TerryLema

November 18

Who am I?

This is a week of doctor appointments for me. I see both my general practitioner and my specialist. I do not know what to expect from either one as I tell them that my body is falling apart from one of the meds I take, and that at times I think the “cure” is worse than the “disease.” I wonder if I will walk away satisfied with their responses or realizing once again that they do not really have any solid answers. This is a hit or miss response to diseases that are not clearly understood and treatments that are “the best” they can offer now.

I could get discouraged and think that life is one trial on top of another, but then I remind myself that this life is a temporary one and the gift that God has granted me is more than I ever hoped for or thought possible.  When life gets heavy, when pain threatens to overwhelm, or disabilities affect the things I really want to do, I am reminded that I am a Child of God. God-loves-me. God-wants-me. How-is-that-even-possible? I-know-what-I-am.

In 2 Samuel 7, David looks around at all he has and decides he wants to build a temple, a permanent dwelling place for the LORD. Initially the prophet Nathan agrees with him, but then God intervenes. He sends Nathan back to David with a word that David is not to build the temple because he has been a man of war, but his son will build it.

Then he tells David, “Your house and kingdom will endure before Me forever, and your throne will be established forever.” [vs 16 HCSB]

That word from God drives David into the LORD’s presence and David utters words that I too have uttered.  “Then King David went in, sat in the Lord’s presence, and said, ‘Who am I, Lord God, and what is my house that You have brought me this far?’” [2 Samuel 7:18 HCSB]

Who am I, LORD God … that You wanted me, gave me Your love and grace, and have brought me this far?  Why me, LORD?

No matter what life may throw my way … God has brought me “this far” and will continue His loving kindness to me until I stand in His presence. I think I may be saying, “Who am I, LORD God” throughout eternity.

November 17

Epaphras, the prayer warrior …

One of the most interesting things about Christian maturity and Christ-like character is that we are to be praying not just for that in our own lives but praying for it in the lives of others.

As Paul closes his letter to the Colossians, he reminds his readers that one of their own, a man named Epaphras is praying for them. And not just praying, but “contending” for them to stand mature in the faith.

Colossians 4:12: Epaphras, who is one of you, a slave of Christ Jesus, greets you. He is always contending for you in his prayers, so that you can stand mature and fully assured in everything God wills.

 That word “contending” is a strong word. It means to struggle, like you are engaged in an intense athletic contest or warfare. It is the root word for our English word “agonize.”

Epaphras was struggling, agonizing, for his fellow believers to stand mature in God. It was important for him to see others strong in the faith … enough so that he was “always” contending for them.

How often I have looked at immature Christians and thought, “they need to grow up,” without taking them to God in prayer. I admit I have been frustrated but failed to pray for them. I confess that and seek God’s help to be an Epaphras, one who contends in prayer for maturity in others.

Help me, Holy Spirit, to lift in prayer those who are struggling with maturity so that they might be all they can be in Christ Jesus. Amen & Amen.

November 16

The choice …

Salvation is an interesting experience. I was saved in 1973 when I was 26 years old. That is almost 50 years ago. It took me awhile to realize just how interesting salvation truly is.

now know that salvation is really a three-part journey. When we are saved through the cross and resurrection of Christ Jesus, we begin our journey. We are instantly set free from the penalty of sin. Romans 8:1 is quite clear, “Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus.”

 When we exit this life into the very Presence of Christ Jesus, we complete our journey. We are saved from the presence of sin. Sin will be permanently done away with, not even a hint of temptation will exist.

As we walk thru this life, however, we are to experience a middle part.  God wants us to be sanctified, meaning being saved from the power of sin over us. We are to be growing in Christ’s character. We are to become mature in Christ.

Paul wrote in Colossians, “We proclaim Him [Christ in you, the hope of glory], warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.”  [Colossians 1:28]

This middle part is not just for a few, it is meant for everyone. Everything we do, every choice or decision we make will form character in our life, whether intentionally or unintentionally. And that character that is developed from our choices will either make us more like Christ … or make us less like Him.

The choice to be like Christ is ours to make.

November 15

How tall are you ….

I have always wanted to be taller. I have always wanted to reach above the first shelf in my kitchen cabinets instead of having to grab a stool to get what I need. Short is not fun. And as I have aged, I have “grown” even shorter, by about two inches.

I have lamented being short when in crowds, trying to reach the pedals in certain models of cars and when surveying weight charts. (I really am not overweight; I am under-height!)

But there is a way that I can be tall. I can be tall in my faith stature. Paul, in Ephesians 4:13 sets a goal for that: “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into a mature [person] with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.”

 God provided the church with ministry gifts. Paul says they are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. They are given to the church to train the saints so they can do the work of the ministry and the body of Christ can be built up into that maturity of faith and knowledge that reflects the fullness of Christ. [Ephesians 4:11-12]

We, as Christians, are to become mature. If you read through the New Testament you will find a “maturity theme.” We are expected to grow in Christ Jesus. We are expected to be wise with the wisdom of God’s Indwelling Holy Spirit.

God gives us everything we need to be mature. We have the revelation of Him in His Holy Word, and we have His Spirit in us to lead, guide, and instruct. But … and here is the point … we must choose maturity and cooperate with Him. Only then can we achieve “a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.”

