Category: church devotions

Sabbath Psalms: Burdens and Cares

church devotions, Devotions, Psalm devotions

Psalm 55:22 Cast your cares on the Lord and God will sustain you;
The Lord will never let the righteous be shaken. (NIV)

Everybody I know has a care, worry, anxiety, or burden that they carry each day. Being human, we experience a lot of stress trying to endure these critical times. Sometimes our cares are about family or friends who are ill, injured, or having issues. Other times, our burdens are for the world we live in, because of wars, famines, and natural disasters.

Today’s highlighted Bible verse reminds people of faith that God helps us to endure each day, each crisis, and each critical time. We are not left on our own or abandoned to the whims of capricious leaders or unexpected events. God’s purpose for the world cannot be thwarted; God’s justice in the world will prevail. As the old saying goes, “Kingdoms may rise and leaders may fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.”

Whatever you are currently experiencing or going through, please know that God is mindful of what’s happening and can still be relied upon in the midst of your troubles, worries, and problems. As the wise psalmist wrote long ago, “Cast your cares on God and the Lord will sustain you.”

Point to ponder: What burdens am I carrying right now? Am I willing to share them and fully hand them over to God?

Prayer: Lord God, You know everything about us – our weaknesses and worries, our concerns and circumstances, our anxieties and issues. Help us to place them, as well as ourselves, into Your loving hands. In Christ’s Name, we pray. Amen.

Midweek Message: Know the Truth

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John 8:31-32 To those who had previously believed Him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (NIV)

Jesus faced a lot of opposition throughout His ministry, especially from some of His earliest followers who eventually decided to walk away from Him. In doing so, they rejected His teaching which was based on truth and love, and then they fiercely confronted Him with their doubts about His character, as well as their own retrenched beliefs.

Christ’s truth challenged His people, just as it still does for all who call themselves Christians today. He never said that believing in Him or following His way was going to be easy, but He did insist that what He was preaching and teaching was the God-given truth. People back then relied on many of their traditions and sacred texts to formulate their own ideas about what was important and true. When Jesus brought a new understanding of what those traditions and texts really meant, His ideas were initially treated as being novel and inventive, but eventually they were seen as being too radical and dangerous for regular religious people.

We are still faced with the same challenges, especially in our truth-forsaken society which relies more on what we feel rather than what is factual. A culture which insists that what people feel to be true as more important than what is actually true, can be easily manipulated by charlatans and liars, conmen and fanatics. Such a society enslaves itself to the whims and wiles of totalitarian leaders, as well as their henchmen and women, whose only purpose is to increase their power by spreading lies, causing chaos, creating division, and fomenting fear. This is why Jesus taught both His supporters and opponents that knowing the truth was essential to their freedom – lies took away their liberty whereas the truth kept them free.

Point to ponder: How does Christ’s truth constantly challenge me?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life which we all should seek and emulate. Forgive us for being duped by leaders who lie. Help us to follow and practice Your teaching which counters fear with faith and lies with love. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is a Scottish Presbyterian pastor now living in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Midweek Message: Winging It

church devotions, Devotions

Psalm 57:1      Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.

I can remember my old pastor preaching part of this psalm to me when I was about twelve years old. It left me confused, not because of what he said, which was all about security and refuge in God, but because of the mistaken image that I had concocted from what the psalmist wrote. You see I tried to picture God having wings, but I couldn’t decide whether they were the soft, white wings like a dove, or the mighty, golden wings of an eagle.

My problem arose because I was trying to interpret the Bible verse literally. I got so hung up on picturing g the image that I missed what was really important in the psalm – that of knowing God as my refuge in times of trouble.

I also fell for the same mistake when I was at seminary. This time it wasn’t the wings that caused my confusion, it was the shadow of the wings. I reasoned that in order for a shadow to be produced, light has to be behind and above the object in order to cast it on the ground. “How could anything be above and behind God?” I argued. Again, I was taking the text too literally and just using it for the sake of debating with my professors and peers.

The Bible helps us to understand about who God is and how He intervenes in our lives. However, if we take the scriptures too literally, as in the case of this image, then we will miss the point altogether. The Bible guides us towards God and reveals to us His plan of salvation through Christ. It is sacred and gives us a better understanding of the holiness, power, and grace of God, but the Bible is not meant to be fanatically idolized or worshiped like God.

