football Game for a while, I marveled at the Florida quarterback Tim Tebow. It wasn’t his playing that captivated me, but the fact that below his eyes he had placed two black band aids which read John 3:16. To the whole watching audience, Tim Tebow was using the broadcasted game to tell others that he was a Christian.

To some people, this might have looked like a piece of religious arrogance, but to me it reflected Christian confidence. He was going out to battle for his team and whether he lost or won, he was using the opportunity to let others know about his faith.

During this time of recession, a lot of people are going to have their confidence down-sized and their resources diminished. That’s when the church can step in to offer the opportunity of faith, compassion, and care. It’s a perfect time to witness for the Lord. It’s the right occasion to show others what God can do.

So today, let’s think about our families and friends, neighbors and colleagues who are going through tough times. And let’s also have the confidence to step up to the mark and offer them the friendship, understanding, and support that they need.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, these are tough days for all of us and many people are fearful about their future. Help us, as Your servants, to show them how faith works through good deeds, acts of compassion, and complete confidence in You, Your power, and Your Kingdom. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Teacher Devotions: A Loving Handful

John 3:35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.

I’m the eldest son in my family and in Scotland that means I would have been given the responsibility of looking after my father’s estate. But because I live in America, that wasn’t possible, and so my Dad entrusted it all to my brother Andy.

Andy did a terrific job with what was entrusted to his care. He saw to all the funeral arrangements, the bills that had to be paid, and all of the hundreds of loose ends that had to be tied up. In fact, Andy did a better job of it than I ever could, and my Dad would have been proud of how he handled everything.

Even to this day, Andy looks after the royalties that are still paid on my Dad’s books. Every year, Andy receives them from the publishers and he carefully distributes them to all of the family. In this way, he honors my dad and does what it fair.

I love the fact that God placed everything into Christ’s hands. He knew that Jesus would fulfill His obligations and complete the task of salvation. God had made promises to His people for thousands of years, and when at last He placed them into Christ’s hands, God was giving Jesus the responsibility of keeping God’s Word. It was an awesome thing to do and we are blessed because Jesus did what was required of Him.

Christ honored God by perfectly accomplishing His mission. And we are the benefactors of that complete trust and obedience. If Jesus had wavered one little bit from His task, we would never have been forgiven by God. If He had left one single thing undone, we could never be restored to God’s goodness, perfection, and holy love. God placed everything in Christ’s hands because He loved Him. And Christ returned that love because He completed all that He was told to do.

Christ’s continues that mission by placing into our hands opportunities, responsibilities, and tasks that both honor God and expand His Kingdom. He does this because He loves us. The question for us today is this: are we willing to return that love by completing all that He entrusts to us?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for completing all that God expected of You when He placed everything into Your hands. We are truly grateful for all that You did, for Your accomplishments have brought us eternal blessings. Empower and enable us to fulfill all that You call us to undertake for God’s Kingdom and His glory. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.