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TerryLema

Well Done!

by TerryLema

We have the potential to be something very special. This potential is in us because God has called us to live a life worthy of Him. With that call God began a work in us, a work that He has promised to complete. That supernatural work of God within us is what drives our potential. [Philippians 1:6, I Thessalonians 2:12b]

Paul saw the potential of the converts in Thessalonica. He wrote his letter to them to express his joy in them, and to help develop God’s potential in their lives. His letter gives us much to think about amid its simplicity.

Paul begins, “We always thank God for all of you, remembering you constantly in our prayers. We recall, in the presence of our God and Father, your work of faith, labor of love, and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”  [I Thessalonians 1:2-3 NLT]

As that first chapter begins to unwind, Paul reminisces about how these converts embraced the Gospel. He points out that the Gospel came to them not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. These converts welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit and became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. Their faith was well known everywhere. This is high praise because Paul calls no other church a model, an example or pattern to both believers and non-believers.

What a joyous way to begin a letter. It reminds me of the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25 and the Parable of the Ten Minas in Luke 19. Jesus told his listeners that a master had entrusted certain of his servants with talents or minas, and upon his return had found that some had multiplied what was given them while others had not. To those who had gained, “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy!” [Matthew 25:21 NLT]

The opening of Paul’s letter is his way of saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You were faithful over a few things ….”  Now he will show them the way to be faithful with even more, the way to share their Master’s happiness.

 

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A Bundle of Potentiality!

by TerryLema

Potential. What a great word! It means something that can develop or become actual. It’s a promise of good things to come. I think of the word potential when I read the letter of Paul to the Thessalonians. It’s a lovely little letter, sometimes overlooked because of its simplicity.

When Paul wrote the letter it was not to correct any great theological error nor to rebuke a great sin. Instead, Paul wrote it from the heart of thanksgiving. At a time in his life when there was little encouragement, messengers came from Thessalonica with word that his converts there were continuing steadfastly in the Gospel he had brought them. Paul wrote this letter to encourage them to fulfill their potential “to life lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.”  [I Thessalonians 2:7]

I remember a passage from a song my kids used to sing, “I am a promise, I am a possibility, I am a promise, with a capital ‘P.’ I am a great big bundle of potentiality!”

Each of us is a great big bundle of potentiality. God has promised to not only begin a work in us, but to complete it. God’s promise is our potentiality. Because He said he would do a work in us, and that He would complete that work, we have potential that is truly supernatural; supernatural because it originates and finishes in Him.

As Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, he expressed his thanksgiving for what God had begun to do in them since their conversion. He also however, set out a path for them to walk to fulfill their potential and see the completion of God’s work in their lives.

I don’t know about you, but even at almost 80 years old I’d like to see the potential God has placed in me mature and become a complete work. Walk with me through Thessalonians, and remember, you are a “great big bundle of potentiality!”

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Fruit! Character!

by TerryLema

I was reminded recently that there is a great difference between talent and character. Jesus touched on that subject in the Sermon on the Mount.

“Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?  A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit…. just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.” [Matthew 7:15-17, 20 NLT]

We live in a society that glorifies talent. We are enamored of those who have the talent to do exploits the majority of us cannot do. We put talent on the highest pedestal, and we pay highly for the privilege of watching them exercise their talent.

But there is a vast difference between possessing talent and possessing character. Character involves traits such as honesty, compassion, courage, patience, generosity, responsibility, and accountability—and more. Those traits seem to be harder to develop than talent and seem far more susceptible to corruption.

Jesus said we are to identify people according to their fruit – to their character. It is their actions which speak far louder than their talent.

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He Is Risen!

by TerryLema

“By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.”  [1 Corinthians 6:14 NIV]

The three greatest words ever spoken are “He is Risen.” The closing chapters of Matthew, Mark and Luke all declare that truth! By His power God raised the Lord from the dead. It is not just a past tense event; it is a present and future tense event also. He was Raised. He is Risen. He will forever be Risen!

Just as Jesus told His disciples, He was raised from the dead on the third day. The Jewish ruling class and the Roman authorities had crucified Him and buried Him, but they could not keep Him there. Death could not hold Him. On the third day that tomb was emptied by the power of God.

