Devotions

Col 1:6: “All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth.” [NIV]

Following is a quote from an email from Voice of the Martyrs (VOM): “When 500 jihadis from the Fulani tribe attacked the areas of Barkin Ladi and Jos South on June 23–24, Christians in the area could only pray and flee. By the time the attacks had ended, hundreds lay dead and more than 10,000 — primarily Christians — had been displaced from their homes and villages.

“The Fulani Nationality Movement took credit for these violent attacks and warned of even more attacks. ‘Our men are waiting,’ the group threatened. ‘We are eager to fight.’ The group has promised to fight against all those ‘raising their voices against us and against Allah.’”

One of those attacked was an 8-year-old boy named Dalo. Dalo’s entire family was killed in the attack and Dalo suffered second-degree burns over most of his body. VOM reports that when Dalo was brought to the hospital, he was praying and has continued to pray. He is asking God to heal him and praying for others injured in the attacks. He is also doing something else, he is asking God to forgive his attackers.

“All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing.” As I read about Dalo, I was reminded that there are many parts of the world where being a Christian is life-threatening and the fruit that is born is done amid tribulation and sorrow.  I was reminded of something else … that sweet little phrase found in Isaiah 11:6: “and a little child shall lead them.” [KJV]

His name was Epaphroditus. He had been chosen by the Philippian church to send a care package to Paul who was imprisoned at the time.  Epaphroditus went beyond just delivering the gift from the Philippians, he stayed to help Paul.  Paul calls him “my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier.”  He says that Epaphroditus took care of his needs while there and even risked his life to provide Paul the help he needed.  That’s a great testimony to the man’s character from the Apostle.

While with Paul, Epaphroditus fell ill, so ill that he almost died.  Even then, Epaphroditus wasn’t concerned with himself, he was worried about the distress hearing about his illness might have on the church who sent him. If you have read the second chapter of Philippians, you’ve read about Epaphroditus.

What you may not know about him is what his name means. His name is of pagan origin and means “belonging to Aphrodite.” Aphrodite is the ancient Greek goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, and procreation. The name of the pagan goddess is actually incorporated in Epaphroditus’ name.

At some point, Epaphroditus heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The power of that Gospel set him free from dead paganism to serve the Living God. No longer was Epaphroditus “belonging to Aphrodite,” now he was “belonging to Jesus.” The old life had no more claim on him; he was a new creation in Christ.

We may not think often about Epaphroditus, but he is a perfect example of what God can do when He gets hold of a man or woman. He’s a perfect example also of someone who is so in love with and thankful to God that he is willing to sacrifice it all for the cause of Christ.

May there be a little Epaphroditus in all of us.

Poor Meghan Markle. Yes, poor Meghan Markle. In case you’ve been out of this world over the past months and don’t know about Meghan Markle, let me update you. Meghan Markle is the American actress who married Prince Harry of England a few months back and became the granddaughter-in-law to Queen Elizabeth. Story-tale romance, beautiful wedding, handsome prince for a husband, so why do I call her poor?

Every day there is another article in the press about her … mostly about what she’s doing wrong as the new Duchess of Sussex. She curtsied too low, her dress was too billowy, she bared her shoulders, she wore black other than to a funeral, she sat with her legs crossed, or she didn’t do this or that correctly according to royal rules. Apparently, there are so many rules, both written and unspoken, about how royals are to dress, walk, act, eat, that the learning curve is enormous. And poor Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, is taken to task by all the rules-watchers every day for some new thing she just hasn’t gotten quite right.

May I boldly say, it is more complicated to be a granddaughter-in-law to England’s Queen than it is to be a son or daughter of Heaven’s Eternal King!

 “God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast.” [Eph 2:6-10 NIV]

God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in His heavenly kingdom. God shows us the riches of His grace. God is kind to us. We are saved by His grace through our faith, not by following rules or laws. That grace is God’s gift to us. Our Father God, through the work of His son, Christ Jesus, did it all for us. The only “rule” we have is the one Jesus gave to His disciples shortly before His death … to love as He has loved us. [John 15:12]

Thank you, Father. Amen

Jesus told His disciples in John 14 that He was going to prepare a home for them in the Father’s Heavenly House and had reserved their rooms in that house.  He also told them, “You know the way to the place where I am going.”

