TerryLema

Recently a friend and I were talking about how tough it can be to get old. The conversation was not centered as much on the physical aspects of aging, although that can certainly affect every part of life. It was centered on the sense of no longer being relevant.

What I mean by that is that aging moves us from the ones giving care to the ones often needing care. It moves us many times from the center of ministry to the edges. We see others doing what we once did … sometimes in a different way … and we wonder if everything is forgotten.  And sometimes it is the physical aspects that do keep us sidelined or make us feel useless.

The first couple chapters in 1 Kings tell us of the transition from King David to his son King Solomon. David was old, cold, and apparently bedridden. There was intrigue caused by other sons until finally David was aroused and installed his son Solomon as king, as God had instructed him earlier.

1 Kings chapter 2 opens, “As the time approached for David to die, he instructed his son Solomon ….” [2Kings 2:1 HCSB]

In every life, if lived long enough, there comes a time when the older gives way to the younger. There comes a time when those who come after us must step up and lead the way. While God’s holiness, standards, and way of salvation never change, each generation in the church must be allowed to lead as God leads them.

The music may be different. The methods for outreach may be newer. Church services may look different. But the center of everything – Christ Jesus our LORD – remains the focus and goal.

I remember a few years ago when Mike Rowe had a show where he worked with people who had dirty, nasty, ugly jobs.  These were jobs that were necessary, but no one grew up aspiring to; jobs such as working in slaughterhouses, mucking out sewers, etc.

There are a lot of jobs that I would not want, but there are some that I would.  David, after bringing the ark down from the house of Obed Edom to the tent he had prepared for it in Jerusalem, appointed some people to do the job of thanksgiving.

1 Chronicles 16:4: “[David] appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to extol, thank, and praise the Lord, the God of Israel….”

Asaph was the leader and in charge of others whose duties were simply to praise, thank, and bless the Lord God of Israel.  I can’t think of a better job to have than to be in the presence of the Lord and sing His praises every day.

Oh wait, we already have that job!  Ephesians 5:4 commands us to cease from foolish talking, coarse jokes, and language that is out of place for one who loves Jesus Christ.  Instead, we are to engage in thanksgiving. That’s our JOB.  That’s our DAILY JOB. That’s a job that will survive the grave – one that we will take with us into eternity.

Lord, thank you!  May my thanks rise to your throne today as I stand in Your presence and remember all Your mighty deeds.  Amen.

Ephesians 5:15:17 “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”

Proverbs 22:3:  A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, But the simple pass on and are punished.

Remember Bugs Bunny where Elmer Fudd was always chasing that “wabbit?”  One of his favorite sayings was “Be careful, be vewy vewy careful.” 

We are reminded throughout Scripture to be careful, to be very careful how we live.  We are instructed to be wise – because the days are evil.  We are commanded to be prudent and to see evil ahead of us so that we might hide ourselves from it.

In this life, no matter the period of history, Christians live in a hostile environment.  The enemy of our soul is very adept at tailoring opposition to the Church as well as to individual members.  When Paul speaks of the days as evil, that’s what he means – that in every period (day) in history the Church will encounter hostility.  Sometimes that hostility is open and vigorous, sometimes it is hidden, but it is always there.

The wise in Christ will be aware of the evil of the present day.  The wise in Christ will hide in the shelter of the Lord’s will.  The wise in Christ will be careful not to fall into the enemy’s tactics and traps, and to heed the Spirit’s warnings.

Lord, help your Church to be wise in this evil day.  Help your church to be aware of the enemy’s tactics and to run to You.  Make us careful about how we live each day.  Keep us centered in Your will. Amen.

“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” [Ephesians 5:1-2 NIV]

The other day I was watching an old DVD that I hadn’t pulled out in quite some time.  Janet Pascal and the Gaither Vocal Band were singing a medley of “Tell me the Story of Jesus” and “Tell Me the Old Old Story.”

Their rendition begins with the words, “I’m tired of hollow-sounding words, I’m tired of empty promises. Won’t someone sing a simple song of Jesus’ love.” 

The Scripture is quite clear, Jesus Christ loved us and gave himself up for us.  It’s so simple, yet so deep.  Sometimes we get so busy exploring the depth that we forget just how simple a song of love it is.

Jesus Christ loved us and went to the cross for us.  Jesus Christ, sitting at the right hand of the Father in glory, loves us and lives to make intercession for us. He “Dearly” loves us.

Even though it is not yet October, the world has entered the Halloween season.  The television has been full of horrible images and movies of ugly things are being displayed all around us.

For me, I need to be reminded today – not of hollow-sounding words and empty promises, but of Jesus and His love.

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

Someone who loves to travel once asked me years ago if I wanted to travel after I retired. This person loved to travel, spending months on the road in an RV, towing a little car behind it. I said, nope. I have no desire to spend months away from home. I guess I’m just a homebody … and that has not changed since I have retired.

Yet, I must 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.” [1:23 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.

There was a pre-launch service last Sunday night at the CFC Middleton campus. People who had signed up to be part of the teams that would serve at that location gathered to do a service. Greeters, security, prayer, parking, worship, usher team members were all there.

The screen was installed, the media was hooked up. All the transition and campus pastors, both English and Espanol were there.

And the best part … so was the Lord God Almighty! It may have been a “test” service to work out any kinks, but when we started to worship, to sing praises to the LORD who made it all possible, God was there too.

Despite the fact that the air conditioner decided it was a good time to quit, and the fact that it was a hot day and the building was warm, people still praised, God was still honored.

In Psalm 22 (vs 3) David reminded the nation that God is enthroned on their praises. That is what I saw Sunday night. People with hands lifted high in praise. People leaping and dancing with joy. I heard shouts of thanksgiving. I saw tears of joy.

As I looked around at a house FULL of people who loved the LORD, I saw what I had so longed to see.  And while my body will no longer leap, I was dancing inside and thanking God that He answers prayers.  I also shed more than a few tears of joy.

The Book of Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament and Malachi the last Old Testament prophet.  Malachi had a few last words to say about God’s people.  Most notable were that they robbed God with their tithes and offerings, that God hated their divorces, and that they kept the best of their flocks and brought the cast offs to God as their sacrifices. Then God went silent for about 400 years.  No prophet, no word.

Yet toward the end of the book Malachi there is a promise from God for the remnant of righteous.  “At that time those who feared the Lord spoke to one another. The Lord took notice and listened. So a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who feared Yahweh and had high regard for His name. ’They will be Mine,’ says the Lord of Hosts, ‘a special possession on the day I am preparing. I will have compassion on them as a man has compassion on his son who serves him. So you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.’” [Mal 3:16-18 HCSB]

There was a remnant in Israel that wanted true worship. They desired a deeper walk with God.  They feared the Lord and held Him in awesome respect.  And they “talked with each other” about the Lord and while they did that, God “took notice and listened.”

Have you ever sensed God’s presence as you talked about Him with others?  I have many times, but I never tied that moment to Scripture.  It was not until I really saw this verse in Malachi that I realized that we are experiencing a promise of God simply by talking about the Lord with others … the promise that He listens and hears.

And even more. God writes about us in His “book of remembrance.”  He promises to make us a “special remembrance.”  And He promises that one day, as all of creation stands before Him, there will be a “difference between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.”

It matters not, beloved, if people take notice of our service to our God in this life.  It matters not if they ridicule us for our love and fear of God.  God takes notice.  We are in His “book of remembrance” and there is coming a day when all creation will see us as God sees us now.