Charles Town Presbyterian Church

Pastor John has prepared brief devotions for the newsletter during each week of his sabbatical (July 1-September 30). Each passage is a favorite of Pastor John.
August 23 Isaiah 58:1-12

Isaiah 58:1-12 is a long passage that would take up most of the space available. Please take a moment to read before continuing.

In this prophecy, God is speaking through the prophet, and he is lamenting one critical point: For all their devotion to religious laws, routines, and worship, it has changed their lives very little, if at all. This is reflected clearly in verse 4,

“Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high.”

Can you imagine engaging in spiritual disciplines and worship practices that end up with fighting and brawling?

A few verses later God clearly explains what he wants from those who seek him and worship him:

Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

This prophecy is a reminder that God changes lives. If we called to follow Jesus, if our faith is in him, then his grace ought to bring a transformation to our lives that in turn, brings hope and light to the world. Such a change also has the effect of pointing people to God.

Why do we help the sinner? Because Christ has redeemed us from sin. Why seek to relieve the oppressed? Because we were once oppressed by sin. Why share our bread and our homes? Because every good gift we have is from God, and if we are to be like God, we are to invite others to share in his blessings (cf. James 1:17).

I find this passage to be challenging. It is aspirational, to be sure. It sets a high bar that I never seem to quite reach. But that doesn’t mean I stop trying. If the grace of Christ has indeed changed me, then I need to share that grace with others. The great thing about this passage is that reminds us of the promises for those who share God’s grace with others:

Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

Blessings,

Pastor John

Pastor John has prepared brief devotions for the newsletter during each week of his sabbatical (July 1-September 30). Each passage is a favorite of Pastor John.
This week: Luke 24:13-35

My favorite moment in the gospels after the resurrection of Jesus is known as the “Emmaus Road” incident described in detail in Luke 24. It is mere days after the death and resurrection of Jesus. A couple of the disciples, probably two who were not part of the Twelve, but of the larger group of disciples, are on their way to Emmaus, which is about seven miles from Jerusalem. Jesus decides to disguise himself and walk with these two disciples.

While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him (24:15,16).

It is unclear why Jesus doesn’t just come right out and say, “Hey, it’s me!” but instead, he learns what they are thinking. He asks what has them so excited, and the two disciples tell Jesus that in recent days a man they thought was the Messiah had come to Jerusalem, and that all signs seemed to point to him being the One. But then, they tell Jesus, he was arrested and put to death. They go on and tell Jesus that the most unbelievable part of all of this is the way some of the women they knew were telling others that Jesus wasn’t in the tomb. At that point, Jesus, whose identity was still hidden from them, decides to walk with them and starts teaching them what the scriptures said about God’s Messiah.

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself (24:27).

When the two men and Jesus get to Emmaus, it’s time to eat, and they implore Jesus (still in disguise) to stay and dine with them. And that’s when the story takes in interesting turn.

When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight (24:30,31)

What I love about this passage is that it teaches us about how God reveals his gospel to us: through the scriptures and through the sacraments. This is one of the reasons the scriptures are so important. This is why frequent celebration of the Lord’s Supper is encouraged – that we would be always learning about and becoming reacquainted with the good news about Jesus Christ.

Friends, may you always find Christ in the Word and at the Table.

Blessings,

Pastor John

Pastor John has prepared brief devotions for the newsletter during each week of his sabbatical (July 1-September 30). Each passage is a favorite of Pastor John.

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:9,10

There is a wonderful reality and simplicity to Galatians 6:9, 10, and it can be summed up in three statements:

1. Don’t get tired of doing good. Do you ever tire of doing the right thing? I know I do. It’s especially easy when we are physically and/or emotionally drained to just not want to stretch ourselves. Doing good is marker of our faith (it tells people we belong to Jesus) and it is also a witness to our faith (it tells people about Jesus).
2. Don’t give up, the reward is worth it. This implies that the work we d for the kingdom is a long process most of the time. This is an important word to hear, as the world we live in has a shorter and shorter attention span and grows more impatient by the day. Making disciples, which is the primary work of the Church, takes a great deal of time. We don’t want faith for a quick fix, we want long-haul discipleship.
3. Treat the people of God like family. If you are a Christian, you are part of a larger family. Those who are in Christ are brothers and sisters to one another. And so, we should live out our faith with one another, and that includes doing good things for one another. The reason Paul includes this command is because the easiest place to serve and love others ought to be the Body of Christ. If we can’t do that for some reason, we have some problems to resolve.

What should not be missed here is the sense that living for Jesus and serving him and his church is going to be hard at times. Some days we will not feel like it. There will be seasons where we want it to be someone else’s problem. When we feel that way, it is important that we do not give up. There will be a reward, a harvest, as Paul puts it, in due time. Stay faithful, my friends!