When He said that, Thomas told Him that they didn’t know where he was going, so how could they know the way. Jesus’ response is one that every Christian can probably recite.  “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” [John 14:4-7 NIV]

Jesus’ statement is one of the most crucial statements regarding salvation ever uttered. Either what He claimed was the absolute and perfect truth, or He was a madman. We can be assured, that the resurrection of Christ Jesus following His crucifixion—one of the most attested to events in history—was God’s confirmation that Jesus was exactly who He said He was, God’s Son—the Way, Truth, Life—and the only avenue to the Father.

That truth both narrows and expands salvation. It narrows it by denying the claim that there are many paths to God. There is one path, a narrow one, and it goes through Christ Jesus.

In another way, however, it expands salvation to “whosoever believes.” We don’t need to belong to a certain ethnic group, a certain denomination, or a certain country to be saved. We don’t need to trace our linage or worry about our gender or social status or education. We simply come to Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Father, how wonderful that the way to You has been opened by the work of Your Son, Jesus the Christ. All may now come. Amen.

“Layin’ about” after this surgery has meant watching a lot of television, reading, crocheting, searching the web, listening to music, sleeping, and trying to walk a few steps more each day (that part is doctor’s orders.) I usually begin the day on the computer, then read or crochet (until my eyes get tired). I’ll pull up YouTube and listen to worship music, but as the day wears on and I get tired, it’s television. Television has little to offer most of the day, although I did enjoy watching the British Open over one weekend.

On one segment of Dateline I learned about a couple who returned to Virginia and bought a home after traveling the world. They named the house they bought after one in a British novel. Maybe it’s a southern custom I’m not aware of, but I don’t think I know anyone who has ever named their house.

I live in a white house with teal trim on a street in Caldwell. It is a cute house, small porch with a little white fence. Three bedrooms, two baths, and a bonus room. The house now has a renovated kitchen, but it still doesn’t have a name. Not sure how I would even begin to choose a name for it.

As I thought about naming this house I now live in, I realized that I have another home waiting for me. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” [John 14:1-3 NIV]

That home I think I can name. “Terry’s Room in the Father’s Heavenly House.”  Thank you, Lord Jesus, for reserving my eternal home for me. Amen.

I have two great doctors. One is my go-to-for-everything doctor. She’s so special because she’s willing to spend time and talk if you need that. She’ll come in with lab results, high-five, and say “stand up and we’ll do the happy dance!” I have a new doctor surgeon, a young no-nonsense-straight-in-your-face doctor. She’s also special in her positive can-do attitude. I really like these two women.

My doctor surgeon was up front when she told me there was an unexpected result of the first surgery, one that only 1-in-600 women experience. (Aren’t I special!) When she came in to consult just prior to taking me in for the second surgery, she was cute and said that there is a third complication that can result from the second surgery, one that only 1-in-300 women experience (requiring an additional surgery). Then she smiled and reminded me that while I had already found myself in the first group, she’d do everything she could to make sure I didn’t find myself in the second!  So far, it appears she kept her promise.

I found myself despite all these “complications” very peaceful, maybe even perfectly peaceful.  I was reminded of the beautiful promise in Isaiah. “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” [26:3]

It is possible to find peace amid difficult circumstances. We do it by “Trust[ing] in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.” [26:3]

It is so important that we place our trust in the Lord and it is vital that we do that in the good times. We must drive our pilings deep into The Rock, establish our foundation upon Him. That way when the storms blow (be they small storms or massive ones), our foundation of trust is sure and our minds are steadfast on Him. Then will we have that perfect peace promised by our LORD.

I sat in my chair last Tuesday morning contemplating my second surgery in eight days scheduled for that afternoon. Thankfully, this was only a patch to repair a complication created by the more involved surgery the week before. There was a chance the original surgery would need to be redone, but the doctor, after examination, determined that would not be necessary.

Still that patch meant another day without food or water, another IV, another anesthesia and another recovery room trying to wake up and become alert enough to be released. It also pushed out the recovery period one more week into the first week of September.

I’m not allowed to lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk, no vacuuming or pushing heavy shopping carts, no riding horses or motorcycles and no walking on my treadmill. Still I can walk and climb stairs as my strength returns, and for that I am grateful. (I think I might even be grateful about the “no vacuuming” restriction!)

