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Devotions

Around the Cross – Good Friday

by TerryLema

A few years ago, I was studying the groups gathered around the cross of Christ for a message during the Easter Season. The writers of the Gospels give us a glimpse of those gathered there and their reactions.

John 19:25: “Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene.”

Luke 23:27: “A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.”

 All the Gospels identify the Roman Soldiers, the two criminals crucified alongside Jesus and the Roman Centurion (who would later call Jesus “the Son of God.”) [Mark 15:39]

Matthew 27:41: “In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him.”

John 19:21: “The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him.”

 And John reminds us that he also was there. [John 19:26-27]

There were many differing people and many different reactions around that cross. Some were mocking, sneering, and calling out insults. Others may have been there to see the “show.” And some – the ones who loved Him – were sorrowing, crying, and mourning.

I still remember that as I was studying, I heard the LORD say to me, “Don’t be so sure you would have been in the group that was shedding tears.”

And I realized (stunned!) – I could have been, maybe would have been – one of those mocking and sneering.

Because … it is only by the grace obtained and given by Christ Jesus through His death and resurrection that my heart has been made tender and grateful.

Good Friday—a Good Day to reflect on that.

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A Garden, A Prayer, A Choice – Holy Thursday

by TerryLema

As much as the agony on the cross reaches deep into my soul, there is a passage in Luke that perhaps for me reaches even deeper. It is defined simply in my Bible translation as “The Prayer in the Garden.”

Following the last Supper, Luke tells us Jesus had to deal with a dispute among His disciples over who would be considered the greatest in the kingdom. He had to warn Peter about his coming denial and warn the others to be ready for the trouble ahead.

Then He made His way to the Mount of Olives and there in the Garden of Gethsemane He knelt to pray. He began His prayer with a request – and a decision.  “Father, if You are willing, take this cup away from Me—nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.” [22:39-44 HCSB]

Luke uses a word translated as anguish or agony to describe Jesus at that moment. The word is agonia, which means great fear or terror of death, anxiety, agony. Matthew emphasizes that point. “Then He said to them, ‘My soul is swallowed up in sorrow —to the point of death.’” [26:38 HCSB]

Amid the anguish, even knowing what was directly ahead of Him, Jesus made a choice. He accepted the Father’s will.

From that moment, Jesus’ determination to complete what He had come to do is evident. He is in charge as He stands before His accusers. He is in charge before Pilate. Even as His body fails Him on the cross, even as He suffers pain beyond measure … He forgives the soldiers, He takes care of His mother’s future, He gives the promise of salvation to the thief hanging next to Him and He declares to all that the question of salvation is “FINISHED!” forever.

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A Fateful Decision – Holy Week Wednesday

by TerryLema

Matthew Chapter 26 reports that on Wednesday, Judas would solve the problem the chief priests and elders faced (when and where to have Jesus arrested). They were conspiring together, trying to find a way to arrest “in a treacherous way and kill Him [Jesus].” [vs 5 HCSB]

While the actual betrayal would not take place for another day, Judas made a fateful decision. Judas would, for 30 pieces of silver, betray Jesus as soon as he could find a “good opportunity.” [vs 14-16 HCSB]

After walking with Jesus for years, Judas for whatever reason, chose to join the conspiracy of the chief priests and elders. He chose to surrender his teacher, his friend to those who hated Him. When the actual betrayal took place, Judas identified Jesus with a kiss. He told the mob sent by the chief priests and elders “The One I kiss, He’s the One; arrest Him!” [26:47 HCSB]

Jesus’ response to the kiss of betrayal? “’Friend,’ Jesus asked him, ‘why have you come?’” [26:50 HCSB]

Friend.

As I think of this betrayal, I am reminded of Psalm 55. David, too, was betrayed by a friend, Ahithophel. He wrote of his anguish. “Now it is not an enemy who insults me … it is not a foe who rises up against me …. But it is you … my companion and good friend!  We used to have close fellowship; we walked with the crowd into the house of God.” [v12-14 HCSB]

I wonder if Jesus thought of Psalm 55 as Judas betrayed Him with a kiss?

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Holy Week Tuesday: A Conspiracy, An Anointing, A Betrayal

by TerryLema

Matthew Chapter 26 begins with three events, a conspiracy, an anointing, and a betrayal.