Blessings,

Pastor John

Pastor John has prepared brief devotions for the newsletter during each week of his sabbatical (July 1-September 30). Each passage is a favorite of Pastor John.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. -Proverbs 3:5,6

I came to faith in Christ when I was sixteen years old. I had gone to church my whole life, went to Sunday School, participated in youth group from seventh grade on, and my family never missed a Sunday. But when I was sixteen, it all finally made sense to me, and I believed.
Almost immediately I was faced with a challenge. I was in my junior year of high school. My peers and I were all thinking about graduation and what comes next. And though I had not been a Christian very long, I knew my faith in Christ was a game changer. I spent years looking for something to help life make sense. I knew when I became a Christian that I had found the answer. Now, though, I wondered what difference my new faith would make in my future.
I was blessed to be mentored early by a Christian who encouraged personal Bible study. So, I read the Bible. It was wonderful! I loved it. It helped me understand who God is and who I was in light of God’s mercy. One thing I learned early on is that you don’t go scripture looking for answers to questions like, “Door A or Door B?” “The two-bedroom condo or the three-bedroom house?” “The Cayman Islands, or the cruise?” The Bible, and for that matter, God, doesn’t work that way.

What you will get is an attitude adjustment, a challenge to a bigger way of thinking. Somehow, in all the places of the Bible I could read, I stumbled on to Proverbs 3:5,6. Like many Christians, this is one of my favorite verses. This verse is not about parts of our lives – our jobs, our spouses, our kids, our choices. No, it is about the whole of our lives. Literally, this verse is saying, “Commit your way – the whole way, every part of who you are – to God. Then you will know where he is leading.” We were not saved in parts; we don’t belong to God in parts. And what we commit to God should not be in parts.

Another way to think about this verse is that life is not made up of parts, life is made up of life. Let God be Lord over that life.

Blessings,

Pastor John Bethard

You’ve got this!

This is a phrase we’ve learned to say to others when they say or post something that sounds like they doubt something. For example, a student might post about the difficulty of an upcoming exam, an athlete may state how difficult it will be to achieve a certain level of performance, someone might say how depressed they feel and that they aren’t sure how they will make it through today.

Often, as a response, we say or type three words: You’ve got this.

On Monday I begin a three-month sabbatical. I recently shared with the elders how blessed I am and how encouraging it is to have this opportunity for extended study and rest. I am looking forward to the educational activities, family events, and the extended break I will have between July 1-October 1.

Every church that deals with any kind of pastoral transition (and a sabbatical qualifies as such an event) faces anxiety. What if something tragic happens while the pastor is gone? What if an important decision needs to be made? What if?

Since January, I have been working with the elders, deacons, and church staff to prepare for this. We have leadership teams that will do regular and emergency visitation. Worship will continue weekly under the able ministry of Pastor John Cushwa. And the usual ministries and programs of the church will carry on. And most importantly, God, who is the same yesterday, today and forever, will still be there for all of us.

You’ve got this!

I have every confidence this congregation will experience wonderful guidance from its leaders, and I am looking forward to returning to an even healthier, stronger congregation in October.

If you are not traveling and you are in the area on Sunday morning, please come to worship. Following our 9:45am service we are having a short reception before Sunday School so I can wish everyone well before my sabbatical begins.

But remember, don’ t worry! You’ve got this!

Blessings,

Pastor John

P. S. SPECIAL FUN ACTIVITY Sponsored by a anonymous member: Visit our Facebook page to play and win a free copy of You’ve Got This (Because God’s Got You): 52 Devotions to Uplift and Encourage ALONG with our own Pastor John’s book of sermons Walking with Conviction: Sermons about Trouble and Grace

Most mornings, I read one of the psalms as part of my daily devotions.

Many people think of the psalms as nothing but encouragement and empathy for people who are looking for God’s help or need encouragement. That is only part of the function of this prayer book of the Old Testament. If one spent time daily, without skipping any of the psalms, one would hear the whole gospel of God communicated through these challenging and beautiful prayers.

Let me share one example of how deeply personal the psalms can be. Consider these words from Psalm 55:

If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it;
if a foe were rising against me, I could hide.
But it is you, a man like myself, my companion, my close friend,
with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God,
as we walked about among the worshipers. (55:12-14)

I think all of us can recount friendships that used to be close and no longer are. When I first encountered this in Psalm 55, I was deeply touched. I had no clue the Psalms could get so real. And notice – the close friendship David laments is with someone with whom he worshiped.

Scripture is constantly speaking to us if we are willing to take the time to read and listen to what it is saying to us. If you do not already have a regular devotional practice, I want to encourage you to consider reading the Psalms; one psalm per day. Over the course of one year you can read the whole book two times. Along the way you will recognize psalms from hymns and songs we sing, you will hear readings from special days like Thanksgiving, Palm Sunday, Christmas and Easter. You will encounter frank prayers and generous God who is real and accessible.

May the Lord bless you as you read His Word.

Blessings,

Pastor John