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TerryLema

Honoring Our Father

by TerryLema

When the disciples of Jesus asked Him how they should pray, He gave them what we call “The LORD’s Prayer.” The very beginning of that prayer reminds us that we have a relationship with a Glorious Father in heaven. No longer are we just His creation (as fantastic as that may be to be made in the image of God), now we are also His children. “Our Father,” reminds us we are His.

I remember as a young girl, I was often reminded that what I did as a child, (or teenager) reflected on my parents. I could, by my actions, destroy my family’s good name and reputation.

Jesus reminds us that after we acknowledge our relationship with our Father, we are to hallow His Good Name. “Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name ….”

 “Hallowed” is hagiazo in the Greek. It comes from a root word which means to make holy. We are to make holy, consecrate, venerate, sanctify the name of our Father in heaven. It isn’t only by our words that we venerate the name of God, it is by our actions and attitudes.

If we are fearful when God has told us to be courageous, we dishonor His Name. When we are dishonest, selfish, greedy or covetous while our God is good, kind, giving and true, we dishonor His Name. When we seek to acquire the things of this world more than seek His face, we dishonor His Name.

The world is in the midst of a viral- and FEAR-pandemic. If we join in their fear, we are saying to them that our God is helpless and weak rather than all-powerful, mighty and strong. And we dishonor His Name.

Let us pray today to honor Him, to hallow, sanctify, venerate His Glorious Name. He is Jehovah, our Savior, Provider, Healer, Deliverer, Refuge, Strength and Peace. Let’s show that to the world.

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by TerryLema

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” [Luke 11:1-4]

In response to their request, Jesus gave them what we call “The LORD’s Prayer.”

“Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” [NKJV]

Too often when we pray this prayer it’s just a bunch of words. We fail to consider the glorious requests contained within.

It begins simply, our Father in heaven. Those are the most amazing four words. Say them aloud, Our-Father-In-Heaven.

We have not just a Creator (as stunning as that is on its own), we have a Father, a perfect, holy, powerful, all-knowing, always with us Father.

He is everything a father should be. Loving. Adoring. Protective. Courageous. Faithful. Disciplining. Guiding. Honest. Holy. Father.

Most of us are in lock down for the next few weeks. Let’s start praying. I mean really praying – not just uttering words that have little meaning, nor listing our needs one after another. Let’s get real with our Father.

Father, today, may we experience in our prayer life what it truly means to have You, the Sovereign, Mighty, God as our Father. Amen.

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He is Risen Indeed!

by TerryLema

Jesus Christ is Risen Today! That is truth. And it is also truth to say that every day – Jesus Christ is Risen. The tomb is empty.

Luke 24:1-12 gives one of the accounts of that wonderful first Resurrection Sunday morning. It contained what may be my favorite question ever uttered, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?”

Then it gives the best answer ever heard, “He is not here, but is risen!”

 That announcement was given to a group of women. Luke tells us just who they were and that when they went back and told the disciples that the tomb was empty, the disciples failed to believe them: “Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.” [v10-11 NKJV]

“Idle Tales.” Those same attitudes, disbelief and doubt, have traveled down through the centuries. They exist quite well in the human spirit. How could someone rise from the dead? How could Jesus be who He said He was, God’s Son? It all sounds so “out of this world.”

And yet, “out of this world” is something for which we are all longing. This world doesn’t have the answers to the hopelessness and helplessness that life presents us. It doesn’t relieve the shame or the guilt or the perversions that are resident deep with us. We need something “out of this world.” We long for something greater, something higher and deeper than what the world has to offer.

God, who knows the deepest cries of our heart, gave us what we need most – He gave us Himself. The Christmas Story becomes the Easter Story. The tomb is empty. Salvation is ours. It is really real … I know, because He gave it to me.

Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

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Silent Saturday

by TerryLema

Perhaps only those of us who have suffered a great loss can truly appreciate the depth of hopelessness felt by the disciples on Silent Saturday. We have always known that Jesus rose from the grave. When we celebrate Good Friday it is with the knowledge that Sunday is coming.

But the disciples knew only one thing that long silent Saturday … their Master … the one in whom they had placed all their dreams and hopes was lying in a dark, cold tomb. He had been beaten and crucified, battered beyond recognition.

I wonder if any of them remembered the words of Isaiah. “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter.” [v7]

I wonder if they were consumed with guilt for having abandoned him. Did they remember the warning Jesus gave them using the words found in Zechariah 13:7: “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’”   [Matt 26:31]

Or were they just numb with grief.

