During these days, those who devote a few moments to devotional meditation and prayer — whether in Canada or elsewhere, and whether Canadians or citizens of any other nation — would do well to ponder what it means to identify with a given land or people.

Christians are challenged and invited to form and hold a particular perspective on patriotism. We are told that "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." Jesus, worshipped by the angels as "King of kings" humbly declared, "My kingdom is not of this world," and while on earth sat not on a throne but hung on a cross, and wore no crown of jewels but one of thorns. The catalogue of the heroes of the faith delineated in the letter to the Hebrews reminds us that some of the greatest and most faithful were those who "went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted, and mistreated", of whom "the world was not worthy".

Yet we are also commanded to pray for sovereign rulers and all in authority over us, and we are to seek to live at peace with all people, insofar as it is possible.

For many years, July 1st was called "Dominion Day", and those marking it were encouraged to reflect on the verse of Scripture from which the name "the Dominion of Canada" was taken, suggested by one of Canada's Fathers of Confederation who had read Psalm 72 in his morning's devotional meditation:

Psalm 72:8a – He shall have dominion also from sea to sea. (KJV)

The land first belonged neither to people of first nations nor to later settlers, but to God who created heaven and earth and all that is in them. God first called Abraham to go to a land promised of which Abram knew nothing. Generations later, Abraham and Sarah's descendants were led out of slavery and oppression into a land of promise and plenty. The failure to honour the Creator and Sustainer of life led not only to loss and defeat, but to the appearance of Jesus as Redeemer to effect reconciliation.

Acknowledging God as God of the land, the people, and the nation is the foundation both for responsible, thankful celebration, and for real reconciliation. Reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, Christians are able to point the way forward in effecting reconciliation and building new community.

Prayer: Thanks be to You, O God, for the gift of our land and all who dwell in it. Thanks be to You for those who in generations past have acknowledged Your dominion. Forgive us for usurping Your rule and asserting our own. Forgive us for the hurt done to others, and heal the hurts yet borne. For the reality and the hope of reconciliation to You through Jesus, we give You thanks. For Canada and all its peoples, and all who have lived and worked and served and died and whose contributions have brought us to these days of commemoration and celebration, we give You heartfelt thanks. Enable us to pray for those who govern us, and to work as reconcilers, that we may dwell in peace among all people. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

He went on to commend those who chose the map, and this on the very evening when the topic which he was presenting was "How to use a GPS".

He pointed out that while the technological advances which allow us to use the Global Positioning System, or GPS, offer great advantages in determining one's position on the surface of the earth, there are inherent dangers. GPS devices can be programmed with the wrong or outdated maps, they usually suffer greatly when dropped in water, and they are dependent on batteries which have finite life and always die.

A good map, especially a topographical one, however, allows one not only to navigate, but also to have in plain view some idea of what is to be encountered in the country through which one is travelling.

There have been several stories widely reported of individuals following a GPS only to be led into impassable trails thick with snow, or to the end of roads at the edge of rivers without bridges. Some have even died because they blindly followed a GPS device, without taking into account that the device might be wrong.

All of this brings to mind the wise advice which God gives us concerning spirits:

1 John 4:1 – Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (NIV)

It may be true that the Holy Spirit can function like a GPS, as suggested in yesterday's devotional, in guiding us through new territory, and it is wonderful when the Holy Spirit leads us into new experiences of God's truth and love. It is important, though, that we test what "the spirit" says against the clear roadmap of Scripture to ensure that "the spirit" is in fact the Spirit who leads us to Jesus and in the way of Jesus. We are warned further in John's first epistle that "every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God." (1 John 4:3 NIV)

Prayer: Gracious and all-knowing God, as we welcome the possibilities of the GPS, may we hold onto our trusty maps. As we follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, may we hold onto Your written Word, testifying to Jesus, the living Word. In His name, we pray. Amen.

A major announcement on February 2, 2011 from one of the news networks heralded the launch of the so-called first daily newspaper for iPads. I first read the announcement on a news page from yahoo.com; sadly, that story no longer appears at the original URL. Yet a similar story is posted at www.engadget.com where we learn that for $0.99 a week or $39.99 a year, one can subscribe to the daily news delivered to an iPad near you.