He is Risen. Now Jesus sits at the right hand of God, making intercession for His own.

He will forever be Risen! One day, the Book of Revelations says, death and the grave will be gone; the tempter of our souls will be gone and all that will remain is the Lord God Almighty.

And yes, along with the Father, the Son and the Spirit, there will be not just the angelic host, but a host of mankind from all tribes and tongues and nations. The glorious promise of the Risen Lord is that to all who believe in Him, He will grant eternal life … resurrection power.

We will, through His power, be forever raised from our graves also.  That is God’s promise to us. That is God’s power to us. Amen & Amen

 

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Silent Saturday

by TerryLema

Someone reminded me recently that I have always referred to the day between the cross and the resurrection as “Silent Saturday.”

Jesus was dead. They had hurriedly placed his body in the tomb. Pilate had commanded the soldiers to roll a great stone across the entrance to keep Jesus’ disciples from stealing His body.

The followers of Jesus were afraid they might be the next ones to be arrested. I am sure they were silent in their mourning so as not to attract attention to themselves. They were waiting for the Sabbath to end so they could go to the tomb and do a proper preparation of Jesus’ body for burial.

Silence. Sadness. Stunned Disbelief. I am also sure they were experiencing a myriad of emotions. No one truly understood what was ahead. No one understood that the great stone that was rolled in front of the tomb was to keep people out – but had no power to keep their LORD and Savior in!

There would be rejoicing and celebration. Sunday would come. But this day, this day was a silent day that offered no answers to their deepest questions. Silent Saturday.

We have all experienced a “Silent Saturday,” a time filled with silence, sadness, stunned disbelief, not knowing what was ahead. But I promise that for the followers of Christ – Sunday will come!

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Good Friday

by TerryLema

“Praise the Lord O my soul, all my inmost being, praise his holy name.  Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”

Psalm 103, a psalm of David, opens with a reminder to remember the Lord. David wants to remember the benefits of the Lord in his life, forgiveness, healing, redemption, love and compassion.

Today is Good Friday. The day we remember also, the work of Christ at Calvary that provided the benefits of God to those who accept His sacrifice; benefits that will remain with us for all eternity.

David throughout the remainder of Psalm 103 remembers many more of the Lord’s benefits. Toward the end of the psalm, David makes a grand statement, “The Lord has established his throne in heaven and his kingdom rules over all.”  [103:19]

Whatever benefits David experienced or did not experience, he realized that God’s throne was firmly established. Whatever David may see with his eyes on this earth did not matter, what mattered was that God’s kingdom rules over all.

Jesus spoke one word from the cross that speaks more to our souls that all others, “Telelestai!” In English that is, “It is finished!”

The work of the Lamb of God sacrificed to take away the sins of the world was completed. The work of man’s redemption and salvation was accomplished. A fountain of grace had now been opened, and peace had been bought with the blood of the very Son of God. It is done. He has by His death destroyed him who held the power of death over all men, that is the devil. He has made an end of transgression and through his blood has obtained mercy for all. It is finished.

“The Lord has established his throne in heaven and his kingdom rules over all.” 

Praise the Lord O my soul … forget not all his benefits … It is Finished.

 

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Today You Will Be With Me

by TerryLema

“Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.  Praise the Lord O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”

David’s fervent prayer — Let me not forget all you have done for me, forgiveness, healing, redemption.

Our fervent prayer – Let me not forget all that Christ has done for me on the Cross, the forgiveness of my sins, healing eternal, redemption through His blood.

David also reminded himself of another benefit in Psalm 103:4b, “[God] crowns you with love and compassion.” Love and compassion. Repeatedly through the Gospels, it is said of Jesus that He had compassion on the lost. And love … what love!

Perhaps my favorite words from the cross are the words Jesus spoke to the criminal crucified beside Him. When the thief rebuked the third man being crucified that afternoon and then asked Jesus to simply “remember me when you come to your kingdom,” Christ’s response causes my heart to soar every time I contemplate it. “Today you will be with me in paradise.”

