Author

TerryLema

Go in Peace

by TerryLema

The last event in Luke 7 always makes me want to weep. It begins with verse 36 and ends at verse 50, and is the account of a Pharisee, Jesus, and a woman who had lived a sinful life.

Jesus was invited to the home of a Pharisee. Common courtesy was to provide water so that visitors could wash the dust of the road from their feet and to greet an honored guest with a kiss. This Pharisee did neither, but a woman snuck into the room with an alabaster jar of perfume. She came to Jesus and washed His feet with her tears, dried them with her hair, kissed them and then poured the expensive perfume upon them. The Pharisee recognized her as a “sinful woman” and wondered why Jesus would even allow such to touch Him.

A sinful woman. What would it have been like to know that everyone knew your sins and that you bore a label that forever linked you with them?

A desperate woman. A woman desperate enough to give her the courage to enter the presence of men who knew all about her and scorned her for her life.

A woman of repentance and faith. Jesus saw beyond the label. He saw the actions of her faith – seeking Him out, weeping in repentance, showing her thankfulness for His acceptance and love.

A forgiven woman. “Then Jesus said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ … Jesus said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’” [Luke 7:48-50]

What a wonderful Savior.

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Blessed is the one

by TerryLema

After Jesus healed the Centurion’s servant and raised the widow’s son in Nain, word got back to His cousin, John the Baptizer, of all that Jesus was doing. John had been arrested by Herod and was in jail, soon to be executed. I think John knew that he would not emerge out of this prison alive, so John sends two of his disciples back to Jesus with a question. “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” [Luke 7:20]

Jesus’ response is tender and loving. “At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. So he replied to the messengers, ‘Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.’” [v21-23]

John the Baptizer was a great prophet, but he was also a man. He was sitting in prison, no longer the firebrand roaming the countryside, calling people to repent and pointing toward the Messiah to come. This must have been a very difficult time for him. Perhaps he wanted to make sure that when he acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah that he was correct. Perhaps he wanted to push Jesus to reveal Himself as the Messiah. Whatever his motives in asking Jesus should we expect another, he did nothing more than what we probably would have done had we been in the same situation.

Jesus’ response is kind and compassionate. First, He continues to do what He’s been doing, curing, healing, setting people free. Then He sends John’s messengers back to him with a reminder out of the book Isaiah that the Messiah will do exactly what Jesus is doing. And finally, Jesus reminds His cousin to hang in there … “Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”

John was at his lowest point in life. But Jesus did not rebuke him, nor harshly remind him that he himself had once acknowledged Jesus as Messiah. He simply said, stay the course. It may be difficult now, but there are abundant blessings for the ones who remain faithful.  

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The Last Enemy

by TerryLema

The next event in the life of Jesus portrayed in Luke 7 is one that should touch every heart. Soon after Jesus’ healing of the Centurion’s servant, He was on the road again. This time He enters a little town called Nain, and immediately is confronted with something that touches the deep recesses of His compassion.

“Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out-the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, ‘Don’t cry.’” [Luke 7:11-13]

Then comes the best part! “He went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, ‘Young man, I say to you, get up!’ The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.” [7:14-15]

No one approached Jesus for help this time. No one was sent to see if He would respond to their request. Jesus saw the need before anyone in His entourage did. And He responded before anyone in the company of the grieving mother asked. Isn’t that an amazing compassion?

Jesus told the grieving mom not to cry and then He pushed back against the very thing that provoked her tears – death. This, of course, was a temporary restraining of death. This young man, like Jairus’ daughter and Lazarus, would face physical death again. But our wonderful LORD, who wept at death and felt such compassion for the grieving, would by His very own death and resurrection overcome death itself. He brings eternal life to His own.

Now we have eternal life through Him and we wait for that day when even physical death will be banished from the King’s Kingdom forever. Hallelujah!