The real story, however, is that we had the Good News Daily first — and our news is really "good" — gospel, even. It's also free, and one doesn't even have to own an iPad or an iPod to receive it, although we do have a version for such devices!

The Daily devotional marks this year sixteen years of consecutive service, linking authors who recognize and apply the truth of the good news of Jesus Christ in the ordinary circumstances of our everyday lives. This week we also mark the launch of a new website. Robin Ross, who in response to a call for devotional content for a first, new venture into cyberspace by an experimental ministry of The Presbyterian Church in Canada, began the Daily in 1996. From the beginning, the writing of short devotionals linked individuals around the world, and served to strengthen and encourage faith in and faithful following of Jesus. With the developing power and reach of the Internet, a subscription list was soon set up, and from a first handful of writers and readers, the Daily grew to several hundred e-mail subscribers. My modest involvement as Devotional Editor came about when Robin Ross found the work of sorting, editing, and scheduling devotional submissions to be too much for a pastor in full-time active service. We formed a team, and as the team grew, so did the reach of the ministry. Today, we have about 6,000 subscribers plus uncounted other readers who browse the website or receive "a word in season" passed along by another subscriber or reader who recognizes that a particular devotional might be a word of grace or a compelling illustration of God's truth to light the way for a specific individual in a particular time and circumstance.

Christians have often sought to shape our daily lives by a word from the Lord. With the advent of the printing press in 1456 A.D., it became possible for individuals to own copies of the Bible. With the advent of the Internet, we have the text of the Bible available at our fingertips, in a whole range of translations. Yet we are still called to "take up and read". The format of the Daily makes it easy for us to read a verse or two, and ponder alongside another living disciple of Jesus what that text has said, and how as the living Word of the living God it has spoken, and still speaks. In this we often hear the voice of the Lord saying to us, "This is the way; walk ye in it." (Isaiah 30:21c KJV)

Good news daily: that's what the Daily has been, and by God's grace, will continue to be.

Prayer: We give thanks, O God, for this day, and for good news daily. We thank You for the Daily, and all who have been a part of its life and service. May Your Word continue to seed the lives of believers and unbelievers alike, and by Your Holy Spirit, draw us into an ever closer, faithful walk with Jesus Christ, in Whose name we pray. Amen.

I am usually a peaceful man who enjoys the wildlife — birds, squirrels, and the like — which frequent our yard. Last Saturday, however, I was heard to say, "I would like to shoot that rabbit!"

The problem was that I went looking for tulips in our garden. Having added last year two dozen new bulbs to the previous dozen or so that graced our yard, I was looking forward to a bright swath of colour in both the front and back flower beds next to our house. To my dismay, however, I found only a baker's dozen of flowers scattered in the front bed, and one single, solitary tulip in the whole of the backyard.

When I lamented to my wife, "Where are our tulips?" I was quickly informed, "Oh, the bunny rabbit ate them!" Now, I do not begrudge the neighbourhood rabbits their share of green food, but I do not willingly offer them my finest fresh tulips! Hence my comment to the effect, "Down with the rabbit!" At the very least, there is a multitude of leafy, green, flowering weeds which he would be welcome to chew to his heart's content — but not my tulips.

Hence, what caught my attention in my daily reading this morning was the admonition to catch the foxes that ruin our vineyards that are in bloom.

In the Song of Songs, Solomon writes a poem depicting love. Offering vivid descriptions of a lover and his beloved delighting in each other, the Song of Songs has been understood and interpreted as an allegory describing the love between Christ and his beloved Church.

To catch the foxes that ruin the vineyard is important to ensure the health and beauty of the garden in which the lovers live and rejoice together. Solomon is telling us that love in action works decisively to remove what is harmful, in order to promote the health of our relationship with our Lord and Saviour.

