Celtic devotions: Above the Mountains - Psalm 104

Psalm 104:6    You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains.

I’ve never seen the Grand Canyon, but it is on my bucket list. From what I’ve heard from other people, it is a remarkable and awe-inspiring place. Photographs do not do it justice and even documentaries on television do not capture the breath-taking grandeur of this wonder of nature. I’m looking forward to the day when I can stand at the edge of it and take in all of its majestic beauty.

It also amazes me that the whole region was once under the sea. I just can’t picture that in my mind and it’s staggering to think that the ocean covered most of it. Like the psalmist of old, the fact that the seas once engulfed what we call mountains causes me to humbly praise God’s infinite, creative power. When I think about the processes of creation and the intelligence behind such a glorious living design, I am over-awed and extremely thankful for God’s generosity and grace. He didn’t have to share any of it with humanity, but because He delights in our child-like wonder, God lovingly allows us to truly enjoy what He has made.

Prayer:                        Lord God, thank You for the dynamic process of creation and the majesty beauty that surrounds us. The natural world is full of wonderful places and creatures. We are over-awed by the complexity and variety of Life on Earth. We praise You alone for such a beautiful gift and we delight in all that You have accomplished. In Christ’s 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.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Fall drawings called “Fall Break.” It features a wee chipmunk feasting before hibernation. You can view a larger version online at the following link:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4148/5087270293_ed11200126_b.jpg

Celtic Devotions: Bride of Christ - Acts 27

Acts 27:31       Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved."

“I don’t need to go to church in order to be a Christian.” If I had a dollar for every time I’ve read or heard something like that, I’d be thousands of dollars richer. People honestly believe that church isn’t necessary for them to be good Christians. All they need is a simple straightforward belief that Jesus loves them and that because He’s a universal cosmic good guy, He will let them into heaven – no questions asked. Church becomes irrelevant because it robs the individual of their freedom to do what they want. As long as they can go directly to Jesus, He will understand and let them away with everything and anything.

Unfortunately, that popular misconception eternally separates more people from God than anything else in modern times.

So why did the First Apostles form the Church? They, of all people in history, should have been granted exemptions because they personally knew Jesus. And yet they didn’t skip church to go and do other things. They didn’t take their faith for granted nor did they cheapen Christ’s Grace by doing what they wanted.

You see, they understood that the Church is actually the Bride of Christ. They knew that the Church was Christ’s closest companion in His ministry to the world. To be part of the Church meant being baptized into the faith, participating in communion, and worshipping together with Christ’s followers. It was not an individual spiritual pursuit or personal religious journey. Being a part of Christ’s Kingdom meant being involved with Christ’s Community of faith – the Church.

I think that this is why Paul’s statement to the Roman soldiers and sailors on the doomed ship has a deeper significance for us today. It’s not just about a ship wreck, it’s about staying on board and being together during a crisis. Without remaining on the ship and heeding God’s word, the passengers and crew would not survive the storm. The same applies to us today – without being in church and remaining with Christ’s people through these turbulent times, salvation cannot be guaranteed.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, we know that salvation belongs to You alone, and yet You also established the Church to be the vehicle of Your gospel and the means of bringing people to You.  Bless Your Church on Earth with a renewed sense of purpose. Help us to dedicate our lives to Your service and glorious Kingdom. 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 new Christmas 2010 drawings. It’s called “Church in Snow.” A larger version can be viewed online at the following link: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4124/5023390336_1c9c7da679_b.jpg

Celtic devotions: Family Gathering - Acts 7

Acts 7:16         Their bodies were brought back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a certain sum of money.

The wee stillborn baby that I baptized last week was buried in his family’s cemetery. Generations of his relatives have been laid to rest in that hallowed place. It was very touching to see his wee white coffin being given its sacred place in such beautiful surroundings. His precious life within his young mother’s womb was both valued and honored by the whole family. At some future point, a little white cross or a stone angel will probably mark where he is resting.

Graves are witnessing sites to previous generations. I know of many families who reunite once a year at family graveyards to honor the past lives of their loved ones. I think that this is a wonderful thing to do, because it keeps the continuity of past, present, and future generations linked together.

When the bodies of Jacob, Joseph, and his brothers were taken back to Shechem, they were identifying themselves as true descendants of Abraham. They were also laying a perpetual claim to the land and fulfilling God’s promises. This is why Moses and the Hebrew children headed back there four hundred years later. This is also why the Jews laid claim to the land and re-inhabited it in 1948. Israel exists as a nation today simply because God’s promises are always fulfilled. Abraham’s foresight in purchasing the land thousands of years ago validates the existence of the Israeli nation today, not just according to the scriptures, but also through Middle East inheritance customs.

In years to come, when Old Mortality catches me, I’ll either be buried or cremated depending upon what my family decides. It would be nice to be laid to rest somewhere that future generations could gather together and say that this is where the Stuarts in America began. However, for me the real reunion and final family gathering that will mean so much more will be that glorious day when Christ gathers His followers to Himself and we become part of that great Christian family of faith, hope, and love in His Kingdom forever. Now that’s a family gathering  I am really looking forward to!

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, thank You for the sacred resting places of our people and loved ones. Thank You for the family reunions that take place each year at churches and graveyards all over the world. And we praise You for that coming glorious day when we will be gathered together in the Heavenly realms to be with You and all our loved ones forever. 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.

Today’s image is John’s latest drawing of an old Dutch Windmill in winter. If you would like to view a larger version, please click the following link: http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1300/4705518404_6b5427a32f_b.jpg