TerryLema

I was studying for last Wednesday’s Bible Study in the Book of Judges. Yes, we are doing a Bible Study in Judges, specifically because the times we are living in now resemble that book’s message. The key verse in Judges is 21:25: “In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did that which was right in his own eyes”

That certainly sounds like us, no right or wrong, every person a judge of his own actions.  But that wasn’t where I was heading with this devotion today. It was another thought, and another verse from another book that initially grabbed my attention as I studied.  “If God be for us, who can be against us?”

Paul asked that question in Romans 8:31. It is a profound question, one that I think we ask and answer many times in our lifetime.  Just when I think I have that question settled, something comes along and I end up asking it again. The sickness, poverty, and violence I see around me drive me to that question. I see others struggling with circumstances and trials, opposition and persecution and I ask that question. I face my own struggles and once again that question arises.

Yet, each time I ask that question, I get the same answer. I hear the sweet Holy Spirit speak to me in His still small voice, “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for [you], how shall He not with Him also freely give [you] all things?” [Rom 8:32 NKJV]

As the Spirit reminds me, my question is no longer a question. Instead it is my statement of faith, “Since God is for me, who/what can be against me!” Thank you, Lord.

Wanderlust. It was my “Word of the Day” recently.  It came with a definition: strong longing for or impulse toward wandering.

Someone who loves to travel once asked me years ago if after I retired, didn’t I want to travel. This person loved to travel, spending months on the road with their RV, towing their little car behind them. I said, nope. I have no desire to spend months away from home. I guess I’m just a homebody … maybe I just don’t really like the idea of retiring.

Yet, I have to admit there is a wanderlust in all of us. In me, also. We have all “wandered” away from God, or as Paul says in Romans, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” [v23 NKJV]

Adam wandered away from God in the Garden and all of mankind has since inherited his lifestyle. But as God did with Adam, He comes calling us back, calling us to abandon our wandering and return to Him.

In addition, once we have given up our wanderlust, James reminds us we have a duty to help others. “My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”  [James 5:19-20 NIV]

Father, keep us from our wanderlust. Help us to abide with all joy and delight in you. Enable us to help those who have wandered away. Amen and Amen.

In Psalm 143 the psalmist prays, “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.”

Too often we fuss about God’s will. Is this God’s will, or is that? Should I go there, or not? Should I do this or something different? I think the enemy of our soul loves to keep us fussing about God’s will because then we end up doing nothing.

So dare I say this … it’s more simple than we make it out to be. It can be summed up in one verse. “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.”  [Rom 8:29 NKJV]

The will of God for His children is that we be conformed to the image of Christ Jesus, our Lord. The Father intends for all of us to have the character of His Son. It is that simple … and yes, it is that complex.

What makes us look like, talk like, and act like Jesus? That is what plays out differently in each of us. The goal is the same for all, the pathway to that goal is different for all.

Yet, as we all aim at and walk towards that same goal, we can encourage each other, and help each other along the way. When we know what we are aiming for, it’s a lot easier to get there.  We can judge each opportunity that comes our way in light of the goal … will this serve to make me more like Jesus?

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Do whatever it takes, Father, to make me more like Jesus. Amen.

I’m walking during my lunch hour around the complex where I’m working. It gives me exactly one mile. I haven’t worked my way back up to my two-mile worship walk in the mornings, but at least I’m getting a mile done at lunch. My step total is beginning to climb past the 10K mark at last. It’s taken some time, and some patience on my part.

There is only one problem with the walk around the complex, parts of the sidewalk are broken and very uneven. I resorted to taking one of my walking sticks and leaving it in the office to use at lunch. My balance is not as good as it was when I was younger and the walking stick keeps me on an even keel.