Point to ponder: What biblical images of God mean something special to me?

Prayer: Lord God, when we take refuge in the shadow of Your wings, we know that it means we can find a haven and sanctuary in You. As we rely upon You for everything in our lives, encourage us to read more from the Bible, so that we can learn more about You in order to faithfully and thankfully worship You. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is a Scottish Presbyterian pastor now living in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Midweek Message – A Divine Conclusion

church devotions, Psalm devotions

Psalm 51:10   Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. (NIV)

Have you ever seen the old French film called ‘The Red Balloon’? It was made in Paris a year before I was born and tells the tale of a young boy who is befriended by a red balloon. The balloon and the boy become inseparable, and it follows him all over the streets of Paris. The film only lasts about 35 minutes, and it has been my favorite movie ever since I first saw it as a young lad.

The film depicts both happiness and sadness in simple ways and even when a tragedy occurs, there is a wonderful sequence of hope being renewed at the end of the movie. As I write this devotion, I can still see the beautiful conclusion in my mind’s eye. I won’t give it away – you’ll have to watch the movie yourself and be pleasantly captivated by it.

Sometimes I think that our individual lives are movies that only God can see. He knows all of the things that we have done, the moments that have impacted us deeply, the joys we have experienced and the sadnesses that we still carry. There is nothing hidden from God, so He could be justified in separating Himself from us after death, but instead He wants to give us a beautiful conclusion where we become reunited and restored to Him forever. That’s why King David, in today’s highlighted verse, prayed to God to clean his heart and renew his spirit: he wanted that beautiful conclusion which only God’s grace and forgiveness could bring.

Perhaps you feel as though you’ve done something which will separate you from God. Maybe you have a deep regret about a deed that has caused some distance between you and God. If so, then please know this – God can and will forgive you, just by asking Him to do so, even now as you read this. As the apostle Paul once wrote long ago: ‘For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ – Romans 8:38-39.

Point to ponder: Am I willing to hand over my regrets to the Lord and be cleansed with God’s Love?

Prayer: Lord God, create clean hearts within us and renew our spirits this day. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.

PS: If you’ve never seen it, you can freely view the movie online at this link: The Red Balloon.

John Stuart is a Scottish Presbyterian pastor, now living in Knoxville, TN.

Midweek Message – Lincoln

church devotions, Devotions, Psalm devotions

Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (NIV)

It’s hard to know what to pray for these days. There are so many different areas of need and conflict in the world that it is difficult to focus and concentrate on what’s really important. Whether it is lives lost through war, property damaged by hurricanes, or political intrigue and hostility, there just seems to be so much pain, chaos, and suffering in the world that it overwhelms even the strongest of Christians.

In my study, I have a small picture of Abraham Lincoln that someone gave me when I first came to the United States. Below the portrait, there is a sentence that Lincoln wrote during the Civil War. Whenever I get dismayed with what’s happening in the world, I look across my desk and think about these words from Lincoln:

“I know that the Lord is always on the side of the right. But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord’s side.”

In the midst of all that’s happening, we need to remember that God is right in the middle of all of this, working out His plans to thwart evil, and lead Christ’s church to overcome suffering. God’s side is the best side, so we should surrender our prayers, our anxieties, and concerns into the Lord’s will. When we do that, God will guide us about what to focus on, what to pray for, and what to do.

Point to ponder: How can I align myself with God’s compassion, love, and will?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You suffered an agonizing, painful and shameful death, which broke God’s heart and yet it healed the world. In times like these, we need Your guidance, Your goodness, and Your grace to restore our hope, faith, and confidence in God’s plan for the world. Be with us now and lead us. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is a Scottish Presbyterian pastor now living in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Midweek Message – Hidden Surprises

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Psalm 42: 10b “…my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long,” Where is your God?”

They say that life is full of hidden surprises and one morning that turned out to be true at a church I served. A contractor, who was clearing a ditch behind the church offices, dug through a hidden gas main, causing an unexpected emergency. Within minutes, fire engines and utility trucks swarmed into our parking lot. Local businesses were all shut down and for about an hour everything was intense. An explosion could have occurred at any time, but thankfully the professionals managed to cap the pipe and quickly repair it.