The chief priests and Jewish elders met with the High Priest on Tuesday following the triumphal entry. They were worried about the popularity of Jesus. Together they formed a conspiracy to arrest Jesus “in a treacherous way and kill Him.” [vs 5 HCSB]

They decided to wait a while, afraid to arrest Him during the Passover festival. They were afraid the people would riot in defense of this One who had recently been proclaimed “the Son of David,” the blessed One who “comes in the name of the LORD.” [21:9]

While the chief priests, elders and High Priest were conspiring to murder Jesus, one of the most beautiful and compassionate events in the life of Jesus was taking place, His anointing in the house of Simon the Leper. [vs6-13]

Almost always people came to Jesus with an underlying motive. Some had a need. Some begged for healing. Some peppered Him with questions. Others confronted Him, arguing and hoping to catch Him saying something they could use against Him. Even His own disciples had their eyes on a kingdom and argued who would be greatest there.

This woman came to minister to Him. She brought an alabaster jar of very expensive fragrant oil. She anointed His head. She asked nothing in return. When others around Him became indignant in what they considered a waste. Jesus said, “she has prepared Me for burial,” and told them the world would remember what she did for Him.

For Him. She gave what she had for Him.

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Blessed! Part Two

by TerryLema

I wrote yesterday about being blessed by God. Blessed is a word Christians use often because we see it often in our Bibles. But God’s blessings are far deeper and more profound than the way blessing is described in our contemporary thinking (as enjoying happiness, bringing pleasure, contentment, or good fortune.)

In Scripture, blessing is often linked to endurance and perseverance. It is not dependent upon circumstances and can be found even amid poverty, sorrow and other like conditions.

When I think of being blessed by God, I think primarily of three things. God’s love. God’s forgiveness. God’s inheritance for us.

God’s Love: “Who (what) can separate us from the love of Christ …. For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come, hostile powers, height or depth, or any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our LORD.” [Romans 8:35-39 HCSB]

God’s Forgiveness: “We have redemption in Him through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.” [Ephesians 1:7 HCSB]

God’s Inheritance: “He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted and unfading, kept in heaven for you.” [1 Peter 3-4 HCSB]

I am blessed by God. I am loved. I am forgiven. And I have a future that nothing in this world can destroy.

And so do you. 

We are Blessed.

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Blessed! Part One

by TerryLema

I woke up the other morning thinking about being blessed by God. “Blessed” is a word Christians use frequently. We come by it naturally as the Scriptures speak of blessings and being blessed a lot in both the Old and the New Testaments.

Merriam-Webster defines blessed with phrases like, “Enjoying happiness,” “bringing pleasure, contentment, or good fortune.” We all surely want happiness, pleasure, contentment, and good fortune in this life, but is that the way we understand being blessed in the Scriptures?

The Bible speaks of being blessed differently from how the world thinks of it. One the primary passages on being blessed in found in the Beatitudes. In the Beatitudes blessing is linked to poverty, mourning, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, and even persecution.

To understand God’s blessings is to understand that they affect the inner part of us. They are not dependent upon circumstances. God’s spiritual blessings are a deep abiding joy that cannot be shaken by lack, sorrow, deprivation, persecution, war or any other trial or difficulty we face in this life.

James reminds us that “blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the LORD has promised to those who love him.” [1:12]

I doubt we would find, “perseveres under trial” as part of the definition of “blessed” in our contemporary dictionaries, but we find it, and phrases like it, in the Scriptures.

When I think of being blessed by God, I think of three things. Tomorrow!

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Almost Four Years

by TerryLema

In June or July 2019, I noticed changes in my body. I was walking three miles a day, no pain, lots of energy. I was 72 years old. But suddenly, in the space of a couple weeks, I could not walk even half a mile, I was stiff, fatigued, and pain was blooming in various parts of my torso. By September I had a diagnosis, Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR). Early the following year, they added a second auto-immune disease Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA). My life changed.

There was always the hope of remission. PMR can go into remission after two to five years. I am almost at four years and so far, PMR and GCA are daily companions. Doctors are hoping that the medications I take will keep them under control, but the medications also have side effects that can disturb daily life.

I realized at 76 years of age, I no longer have the hope that “I’ll get back to normal,” and that one day “I’ll get better,” and able to do what I once did. These diseases have taken a toll on my body and even if they go into remission, even if I no longer must do the infusions or take the medications, my body will never go back to what it once was.

That is disheartening. It means that every day will have some kind of struggle against pain or fatigue. It means that every day I will have to fight to do what I used to take for granted.