In the same way, a shepherd is called to watch out for and act against anything which might invade or harm or destroy the flock of God. God also calls all of us to be on the alert against the devices of Satan, who seeks to tempt, sidetrack, and ruin our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Now, I might not shoot the rabbit — but if I am to promote the health and beauty of the garden, I had better plug the hole in the lattice work under the back porch which is an attractive hiding spot — and fill in the hollow under the gate to prevent the rabbit from gaining entrance.

Prayer: Lord, enable us by Your grace to watch for things that seek to destroy Your flock. We pray for faithfulness to act against the dangers and address them effectively. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

National celebrations are in order. Undoubtedly Sidney Crosby, arguably the greatest hockey player of his generation, will be hailed, remembered, and honoured as a national hero for scoring the winning goal.

As we celebrate the accomplishments of the athletes, and as Canadians rejoice in our nation's achievements, we will do well to put our physical and temporary successes into the biblical and eternal perspective. John was given a revelation of what is yet to come:

Revelation 4:1-11 – After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

In the centre, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and behind. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying:

"Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,
who was, and is, and is to come."

Whenever the living creatures give glory, honour and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:

"You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honour and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being." (NIV)

Gold is chosen for Olympic medals because it is the standard by which wealth is measured in this world. The International Olympic Committee hung the medals around the necks of the victors at the end of the hockey game, and they were rightly received with broad smiles and accompanied by loud cheering.

Yet we are told that gold will also adorn the courts of heaven, and particularly the heads of the twenty-four elders. The difference, though, is that the crowns of the righteous will be laid at the feet of the Lord of glory. He alone is worthy of all glory and honour.

It is right that all people, of each particular nation, rejoice in temporal victories and honours that are honestly, fairly, and rightly won. It is even more right and far more important that we come to rejoice in the victory won, for all who believe, by Jesus Christ, who fought to the very last second in His earthly epic contest against Satan, yielding neither to temptation nor sin. After time ran out and all hope appeared to be lost, He rose up from the grave, conquering death and hell — an overtime victory! Now seated at the right hand of the throne of God in heaven, He will receive all the laurels of all who, as His followers, are also victors in the great conquest.

Prayer: For gold and glory, we give You thanks, O Lord God of heaven and earth. Hasten the day when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. We shall humbly cast our crowns before You, and give You eternal praise. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Many who have worshipped on Christmas Eve or who have attended Church School Christmas pageants held on a Sunday evening during the month of December will be able to recall an instance when a particular child "stole the show" or at least captured the hearts of those attending. It is often said that "Christmas is for children." Biblically this is true — but in a sense that we don't often comprehend or appreciate.

I vividly recall an occasion — not on Christmas Eve — when I was conducting worship in the village church where I served as a young pastor. The service on this particular Lord's Day included both the Sacrament of Baptism for a wee child, and the celebration of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. On this particular day, we were without the benefit of an organist, and so, we were singing unaccompanied.

Sermon ended, baptism complete, and the Lord's Supper finished, we were singing the final verses of the communion hymn. All of a sudden, an older sibling of the one who had been baptized, who had been standing with the family in the front pew, turned to her mother, pointed to the front platform, and said in a loud, clear voice, "Mommy, there's a mouse!"

Sure enough, a furry little creature had crawled out from behind the lectern in front of the organ, scooted across to the centre of the platform, and looked up at the worshipping congregation. It was all I could do to retain my composure enough to lead, without a break in my voice, the singing of the final two stanzas of the hymn. Needless to say, previous evidence of the presence of mice in the church building was no longer ignored; steps were taken by the managers to find and plug the entrance hole!

Isaiah in chapter 11 shares the vision God gave to him of the arrival of the Messiah. It is a picture of Eden and paradise restored. Animals, especially ones usually mentioned together only as predators and prey, are happily living alongside each other, and it is a little child who is leading them.

It is most significant that we celebrate today the anniversary of the birth of the Christ child. Jesus became one of us and chose to enter our world as an infant. He is the little child who will tame the wilds of the sin-disturbed creation and restore beauty, balance, and peace to God's world. In the maturity of His public ministry, He tells all who will listen, "Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3 NIV) Simple, honest, authentic, child-like trust in our good and gracious God, revealed in Jesus who comes to us first as a child, enables us to realize the privilege of being adopted as His beloved children.

