Presbyterian Devotions: Chilean Miners Rescue - Psalm 103 v 4

Psalm 103:4    Who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion

Today the whole world is watching a miracle take place. The Chilean miners, who have been trapped underground for 69 days, are beginning to surface and our whole planet is rejoicing. It’s a remarkable feat and a wonderful testimony of human determination. The engineers who constructed the escape vehicle, with help from NASA, should be given a Nobel prize for their accomplishments.

I watched the first miner come out of the pit on live television. It was deeply touching to see his wife and young son embrace him. They have held out for hope for so long and for once it was wonderful to see a real happy ending to what could have been a terrible tragedy. I’m sure that many people across that mining community and throughout Chile are giving thanks to God in their churches today.

The whole event reminded me of the individual faith journey that we must all go through when we each personally experience death. Jesus has secured for His followers an escape from oblivion so that our souls can emerge from the pit of the grave and be reunited with all of our loved ones who are also believers. Just as the gathered crowd around the first rescued miner sang, clapped, and rejoiced as he resurfaced, so there will be great joy in heaven as each one of us joins God’s people in His Eternal Kingdom. And just like the miner who enthusiastically embraced the Chilean President for never giving up on them, we will also run to Jesus to give Him our personal thanks for saving us for all eternity.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, thank You for saving us from death and for the gift of eternal life. We could never have achieved this for ourselves and we look forward to the sacred moment when we will be able to embrace You in heaven. Thank You also for the saving of the Chilean miners and for supporting their families throughout this critical time. May they be truly blessed as they are reunited with all their loved ones. 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.

Presbyterian Devotions: The Joy of Being Saved

Psalm 70:4      But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, "Let God be exalted!"

I heard a preacher on the radio yesterday say something like “Salvation is free, but discipleship is costly.” I like what he said because it reminded me that Christ’s salvation is available for everyone, but choosing that salvation brings sacrifice and change into our lives.

Decades ago, when I was about 20 years old I used to gather on Wednesday evenings at a young persons’ Gospel Club. We sang most of the night and usually the songs were all about the joy of being saved by Christ. God was continually exalted and we truly loved our salvation. I think if I still lived in Glasgow, Scotland and the club still existed, I would be there every Wednesday joyfully singing praises to God for being saved.

Sadly, some Presbyterians ridicule this wonderful gift from God. They think that it is beneath them intellectually to talk about being saved by Christ. They just don’t understand the true joy of salvation and haven’t experienced the spiritual liberation that being saved brings. They would rather cling to cold Calvinism and be part of the frozen chosen than allow Christ to truly free them. They really don’t know what they’re missing.

Today, like every day, is a good day to exalt God for the joy of salvation that He offers us through Jesus Christ. I just love being saved and I hope that you do too.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, thank You for being our Savior. Thank You for freeing us from the eternal consequences of our sins and bringing us back into God’s favor and everlasting love. There is no greater gift to be grasped in life than salvation. There is no greater joy to be experienced than to be saved by You. Glory to you forevermore! 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 one of John’s latest in his Savannah series. It depicts the Scots Kirk in Savannah which was established there by the Church of Scotland in 1755. You can view a larger version of the print at the following link: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4077/4817326616_ef7ff6f6bf_b.jpg