Even ground is a must when walking, but it is even more important when walking with God. One of my favorite verses comes from Psalm 143. Verse 10 is a prayer, “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.  May your gracious Spirit lead me on level ground.” [Christian Standard Bible]

Learning God’s will for His children is vital, but even more vital is doing God’s will. It is “walking in His will” that produces level ground. So often I hear people call Christianity “a crutch.” Well, in some ways maybe it is. It’s like my walking stick. When life gets uneven, broken and full of cracks that can trip us, God’s will enables us to keep our balance. It produces that “level ground.”

Learning God’s will is not as hard as we often make it out to be. In fact, it can probably be summed up in one sentence. We’ll look at that one sentence tomorrow.

Today is the remembrance of the 9/11/01 attacks in New York and DC, and the crashing of Flight 93 in Pennsylvania. Not only were so many lives lost, but on that day the United States was awakened to the reality of terrorism. Surely, we were aware of terrorism around the world, and up to that point we had a few home-grown terrorists, but on 9/11 we came face to face with our own vulnerability to outside terrorism. No longer were the oceans on our east and west borders able to keep us safe.

We are vulnerable. The word means susceptible, weak, exposed, helpless, defenseless. And when we are any one of those things, we are often fearful.  Being at the mercy of others can easily give birth to fear.

Whenever I remember 9/11, I hear the words of Psalm 46: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” [v1-3 NIV]

The psalmist long before 9/11 painted a picture with words of what we saw. The mountainous buildings falling, the dust clouds looking like waters roaring and foaming over everything and everyone, the earth shaking. But the psalmist also included that little word “therefore.” We do see all the devastation and we are reminded of our vulnerability, but we must always view that considering the “therefore.” Because “God is our refuse and strength,” because He is our “ever-present help in trouble,” therefore, “we will not fear.”

The psalmist ended with a gentle reminder, “The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress” – even as the mountains tumble around us. [v11 NIV]

Remember taking those tests in school where you got a list of words and were asked to pick out the one that didn’t belong?  How about this list:  Politics. Sports. Hollywood. Media. Maturity.

Can you find the word that doesn’t fit in? If I had to pick, I’d pick the word “maturity.” I don’t think I have ever seen a time when people displayed such an astounding lack of maturity. Politics resembles a circus. Sports are often dominated by prima donnas who can’t spell “teamwork,” let alone participate in it. Hollywood? Most celebrities float from one relationship to another. The media? Both the professional and social media have descended into a pit of arrogance and vitriol.

Is it really that bad out there? I’d say yes.

“Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect [mature] in Christ Jesus.” [Col 1:28 NKJV]

There is one more word we could possibly add to that list, but I’m hoping not.  That word is, Church. Church is to be the place where we preach, warn and teach in all wisdom so that every person might learn what it means to be mature in Christ.  Church, also, is a place where that maturity can be tested so we might know how far we have come and how much farther we still must go.

I pray that all churches preach the true Word of God, for only then will we be able to omit church from that list!

I came across one of the most precious promises in John’s Gospel. Of course, the promise also had a condition. It is one of those “if-then” types of promises we see so often.

“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 14:23-24 NKJV]

“If anyone loves Me,” Jesus said. If you love Jesus, and I certainly do, then you will keep His word. Keeping His word is synonymous with obedience. We obey, not because we are commanded to obey; we obey because we love Him and want to please Him. It’s a given that when we truly love someone, we want to do the things that bring them joy. I can think of no greater thing than to bring joy to our Savior and Lord by our desire to obey.

Jesus’ promise to those who love the LORD and obey Him is amazing. The Father along with the Son will come to us and make their home with us.  Home. With. Us.

In 1 Corinthians Chapters 3 and 6, Paul reminded us that we (our bodies) are God’s temple. That’s sounds so solemn and so formal. Jesus, however, simply uses the word “home.” There is nothing solemn or formal about home.

Since I’ve been working one of the things I look forward to more than any is simply coming “home.” I am myself at home.  What a picture … Jesus and our Father God is … Home. With. Us.