Let us remember the children who at Christmas and at other times have caught our attention in worship. Let us rejoice that God became a child, to show us that "a little child will lead". Most of all, let us ask God's grace that this Child be born in our hearts, that we, as new-born children of God, may enter the kingdom of heaven and rejoice!

Prayer: We thank You, our gracious God, for becoming one of us, as a little child, in the birth of Jesus. Knit our hearts to Him in faith and teach us to lead as little children. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Today, July 10, 2009, is the 500th anniversary of the birth of John Calvin.

As I write this on the eve of the anniversary, 60 volumes of Calvin's works stand in front of me on the desk in my study, and the collection in my library is incomplete. Calvin authored commentaries on almost all books of the Bible, with the notable exception of the Book of Revelation, whose mysteries he claimed not to understand sufficiently to expound. His Institutes of the Christian Religion, the first edition of which was published in 1536 when he was but twenty-five years of age, was expanded several times and published in both French and Latin, and to this day remains an unparalleled and masterful theological textbook, richly repaying those who turn and return to it. Its principal aim is to set forth how we can know God, who has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ, and who draws us to Himself through the Holy Spirit. His sermons, preached primarily during his long pastorate in Geneva, both morning and afternoon on the Lord's Day and on each weekday at noon during alternate weeks, were taken down and continue to be translated from the original French and published in English. All this literary output came from one who died shy of his fifty-fifth birthday, on May 27, 1564, and who suffered from debilitating migraine headaches through much of his life!

Calvin was a preacher of the Word of God, an evangelist of Christ's gospel. He was a pastor of the flock of Jesus Christ, twice called to and once exiled from the city of Geneva, persecuted for righteousness, and not without his failings.

In calling for the translation of the Word of God into the language of the common people, he helped to inspire the great Geneva Bible of 1560, the language of which was largely reproduced in the King James Version of 1611. In insisting upon reformation in worship, he commissioned the writing of psalm tunes which came into widespread and enduring use through the Genevan Psalter of 1551.

Calvin's central emphasis on the sovereignty of God in the whole of creation and redemption brought the Word of God to bear on all aspects of faith and life, and called the church to proclaim a full gospel that transforms the whole of human society. His doctrine of vocation articulated for each and every human being a calling — to know the will of God and to do it — and inspired the entrepreneurial work ethic that underlies the best of capitalism.

Calvin's logical and systematic mind, trained in the law, enabled him to grasp the whole sweep of the issues involved in the governing of the Church. He set forth the basic framework of presbyterial church government, in which the shared leadership of the company of pastors, mutually accountable, replaced a hierarchical, one-man rule. Much of the inspiration and framework for our modern, western democratic system of civil government is rooted in the principles of presbyterian church government.

Calvin's missionary zeal and his passion for the training of pastors led him to establish a college, first for the training of his fellow countrymen from France, and for other refugees who found sanctuary in Geneva. Having been equipped to rightly divide the word of truth, graduates of this "most perfect school of Christ that was on earth since the days of the apostles", including John Knox of Scotland, were then sent forth with Calvin's prayers and blessings to take the gospel to their native lands and far beyond. Many of the early Huguenot missionaries found their way to Canada; many of the pilgrim and Puritan settlers of the United States were spiritual descendants.

Calvin would be the first to insist that the praise and credit for all that any of us may accomplish belongs entirely to God. We err, however, if we fail to recognize and recall God's gracious gift to the Church of Jesus Christ and to the world through the lives of His servants. On this day, we honour the memory of one called of God and appointed a prophet to the nations, as we render heartfelt thanksgiving to God for the life, witness, and enduring legacy of His servant, John Calvin.

1 Corinthians 1:23-24 – We preach Christ crucified: a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (NIV)

Prayer: For the conception and birth, the conversion and consecration, and the life and legacy of John Calvin, we give You thanks, O God. We thank You for a prophet, preacher, pastor, and professor. We thank You that He was enabled to grasp so much of how great the God You are, and to accomplish so much for the reform and renewal of the Church of Jesus Christ. May we honour him as we continue to value and build upon what he was enabled to do. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.