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Under Authority

by TerryLema

Do you want to see what my Jesus is like? You will find a most lovely series of events in His life in Luke 7. In each event you see His heart openly on display. Since I love looking at and learning more about my Savior, I thought it might be good to look at each event in that chapter. The first is the Centurion with the dying servant. [vs 1-10]

This must have been some Centurion! First, he had a good relationship with the Jewish elders where he was stationed. Jews and Romans didn’t mix; they hated each other. Yet these elders not only carry the Centurion’s message to Jesus, they plead with Him to help. “This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” [Luke 7:4-5]

Next, when the Centurion learns Jesus is on His way to His house, he sends friends to prevent Him from coming all the way. They bring an amazing message from him. “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me.” [v6-8]

That message so moved Jesus that He turns to the crowd following Him and says, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” [v9]

I have often heard the Centurion applauded for his comment that he was a man “of” authority, but I think what touched Jesus’ heart is the part of the comment that often is ignored. The Centurion knew what it was to be a man “under” authority.

As children of God we have authority, but as people of faith we understand what it means to submit to God’s authority. Jesus saw that in this Centurion, and He responded to it. What a lovely Savior we have.

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Compassion & Power

by TerryLema

Compassion. Merriam-Webster’s definition of compassion is “sympathetic consciousness of others distress, together with a desire to alleviate it.”

There are numerous references to Jesus’ “compassion” in the Gospels. (Here are a few: Matthew 14:14, 15:32, 20:34, Mark 1:41, 6:34, 8:2). If you take a moment to read those, you’ll notice one thing in those instances of Jesus’ compassion that is not contained in the dictionary’s definition.

Yes, Jesus did have a sympathetic consciousness of the distress of others. And He also had a desire to alleviate it. But the one thing that’s different – He took it one step further and did something about the distress of others. He fed the hungry, He healed the sick, He touched the blind eyes, He cleansed the leper.

We speak a great deal about the compassion of our wonderful Father and Savior. We share the nature and character of our God with others. That is what we should be doing. But let’s not forget that while we remind people of Christ Jesus’ compassion and love for them, that we also remind them of His power to do something about their distress.

Jesus has the power to change lives. He feeds, heals, cleanses, brings life. He sets people free from the spiritual burdens they’ve born all their lives. He releases them from bondages. He sends His Spirit to indwell them to prove God’s love for them and assure them of His presence with them—they are not alone anymore. He woos and loves them into the Kingdom of God where they are no longer slaves but sons and daughters of the King.

Yes, our God has compassion, but even more He puts power into His compassion and sends it to us to set us free from our distress.  Bless His Mighty Name. Amen & Amen.

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Over One Sinner

by TerryLema

If you read one of my favorite chapters in the Gospels, Luke 15, you’ll see those three parables, the Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, and Lost Sons. And you’ll see something else. Rejoicing!

“’Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” [v6-7]

“’Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” [v9-10]

“Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate…. and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” [v22-23, 32]

Each lost one who returns is a cause for celebration and rejoicing. Not just the rejoicing and celebrating done here when we see someone come to salvation through Christ Jesus … but rejoicing in heaven. I love the way Jesus said it in verse 10 – rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God.

When I read that small phrase, I wonder just Who is doing the rejoicing in the angel’s presence – and I think it is our Father God. Can you imagine the amazement on the faces of the angles as they watch the Father celebrating the return of one child after another? Just to imagine that scene constantly replaying in heaven leaves me breathless spiritually.

That God would love us so. That He would rejoice over each one who comes to Him is almost unfathomable.

Oh Father, thank You for Your love. Amen!

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The Heart of God

by TerryLema

One of my favorite chapters in the Gospels is Luke 15. Jesus tells three parables, the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin and the Lost Son (actually both sons were lost, but in different ways.) In each of those parables we see the heart of God revealed in a unique way.

Sheep, I think, tend to wander off – one apparently wandered so far from the flock he became lost. The coin was lost through no fault of its own, someone misplaced it. The son was lost because he willfully walked away from the family in rebellion.

What warms my soul in these three parables is the amazing heart of God. In the parable of the lost sheep, I see God’s love for that single lost soul. Yes, God loves the world so much that He sent His Son to redeem it, but God loves me and you. He noticed when we weren’t where we should be and came looking for us.