This all happened because the pipe was not where it was supposed to be. A painted yellow line was meant to indicate where the pipe was, but it turns out that the gas pipe was twelve feet away from the actual line. Someone somewhere had made a serious miscalculation, which could have resulted in a fatal explosion. If the pipe had been properly marked and located, this error would not have occurred. We learned that day that knowing exactly where the gas pipe rested was crucial to any ditch digging around the building.

The writer of today’s highlighted verse from Psalm 42 was deeply troubled and tormented. His painful experience caused those around him to ask whether or not God actually existed. The inevitable question of ‘where is God when it hurts?’ must have crossed the psalmist’s mind, so he dug deep into his soul to find an answer. And that’s where he found God, right at the heart of his suffering, right in the midst of all his pain.

We each go through ‘dark nights of the soul’ and crises of faith. In the midst of heartbreak, illness, and sorrow, it’s very easy for us to lose our hold of God, But, as one of my Hebrew professors used to say, “It’s not our grasp of God that is important, but that God still has a grasp of us.” In other words, knowing where God is located is not as crucial as God knowing where we actually are.

Point to ponder: Have I ever felt isolated from God? How did God find me?

Prayer:           Lord God, life is full of hidden surprises, and we seek Your presence every day. It helps us to know that You are with us, no matter what we experience or endure. Reveal to us Your whereabouts this day and remind us that Your mindfulness of us is far more important than our understanding of You. In Christ’s Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is a Scottish Presbyterian pastor now living in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Sabbath Psalms – Shadow Play

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Psalm 91:1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. (NIV)

My two-and-a-half-year-old granddaughter Ellie discovered her shadow recently and like any other child, she started playing games with it. She tried to run and catch it; she attempted to jump up and down on it; she even began talking to it as if it were another person. Her childlike innocence is a beautiful blessing to behold, and she even encouraged me to play games with my own shadow. I guess my neighbors thought I was being a silly old man with Ellie on my driveway, but her laughter and squeals of delight were wonderful, too.

I like today’s highlighted verse from Psalm 91 because of the comfort and assurance that resting in God’s shadow conveys. It makes me feel that God is mindful of all of us, joyfully watching over us like a parent or grandparent. I also feel, just like the psalmist before me, that there is a level of protection attached to God’s shadow which in today’s world, with its uncertain and chaotic ways, creates more confidence within me that no matter what is going on, God is always in control.

Perhaps you may be presently dealing with some uncertainty and anxiety in your own life. Maybe you’re fearful of the future and somewhat depressed by what we’re all dealing with these days. Perhaps you feel like giving up or are so worn down with worries about the world that your energy and focus is depleted. Please take time to rest in God’s shadow and receive it as a sanctuary or safe haven where you can renew your faith and refresh your weary soul.

Point to ponder: How overwhelmed am I with the world’s problems? Am I willing to let go of the things I cannot control and simply rest in God’s protective shadow?

Prayer:  Lord God, You see and know everything. You love our world and all its people, so help us to remember that we are Yours forever. Whenever we are fearful, we ask You to remain faithful; whenever we are wearied with our worries, renew us with Your love. In Your Holy Name and under Your constant Shadow, we live and pray. Amen.

John Stuart is a Scottish Presbyterian pastor now living in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Sabbath Psalms – Footstool

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Psalm 99:5      Exalt the LORD our God and worship at His footstool; He is holy.

I think that my brother Alan is the most caring sibling in our family. He doted on my mother and took special care of her when she was ailing. He took time to wash her hair and make her comfortable. Alan and his partner, who is also called Alan, took her out for car trips that she enjoyed. He visited her in hospital constantly when she was admitted to long-term wards. He was gentle and loving with her, never seemingly getting frustrated or angry at her, even when she was at her most difficult.

Alan even washed her feet and gently massaged them. She suffered terribly from rheumatics, and sometimes just touching her feet could have her crying in agony. My brother patiently and tenderly took care of her, even making sure that she had a cushioned footstool to rest her weary and painful feet.