The disciples were locked away that first Silent Saturday out of fear of the Romans. This year, disciples are locked away out of fear of a virus. But while they didn’t realize that Sunday was coming and everything would change – we do. We won’t be locked away forever, beloved. We will once again gather as the church. Our buildings will be open.

Let’s pray, however, that when we do re-gather, we don’t just revert to that “old normal.” Let us not take for granted the privilege of opening our church doors, meeting with the Body of Christ, and going forth into the world to bring others to God’s saving grace. Amen.

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For Us

by TerryLema

I remember going to the movies as a teenager in 1965 to see the “Greatest Story Ever Told.” I remember how emotional I got during that movie when it came to the scenes of betrayal, torture and crucifixion. I knew when “The Passion of the Christ” came out in 2004, I would not be able to watch it … the scenes were so much more graphic. I still haven’t watched it. I can barely read through the accounts of the trials and crucifixion without weeping … even though I know that “Sunday is Coming.”

Jesus spoke from the cross that day. To me the most poignant were, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me.”

The most promising, “It is … and will forever be … finished.”

But of all the words that pierce my heart today, they are two words that we find throughout the NT.

1 John 3:16: “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.”

 Romans 5:8: “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

2 Corinthians 5:21: “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Ephesians 5:2: “Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

For us … I often read those words as … for me.

 When I consider what God’s Son did … for me … I can barely breathe. When I read what He suffered … for me … I am overwhelmed by unworthiness of God’s love.

Yet, I know … yes, I know … that the greatest of all tragedies would be to ignore, reject or refuse that love that is offered for me.

So, today I both weep and rejoice. I weep over what my sins cost God’s Son, and I rejoice that despite my unworthiness, He went to the cross and made a way for me, so that I can now say …. “I – Am – A – Child – of – God.

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Gethsemane

by TerryLema

It was late at night. The Passover meal was done. Judas had left the group to finalize handing Jesus over to those seeking His death.

“Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’ He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’“ [Matt 26:36-38 NIV]

We know the disciples didn’t keep watch; they fell asleep. Jesus was left alone to agonize over what was just ahead of Him. It was such a deep sorrow that as He contemplated that awful cup He would have to drink, he sweated great drops of bloody sweat. He had to be strengthened by angels sent from the Father just to keep praying.

“Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” [Luke 22:43-44 NKJV]

You have probably heard me say this before. This was the deciding moment for all time. When Jesus arose from His prayer in the Garden, His decision was made. He never wavered from that point on. He was determined to complete the work. He was in full control through the trials, the torture, the bloody cross.

When I read of the crucifixion I see my sin, but I think I see my sin and what it cost God’s Son to die for me even more in these moments before the cross as Jesus suffered in the Garden. Even the anticipation of the dregs of that cup of sin and perversions was abhorrent to the Son of God. And yet, because of His love for us, He made the choice to endure it all for the joy (for us) that was set before Him.

Oh, Jesus, Savior of my soul, forgive me. Never let me take for granted all you have done for me. Let me live my life to bring honor to your name. Give me opportunity to share Your amazing love with others so that they might also know you. Amen & Amen.

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Judas

by TerryLema

Following the anointing of Jesus for burial by Mary of Bethany, one of Jesus’ disciples, Judas, made a fateful decision, a decision to betray His master.

Then one of the Twelve-the one called Judas Iscariot-went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. [Matt 26:14-16]

I always wonder about Judas. How could he walk with Jesus for years and not know Him? I’ve heard a lot of ideas about why Judas did what he did … that he was looking for a radical messiah that would overthrow Roman rule … that he sold Jesus out to the chief priests in order to force Jesus’ hand and make Him be what Judas wanted Him to be.

Whatever his reasons, we know that Judas regretted betraying Jesus. After Jesus was condemned, he was overcome with remorse and went back to the chief priests to try to undo what he had done. He returned the blood money and said, “I have sinned for I have betrayed innocent blood.”

The chief priests could not have cared less. They had what they wanted and weren’t about to reverse their plot to have Jesus killed.

Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. [Matt 27:3-5]

I doubt there is a sadder story in all of history. Jesus’ friend sold Him to His enemies for a pittance. Then destroyed any hope of forgiveness by taking his own life.

What a wasted life – one that had the greatest potential. He could have been numbered with the Apostles of Christ Jesus, listed with Peter and John and James and Paul and the others who changed the world. Instead his name has become synonymous with betrayal and deceit.