Still … I am grateful. I have an empathy for others with chronic pain or debilitation that I never had before.

Still … I am hopeful. I serve the God of Hope. “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” [Romans 15:13 HCSB]

I believe and serve the God of Hope. He has filled my heart with joy and peace. Hope, joy, peace overflow in me because the power of the Holy Spirit remains in me! And one day I will stand strong again in the presence of my Father God because of all that Christ Jesus has done for and in me. That is what I will focus on today! Amen & Amen

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What Are You Looking For?

by TerryLema

Last Sunday Pastor Laura’s message was out of Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal found in 1 Kings 18, from verse 40 to the end of the chapter. Finally, Elijah gets to tell King Ahab of God’s promise to send rain, “…there is the sound of a rainstorm!”

God had given Elijah that promise before the confrontation on Mt. Carmel. Now Elijah released the knowledge of God’s promise to the king.

But still, the sky was blue and clear, no clouds in sight. Seven times Elijah’s servant goes to look toward the sea to try to spot a rainstorm while Elijah bowed to God and prayed. Seven times! Only on the seventh time does the servant see a small cloud the size of a man’s hand “coming from the seas.”

Pastor Laura said something that resounded in my spirit. “If you are looking for signs of God’s promise, or if you are looking for signs of doubt, that is what you will find.”

She likened it to “new car syndrome,” and that is why it hit me so strongly. My daughter just bought a new Hyundai Santa Cruz. It’s an unusual vehicle, SUV combined with a pickup. There has been one parked outside a house around the corner from me, but I never noticed it until I saw my daughter’s car. Now I see them everywhere!

What are we looking for … God’s promises or our doubts – because whichever it is, that is what we will find. For me, I want the Promises of God in my life. I want to keep my eyes on the things God has promised. I have waited a long time to see God’s promises come to fruition – I don’t want to miss out now!

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The Racer

by TerryLema

One of my favorite places as a youngster was Kennywood Amusement Park near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.   I loved the roller coasters, especially The Racer. (It was my favorite to ride.) The Racer is a wooden racing roller coaster, one of the oldest operating roller coasters in the world, and the last remaining continuous-track racing roller coaster in the United States.

I love the old-fashioned coasters. I’m not into the upside-down corkscrew coasters that are in vogue today. I loved the feel of the wooden ones, a bit shaky, noisy, and as a child—so much fun!

I remember the coaster leaving the station and climbing up that first tall hill. It seemed like it kept getting slower and slower as it approached the top. All you could see was the sky as it climbed up and up and up. Then suddenly it took up speed and you were barreling down the hill, faster and faster. Then there was another climb and another descent!

Often moving with God can be a similar experience. We pray and wait, and it seems God is silent or ignoring us. (We, of course, cannot see what He is doing in the heavenly realms or in the lives of others to bring everything we have prayed for together.) Then suddenly it is a whirlwind of activity, and we see everything we have desired and prayed for coming to pass. It can take our breath away.

That is my walk with God right now. As the former pastor of The Way Middleton, I have prayed to reach the lost in our area. It seemed God was silent. Now suddenly, He is moving, and moving faster than I ever thought was possible. The Way Middleton is soon to be Christian Faith Center Middleton with the vision and resources to reach the lost in our area.

God always surprises me! That is a good thing. What a thrilling time to be walking with Him.

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Set His Face

by TerryLema

As I was walking the other day, I found myself looking down at the sidewalk rather than looking at what was ahead of me. I think I do that because at this stage of my life I am not very steady. Along with the auto-immune diseases I have acquired a wobble! I look at the ground to make sure I will not fall.

That is not, however, a very pleasant or inspiring walk. I need to look up, to focus on what is ahead of me. As I walked, whenever I realized I was looking down again, I would determine to lift my head and see the goal ahead.

As I walked the words, “set His face,” came to mind. That phrase is found in Luke 9:51. “When the days were coming to a close for Him to be taken up, He determined [set or stiffened His face] to journey to Jerusalem.” [HCSB]

A short while before that, Jesus warned and instructed His disciples of what He would find in Jerusalem. He told them that He must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and then be raised the third day. [Luke 9:22]

Yet, even knowing all that was ahead, Jesus set His face. He determined to journey to Jerusalem. His eyes were fixed on the goal.

Often, we need to lift our own eyes to the goal God has set. We need to set our face to complete the journey and must not allow the unpleasant or disagreeable things that might stand in the way discourage or stop us.

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