I woke up Labor Day morning at 3 AM with a series of questions flowing through my mind about our Majestic and Powerful LORD. I listed all but one of those questions in yesterday’s devotion. The one I omitted, “When was the last time you went to a church service that left you uncomfortable, shaken or maybe even afraid?”

Suddenly, as I thought about that question, a host of others began to form. When was the last time church was anything more than routine or ordinary? When was the last time we allowed God to move in ways unexplainable? When was the last time we gave permission for the Spirit of God to deluge us with Rivers of Living Water? When was the last time a church service made us both want to draw nearer and at the same time run away with all our might?

I yearn to see an exuberance in the people of God that seems to be so lacking now. I yearn to hear of preachers so over-powered by the presence of God that they cannot continue but fall under the glory of God beside their pulpits. I yearn to see worship leaders and musicians so consumed with the wonder of God that they abandon their planned program and begin to join with heavenly choirs in worship of God.

Are we really satisfied with the same-old, same-old? Or are we just comfortable keeping God inside our own expectations?

I don’t know about you, but I want to see the fullness of God’s glory – even knowing that I will be undone by it. I want God to move in power among us, even if that power unnerves me and causes me to tremble in fear. I want all of God in our midst, not some handicapped, impotent, deity that neither challenges me nor changes me.

That is what I pray for every day. “Even so, come Lord Jesus!”

I woke up Labor Day morning at 3 AM with questions swirling in my mind. Those thoughts centered around our Holy, Untamable, All-Powerful God.

When was the last time you faced the God of Moses and came away from that experience with your face reflecting His Glory?

When did you meet the God of Elijah who first brought an earthquake, fire and wind to command your attention for His still small voice?

When was the last time you entered the presence of the God of Isaiah and found such holiness that you were unraveled in your humanity?

When was the last time you fell as dead before the God of Daniel and had to be revived before you could hear God’s answer to prayer?

Now lest you are thinking, that’s the Old Testament God and we now serve the New Testament gentle Christ Jesus who allowed children to climb on His lap. Let me remind you of the gentle Christ Jesus who calmed the raging storm and sea with a word and left His disciples more “terrified” of Him than of the storm. [Mark 4:35-41]

And remember John the Beloved, the one who reclined beside Jesus during the Last Supper? Remember his response when He saw the glorified Jesus holding the keys of death and Hades in Revelation 1, “I fell at his feet as though dead.” 

We serve a holy, untamable, unexplainable, mighty LORD. He is majestic, powerful, dangerous. We should be breathless in His Presence, awestruck by His Majesty, undone when faced with His Holiness. If we are not?

I want to continue with Paul’s letter to Philemon through just one more verse.  Verse 7 closes out that first paragraph in Paul’s letter.  Paul has reminded Philemon that he has prayed for him and that he is continuing to pray for him. Now he tells Philemon what Philemon’s faith and love has accomplished in Paul’s own life.  “For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.” [Christian Standard Bible]

As Paul heard of Philemon’s love and care for other saints of God, it refreshed his own heart. It brought joy and encouragement to Paul, whose life was often fraught with trials and difficulties. While Philemon’s acts of kindness and mercy weren’t to Paul particularly, Paul was able to gain inspiration and cheer from them. There is something about faith in Christ and love for him that unites the saints of God more closely than any outward relationship can unite the people of the world.

Our faith unites us in supernatural ways not only to God, it unites us supernaturally to God’s children. The same Spirit of Christ that indwells me, indwells all God’s children. I share the same nature, imparted by Christ, with them. There is no way that relationships birthed solely of this world can be like that.

That is why, when I see the good done by one Christian for another, I can be inspired and cheered. Or when I see one act of mercy and love extended by a part of God’s family to those who don’t know Christ, I can rejoice and be glad.

There is no jealousy or envy when I see someone being used of God for His Kingdom, for when one Christian advances the Gospel in this world, all Christians are benefited.