A footstool is a humble piece of furniture that provides rest for a weary person. It’s mentioned in Psalm 99, so does this mean that God sometimes grows tired and needs to rest His weary feet? No, of course not. In this case, the footstool is used as a majestic symbol of the promises God makes to His people. They rest assured, knowing God will keep those promises and abide by them, even when the people roast His heart and try His patience. This is why they worship at His footstool, which means that they humbly and reverently praise God for keeping His promises.

Today, we can do the same. In our busy lives, we sometimes get spiritually weary, causing our faith to weaken and become ineffective. During those moments, we are invited to come and worship at the Lord’s footstool in order to rely on God for strength, to look to Him for renewal, by holding on to His promises. If we make time to do this, God will make time to help us.

Point to ponder: What can I bring to God’s footstool today, to be relieved of my burden and refreshed in my soul?

Prayer: Almighty God, today we worship at Your footstool, placing all our hopes and dreams, aims and goals, as well as our times and lives into Your care. We pray that You will be patient and tender with us, so that You can help and heal us. We make these prayers, resting on Your promises and in the Holy Name of Jesus. Amen.

John Stuart is a Scottish Presbyterian pastor living in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Midweek Message: A Hiding Place

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Psalm 32:7 You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. (NIV)

There is a lot of uncertainty in today’s world which is currently causing many people to retreat inside of themselves, by becoming emotionally distant from those things beyond their control. As Thomas Paine once remarked, “these are times that try men’s souls,” which means that current crucial issues are adding to our anxiety and stress. In order to endure this critical time, some folks are sheltering and hiding themselves from watching the news, reading political articles, or getting involved with others on social media. It’s a survival mechanism which helps them cope and focus purely on their daily lives.

The writer of the 32nd psalm also experienced a similar time of turbulence and turmoil. The author wanted to retreat from the world, but instead of isolating himself, he chose to let God be his hiding place. He knew that he personally couldn’t change what was happening all around him, but he understood that God was still in control. So, the psalmist chose to hide himself in the presence of God to seek safety and sanctuary, solace and support.

Over the centuries, faith has always been more resilient than fear. We can read and take encouragement from what the psalmist wrote thousands of years ago because the word and promises of God have remained with us and sustained each subsequent generation as the years passed. Finding a refuge, a hiding place, a haven of strength and renewal is essential for all of us to endure and overcome our present troubles. We may be shaken by current events, but God remains solid and dependable, present and reliable, so let choose to keep persevering by sustaining our faith, hope, and love in God. Or as the apostle Paul would write centuries after the psalmist:

Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NIV)

Point to ponder: How can my faith in God overcome my fear of the world?

Prayer: Lord God, You are almighty and sovereign of all things. During these critical times, allow us to shelter in Your loving arms and be strengthened by Your constant presence. In Christ’s Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is a Scottish Presbyterian pastor now living in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Midweek Message – Finding the Light

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Midweek Message – Finding the Light

Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? (NIV)

Psalm 27 is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. It’s written by someone who is facing difficult circumstances, but instead of being overwhelmed by his current crisis, he confidently turns to God as the source of his well-being and strength. He calls God his light and salvation which means that although the psalmist is undergoing some dark moment in his life, God will be the One who safely leads him through it. Instead of being fearful, the writer remains faithful; rather than being afraid, he is confident about his future.

Even though the psalm was written about three thousand years ago, it still offers us hope today. As we go through this uncertain time, we can look to God for guidance and confidence. Those ancient words are just as true now as they were way back then, so when we read or pray them, they become living promises for each of us, to strengthen and sustain us through this critical moment in history. This is what makes the Bible relevant in our daily lives and is why reading and reflecting on the scriptures remains meaningful. God’s Word helps us to rely on His support and be encouraged in our time of need.

So, today, dear friends, please embrace and share this thought: The Lord is our light and our salvation—whom shall we fear? The Lord is the stronghold of our lives—of whom shall we be afraid?

Point to ponder: What is really worrying me at this moment in time? Am I willing to trust God with my concerns?

Let us pray: Thank You, Lord, for preserving the ancient Hebrew psalms over the centuries. Though they were faithfully written long ago, they still speak to our present situation, offering us encouragement and hope. In Christ’s Name, we confidently pray. Amen.

John Stuart is a Scottish Presbyterian pastor living in Knoxville, Tennessee.