Now that the second surgery is behind me, I’m looking forward to an enhanced life where I can finish my walk.  Paul on his way to Jerusalem asked the Ephesian elders to meet him along the way. In his closing remarks to them, he reminded them of his desire to finish. “I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” [Acts 20:24]

Paul not only held himself to a good finish, he held others to the same standard. “Tell Archippus: ‘See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord.’” [Col 4:17]

We need to finish well. God has given us a purpose for our life, an individual work to do. I want “to see to it that [I] complete the work [I] received in the Lord.” 

July 25

Peter reminded us to make “[our] calling and election sure” in the opening paragraphs of his second letter.  Paul also had something to say about our calling.  He wrote in his letter to the Ephesians, “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” [2 Peter 1:10; Eph 4:1]

Ever think about that word “calling.” The word used by both Peter and Paul is the Greek word, klesis (klay’-sis). It means an invitation. Wow!

I get a lot of invitations. I only need to open my email box or go to my mailbox each day to read multitudes of invitations. I am invited to seminars for retirement, to get my carpets cleaned or my windows replaced. I’m invited to purchase cars, groceries, clothes, hearing aids and furniture. I’m also invited to book sales, grand openings, and to meet the candidates. Lots of invitations, most of which will cost me something should I accept.

Peter and Paul remind us that God has also extended to us an invitation, an invitation to become part of His family. Peter says, “make sure you accept God’s invitation,” and Paul follows, “make sure you always life your life worthy of God’s invitation.”

How do we make sure we live worthy? We need but read Paul’s following thoughts to get a good start. “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” [Eph 4:2-3]

Father, may I always strive to live worthy of Your invitation. Amen.

How often I hear, or even say, “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff,” usually with the tagline, “And it’s all small stuff.” I agree heartily with that, with one exception—that little word “all.” I think I would substitute for “all” the word “mostly.”

It’s mostly small stuff that we fuss over. Things like traffic, lines in stores, computers that don’t work (ugh!), dogs that bark in the middle of the night while we are trying to sleep. Yep, it’s mostly small stuff that riles us.

Even my recent surgery was “small stuff.” It wasn’t surgery for anything life threatening; it was life-enhancing surgery meant to fix a problem in my body so that I could have a more comfortable time in the years I have left. I can walk easier, stand to minister with less discomfort, etc. Small stuff compared to what many others are going through now.

The Apostle Peter opens his second letter with a couple of great reminders about life. First, he tells us to make every effort to add to faith such things as goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and finally love. But then he goes on, “My brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” [2 Peter 1:10-11 NIV]

We are to eagerly make our calling and election sure. Doing that will enable us to stand during the rough places of life and guarantee that we will receive a “rich welcome” into the kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. On the other hand, not doing that will guarantee a far different “welcome” and eternal dwelling.

Making our calling and election sure is not small stuff … it is the biggest “stuff” of all to take care of in this life. But we don’t have to “sweat” it … Jesus already did the work; we just need to make sure we’ve done our part by submitting our lives unto Him. PTL

Gumption. Lovely word. Merriam-Webster had this to say about the word “gumption” in my Word for the Day.

“English speakers have had gumption (the word, that is) since the early 1700s. The term’s exact origins aren’t known, but its earliest known uses are found in British and especially Scottish dialects…. In its earliest uses, gumption referred to common sense. American English speakers adopted the word and took it in a new direction, using it refer to the kind of courage or get-up-and-go that makes undertaking difficult things possible.”

I remember my friend, Nella, who has gone on to be with the LORD. As she aged, Nella a tall woman, became severely stooped. Whenever she saw me, she would laugh, pat my cheeks, and say, “Sweetie, growing old ain’t for sissies.”

No, it isn’t. But to be brutally honest, “life ain’t for sissies.” Life often takes gumption, the kind of courage or get-up-and-go that makes undertaking difficult things possible. Unfortunately, when we are at our lowest, when we need the most gumption is often when we have the least. Where do we find the gumption then?

Paul found his gumption in grace. “But, [the LORD] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”  [2 Cor 12:9-10 NIV]

Beloved, when life gets tough, and it will get tough, God’s grace will infuse us with gumption so that we have the courage – the get-up-and-go that’s needed to undertake and succeed amid the greatest difficulties. Amen.