We have marvelous potential in Christ Jesus to change the world around us – let’s not waste it!

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The Sweet Frangrance

by TerryLema

Matthew and Mark tell us that during this Holy Week, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of a man known as Simon the Leper. John identifies this as the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. While there, Mary came to him with an alabaster jar containing about a pint of very expensive perfume. She poured it on Jesus’ head and feet and wiped his feet with her hair. John adds that “the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” [John 12:3]

Some of the disciples became indignant and thought that was a waste of something that could have been sold for money that would benefit the poor. Jesus told them that what Mary had done was a beautiful thing, she had prepared him for burial, and that her sacrificial act would be remembered long after she was gone. [Matt 26:6-13]

The other day I went on a short walk, venturing into the fresh air. When I came back into the house the aroma of cinnamon was pungent. I had left a wax burner on with a cinnamon wax in it. While I was in the house I had grown desensitized to the aroma of the cinnamon. What one commercial now calls “nose blind.” It was not until I was away from it for a while and returned that I was aware of the beautiful fragrance of the cinnamon spice.

The house of Simon the Leper was filled with the perfume that anointed Jesus. Mary’s hair used to wipe the excess from Jesus’ feet would have also been steeped with the same fragrance. I often wonder if that fragrance lasted to the end of the week, beyond the crucifixion, maybe as far as Resurrection Sunday?

The sweet aroma of Jesus shared together with other Christians in our local buildings is absent this year … but it’s still with us. Maybe we took that for granted, grew a little desensitized to the wonderful fragrance of Jesus in our midst. Now, hopefully, when we get together once again, we’ll appreciate it a bit more.

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A House of Prayer

by TerryLema

After the Triumphal Entry, Jesus went to the Temple area and drove out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the moneychangers who were making a profit by selling animals for sacrifice. He quoted words given by the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah, “’It is written,’ he said to them, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ for all nations, but you are making it a ‘den of robbers.’” [Mark 11:17, Isaiah 56:7, Jeremiah 7:11]

When the religious leaders heard this, and saw Jesus healing the sick in the Temple area, it angered them beyond belief, so much so, that they began looking for ways to kill Him.

There are times when I read about the events of the last week of Jesus’ life that I wonder what He would do if He came into our “temple area,” into our places of corporate gathering. Would He be allowed to sit and heal the sick and wounded, or would He have to drive out the moneychangers first.

You might think we don’t have moneychangers in our modern day church … but we do. Moneychangers are anything in our churches that have taken the place of the presence of Jesus and the fire of the Holy Spirit. They can be amenities, attitudes, false teaching or an incomplete Gospel. They must be driven out so that Jesus can once again teach and heal and set free.

Today (and perhaps for many weeks) the meeting-sites are closed. The church must be creative in how we worship our God, minister grace and bring hope to the world. What we have to offer now are the great eternal truths and the love and care that will lead others to salvation and strengthen those who are bound with fear.

There’s no room for the moneychangers in our temple areas. Maybe that’s something we need to remember when the doors open once more.

Jesus, we welcome you into our “temple areas” with great joy. Amen.

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A Day of Joy & Hope

by TerryLema

Today is Palm Sunday, the commemoration of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem shortly before His death. That entry was the fulfillment of the prophecy found in Zechariah 9:9: “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

The people who witnessed this entry cut palm branches to wave and spread their cloaks on the ground before Him. They acknowledged Him as their king shouting “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD” from Psalm 118.

This riled up the Jewish leaders who told Jesus to rebuke the crowd for their cries of joy. Jesus, refused to rebuke them and told the leaders, “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” [Luke 19:40]

We are under a mandate to not gather together – for believers this is especially difficult during this season of remembrance of the crucifixion and resurrection of our LORD. This is our high season. This is when we plan for multitudes to come into the church. We often look at this season as one of great opportunity for salvations.

It seems that everything around us is rebuking us and trying to get us to silence our cries of joy. But, but, beloved, nothing has changed that really matters. Our King has come and brought salvation. And we still cry out, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD.”

If anything, our cries should be even louder now…they should flood the airways, social media and travel across our globe. If we keep silent, the stones will cry out, and as I’ve heard it said, no rock or stone is going to sing praise for me!

 Praise be to Jesus, the Christ, who came to save us, deliver us, redeem us! All Glory to Him forever and ever. Amen.

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