November 14

Seeds and the Thorns of Life

I was reading Jesus’ Parable of the Sower in Luke 8.  It begins in verse 5 with “A sower went out to sow his seed….”

In the process of sowing not all the seed fell on good ground. Some fell on the hardened path, some among the rocks and some in the thorns. I was drawn to the seeds that fell in the thorns. “Other seed fell among thorns; the thorns sprang up with it and choked it.” [vs7 HCSB]

When Jesus explained the parable to His disciples upon their request, He told them what happens to the seeds thrown in the thorns.

“As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who, when they have heard, go on their way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life, and produce no mature fruit.” [v14 HCSB]

While the seeds in the thorns do germinate, they are so consumed with worries, riches, and pleasures that they produce no mature fruit. The thorns of life choke out any life that is begun and prevent maturity.

The Greek word for “mature” in verse 14 means to bring to completion, and can be used of fruit, pregnant women, animals bringing their young to completion.  It also emphasizes the completion of this life into eternal life.

Maturity is part of our Christian walk.  While we are expected to be “immature” in the faith when first we come to Christ Jesus, we are not expected to remain there. A person who has been a Christian for years and still has not matured in faith, wisdom and knowledge should be an anomaly, not the norm.

November 13

Wisdom is proved right …

A friend posted a meme on Facebook which made me laugh. “The reason I am old and wise is because God protected me when I was young and stupid.”

It made me laugh because while I will admit to being old, I am not sure I am all that wise.

Jesus reminded us that “wisdom is proved right by her deeds,” meaning “Wisdom is as wisdom does.”  [Matthew 11:19 HCSB]

Paul, in his closing remarks to the Colossians also wrote about wisdom. He told them to “Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time.” [Colossians 4:5 HCSB]

Wisdom is an interesting quality in that while it is often linked with knowledge, even dependent upon it in some instances, it can also stand separately. It is often gained as much by life experience as it is by education.

Paul and Jesus, however, gave us a distinct view of wisdom in that neither commanded us to just “be wise,” but rather to “act wisely.” They linked wisdom to our deeds, our actions. How we act will be proof that we possess wisdom.

Paul’s words this morning drove me to the question … what does our LORD see when it views us? Does He see us acting “wisely,” with the wisdom of God’s Holy Spirit … or does He see us otherwise?

November 12

Open doors …

Depending upon whom you talk to, the election is still in turmoil. While the media has declared a winner, there are numerous lawsuits playing out in the courts in various states. To put it bluntly, it is a mess … but then in my opinion, politics usually are.

I will probably ruffle feathers with what I am about to say, but I think I need to say it anyway. I think it is time for the church to unhook her expectations from politics and return to what God has called her to do. Yes, I know that as Christians, we must vote the principals of Scripture, we must be good citizens of our nation, state, and cities. But, looking to the Oval Office instead of the Throne Room has gotten us off-kilter. We have tied our future to a mortal when we should be tied to the King of Kings.

 Whatever happens in Washington, whoever is ultimately inaugurated in January, will not determine the health or effectiveness of the church in our nation.

In Paul’s final words of his Colossian letter, he wrote from prison. He was effectively under the control of the politics of his day. Yet he did not ask the church to pray for a change in political leadership that might make his way “easier,” he asked them to pray for an open door for his message. He asked to have the courage to speak about God’s Messiah, our LORD and Savior, Christ Jesus. Paul had his priorities straight.

“At the same time, pray also for us that God may open a door to us for the message, to speak the mystery of the Messiah, for which I am in prison, so that I may reveal it as I am required to speak.” [Colossians 4:3-4 HCSB]

We are commanded to make disciples in every nation. We are commanded to take the message of salvation to a dying world. That is our requirement. That depends upon the power and wisdom and strength of the Holy Spirit … not who is in the White House, Congress, or the Courts. Can a political view make that more difficult, of course, no one is denying that fact.

But remember … Paul’s message of God’s Messiah while in prison changed the course of the lives of many in Rome (including the palace guard charged with his confinement) and eventually after his death, changed Rome.

November 11

Alert …

I have always been a morning person. I love the early morning hours before sunrise. That is when I do my best thinking, praying, studying, working. As the day wears on, I wear down. I think I have always lived by that adage, “early to bed, early to rise, makes a [person] healthy, wealthy and wise.”

Well, to be honest, I am not sure about the “healthy, wealthy and wise” part. The only part I truly have accomplished is the “early to bed, early to rise” part.

Lately, however, I find that instead of leaping out of bed, totally alert and ready to begin my day, I am a lot slower and it takes a couple cups of coffee before I feel truly awake and functioning. Maybe that can be attributed to being older, or to the auto-immune fatigue I battle, or to something totally different.

Paul, in the closing remarks of his letter to the Colossians, reminds his readers of certain actions and attitudes he considers necessary for them. He begins those in verse two with a call to prayer and adds a most unusual caveat.

“Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving.” [Colossians 4:2 HCSB]

Christians are to devote themselves to prayer. That is not an unusual command. We need to stay in touch with the King of Kings. We need to keep our relationship vital, alive, and open. But then Paul adds that while we pray, we are to stay alert. How do we stay alert? Remarkably, with thanksgiving.

The Greek word for “alert” means to stay awake, be vigilant, watchful, and responsible. According to Paul in this verse, flooding our prayers with thanksgiving keeps us this way. Amazing, isn’t it!