Scholars and different denominations debate about what Jesus meant when He used the word “today.” They debate if he was talking about that literal day, or if there is a time of sleep and then a time when all awake together. Personally, I think they are all missing the point. The point is found in the words, “you will be with me.”

The thief had done nothing, yet the love and compassion of Christ, even during His own suffering for the sins of all mankind, focused on one individual and reassured Him that though he had done nothing to deserve it, he would be with Christ.

Praise the Lord O my soul … forget not all his benefits … He crowns me with love and compassion.

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He Redeems My Life

by TerryLema

“Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”

That was David’s desire as he penned Psalm 103, to remember the Lord’s benefits to him.  David remembered forgiveness and he remembered healing. He also remembered the God “who redeems your life from the pit.” 

Redemption. As we approach Easter week especially, the word redemption has great meaning for those of us in Christ. Redemption requires a sacrifice. Redemption requires blood.

In the Old Testament, redemption meant the blood of an animal was shed. In the Book of Hebrews, it says that Christ “did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.”  [Heb 9:12]

We, as fallen people, were sold into slavery to sin. There was not a worthy sacrifice in all of creation that could buy us out of that slavery. We had, as a people and as individuals, disobeyed the laws of the very Creator that gave us life. Nothing worthy existed in this world that could satisfy the consequences of that disobedience.

So, God sent His Son, His dearly beloved Son, and through the sacrifice of His blood, His death at Calvary, our redemption from sin, from the law, and from the consequences of disobedience (death) were satisfied. Now we sing, “I’ve been redeemed by love divine, glory, glory, Christ is mine.”

Praise the Lord O my soul … forget not all his benefits … who redeems my life from the pit.

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I Will Praise His Holy Name – Healing

by TerryLema

“Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.” [Psalm 103 NLT]

That was the desire of David as he wrote this song, to remember the benefits of the Lord. The first benefit David remembered was that the Lord forgives all our sins. The second is that the Lord heals all our diseases.

Centuries before Jesus walked this earth, the prophet Isaiah painted a picture of the work of the Messiah in Isaiah 52 and 53, the passage of the suffering servant. He wrote, “by His stripes [wounds] we are healed.”  [53:5]

One of the first things about Jesus that is noted in the Gospels is that “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.”  [Matt 4:23 NIV]

He was concerned with the healing of the people he encountered. Today, as He sits at the right hand of God, He is the source of all healing. He heals physically. He heals emotionally. He heals spiritually.  I remember my former pastor always said, disease cannot win, even if it kills us, it will not win. We have an eternal healing in Christ.

I have seen physical healing that was only accomplished through His divine touch. I have seen emotional healing that could only have been fulfilled by His power. I have experienced spiritual healing that will last eternally in Him.

I remember. Praise the Lord O my soul … forget not all his benefits … [He] heals all my diseases. Amen

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Let All That I Am Praise

by TerryLema

This is Easter week. It seems early this year, April 5. February seemed to fly by and March is following suit. I want to spend this time before Easter preparing my heart.

As I was reading in Psalm 103 this morning, the opening words struck me. “Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.” [vs 1-2 NLT]

Then David begins to list the benefits he did not want to forget. As I read David’s words, I began to do the same, to list the benefits I do not want to forget, the benefits I received because of the sacrifice of Christ at Calvary. David begins his remembrance with “He forgives all my sins.”

David understood what it was like to have sin forgiven. The law given by Moses made provision for unintentional sins, but there were no provisions for intentional ones. The intentional sin is what David referred to in Psalm 51:14 as “bloodguilt.” It was the sin of David with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. There was no provision in the law, yet David knew God’s mercy and the forgiveness of even bloodguilt. He desired to remember that forgiveness.

I, too, remember forgiveness. John wrote: “because your sins have been forgiven through Jesus.” [1 John 2:12 NLT]

Because of what Christ did on the cross, I remember the One who forgives all my sins. Jesus from His cross asked God’s forgiveness for the very ones that were crucifying Him. And He provided, through His sacrifice that day, the forgiveness I need for even my grievous sins.

Praise the Lord, O my soul … forget not all his benefits … the forgiveness of all my sins.

 

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