In the lost coin parable, I see God’s persistence. That woman swept the house, diligently searching for that lost coin. She wasn’t going to give up until it was found and back in her possession. Neither is our Father God giving up on us.

And of course, in the lost sons parable, I see the yearning in the heart of God for all His children to be with Him, whether they had squandered everything given them and were returning destitute to Him, or whether they had a loveless, legalistic relationship with Him that kept their hearts far from His. He wants them all!

 What compassion God has for His children. He notices when one of us is missing. He diligently searches until that missing one is found. He greets those who will return with expressions of love and delight.

“While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” [Luke 15:20]

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Love

by TerryLema

It’s Valentine’s Day and the world is focusing on “romance.” Romance is a very nice special treat, but I’m not sure romance has the power to carry us through when the going gets rough. Those times need something a little stronger…something like “agape” love.

Paul’s words on love to the problematic church at Corinth are probably the best written. You’ll find them in 1 Corinthians 13. I am sure they are familiar to you but it’s good to read them again. Today’s a good day to do so.

Those middle verses speak the most to me. They are especially convicting when you realize that the word Paul uses in this passage for love, “agape,” is the same word Jesus used when He told us to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” in His Sermon on the Mount (so that we might be children of our Father God). [Matthew 5:44]

“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” [v4-7 NKJV]

It is easy to love our friends and loved ones this way, but our enemies? Did Jesus really mean we were to express this “agape” love to those politicians who are set on destroying the church? Did He mean us to “agape” love those on social media who revile us for our views? Well, I guess if we’d call them an “enemy” then, yes, He did.

As James reminds us, our anger is not going to bring about that righteous life that God desires in anyone.

But our “agape” love just might! [James 1:20]

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What a Day of Rejoicing!

by TerryLema

The church at Corinth was going through many problems. They were heavy problems, materialism, selfishness, lawsuits against one another, sexual sins. There were factions, false teachings and pride. These problems were the result of one central issue – the people of Corinth had brought the world’s ways into the church. They would not separate themselves from the life they lived before coming to salvation in Christ Jesus. Sound familiar?

Paul deals with many issues in both his letters and some of the most beautiful thoughts ever put to words are found there. One of the first things he does is remind us that there are eternal glories waiting for the believer that outweigh any “perks” we might find in this world. He begins with a quote from Isaiah 64:4: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” [1 Cor 2:9 NKJV]

Then he immediately adds the most marvelous truth: “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.” [Vs 10-11]

God has given us His Spirit. His Spirit has the job of revealing to us the heart of our Father and the beauty of our Savior. He reveals to us what the Father has already done for us, provided for us and is reserving in heaven for us. The Spirit brings the resurrection life of Jesus to our souls and makes us alive. He provides the illumination of the Words of Jesus that keep us steady and secure.

And still there is much we won’t really grasp until we enter the very presence of God. Like that old song “When We All Get to Heaven” says, “What a day of rejoicing that will be! When we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout the victory!”

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As He Loves Us

by TerryLema

It’s almost Valentine’s Day when the world thinks about “romantic love.” I know the restaurants will be full and the card and candy makers and flower shops will have a busy day. Maybe even the jewelry stores. I remember talking to a waitress once who told me that she hated working on Valentine’s Day because the tips weren’t very good. People had spent all their money on the dinner and gifts. However, she loved working Mother’s Day because it was the best tip day of the year. Apparently, we still want to impress our moms!

Jesus had a lot to say about love, not the romantic kind, but the love that emanates deep from His presence in us and captures not just emotions but a determined will of obedience. He said:

“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” [John 15:12 NKJV]

“I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” [Matt 5:44-45 NIV]

“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” [John 14:23 NKJV]

None of what Jesus said about love is easy.

We are to love each other as He loved us. That involves sacrifice.

He said we are to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us as they persecuted Him.

And He said our love for Him will be seen in our obedience to Him.

Nope, not easy, and it is getting harder in our society today to follow Jesus’ way of love, but there is also a promise given. If we do love as He commands, He and the Father will come and make their home with us. Loving Jesus’ way may not be easy, but it is sure worth it! Amen.

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