Past Devotions

Knocking, LORD!

by TerryLema

“For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches (seeks) finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” [Matthew 7:8 HCSB]

Every now and again I go back to the book of Exodus and read my favorite chapters (32-34). I love God’s invitation given to Moses to intercede for the mutinous Israelites in Chapter 32.

Then in Chapter 33, Moses gives us a perfect illustration of Jesus’ invitation to ask, seek and knock. (You can read the passage in Exodus 33:12-23.)

Moses asks: “If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you.”

Moses seeks: “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us?”

Moses knocks: “Now show me your glory.”

Moses asks to be taught the ways of the LORD so that he might always please Him. Moses seeks to have the LORD’s presence with him no matter where he goes. And finally, Moses knocks to have all the glory of the LORD shown to Him.

Moses gives us a perfect example of Jesus’ promise that if we ask, we shall receive (God’s leading and favor); if we seek, we shall find (His presence); and, if we knock, the door to the glory of God will be opened to us.

Never stop asking. Never stop seeking. Never stop knocking.

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Now Leave Me Alone!

by TerryLema

One of my favorite passages is Exodus Chapters 32-34. Moses was up on the mountain with God and did not come down when the people expected him to, so they persuaded Aaron to make a gold calf like the gods of the Egyptians. They then threw a party and sat down to eat and drink and “play.”

I am not sure what that “play” (or “indulge in revelry” as some translations render the word) consisted of, but I do know that it got the LORD’s attention, and He was not pleased.

“The Lord also said to Moses: ‘I have seen this people, and they are indeed a stiff-necked people. Now leave Me alone, so that My anger can burn against them and I can destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.’” [Exodus 32:9-10 HCSB]

There are four word in that Scripture that we should definitely take note of, “Now leave me alone….” Those four words were both an invitation and a choice for Moses. How he responded would determine not just his own fate, but the fate of a nation.

God invited Moses to intercede for the nation of Israel in her mutiny. Whether or not God destroyed them and started over again with Moses was going to be based on whether or not Moses accepted God’s invitation to intercede.

Moses did not hesitate in his response to God’s offer.  “But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God…. Then the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.”   [32:11-14 HCSB]

God, of course, knew that Moses would respond as he did, but maybe that was news to Moses! After all, he would have to put up with a lot while leading this nation of mutineers to the Promised Land!

We live in a nation of mutineers. God is inviting us to be a “Moses” for our people. How will we respond?

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God’s Calling

by TerryLema

I am about to step out of my dream, goal, and passion of the last decade, that of having a Pentecostal Church in the little town of Middleton, Idaho. I can sense in my spirit, the beginning of the exit. I know God’s will in this is sure. What may have prompted me initially to think about turning this church over to another was my diagnosis of PMR and GCA. The fatigue and pain made me unable to pastor as I should.

That, however, led to the realization of the Spirit’s determination for that little church. It is time for the one waiting in the wings to take that church into the future. God has His person picked out. Now even though I seem to have remission from the autoimmune diseases and my energy level is picking up, I know it is time for me to step out and allow another to step in.

So now what? Does God’s calling just disappear?

In my heart I know that it does not. It may reshape into a different dream, a different goal, but it never ceases to drive the heart to be relevant and honorable to the One who called.

In Romans 11, Paul wrote of Israel and that God’s current “rejection” of them is neither total nor final. They will be restored. Paul makes the statement toward the end of his argument for Israel that “God’s gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable.” [vs 29 HCSB]

“God’s gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable.” While true for Israel, I think it is also true for all who have received His gracious gifts and surrendered to His wondrous calling.

I know that I know that I know that God is not done with me yet. So, I pursue His dream …. Wondering where it will take me now.

 

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Too Old To Dream?

by TerryLema

“You are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream” – C.S. Lewis

I came across this thought from C.S. Lewis a few weeks ago. It had me asking … am I too old to dream?

Recently I began a small group meeting on Wednesdays. The church where the meeting was held had a dinner preceding the small groups. I asked to join a table and there I met an older woman who was talking about her birthday party. She told me she was throwing it for herself since she would be turning 75 in a few days. She figured three-quarters of a century was a milestone and she planned to celebrate.

It took me a moment to realize that I will be three-quarters of a century in December. I guess I too am coming up on a milestone.  So, at almost 75, suddenly, Lewis’ thought seems so much more relevant. Am I too old to set another goal or to dream?

Then I remembered God’s Promise of His Spirit in Joel 2:28: “After this I will pour out My Spirit on all humanity; then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will have dreams, and your young men will see visions.” [HCSB]

God poured out His Spirit upon me personally in August of 1973, at the age of 26, almost 50 years ago! I became as Paul promised a temple of God’s Spirit. “Don’t you know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body.” [1 Corinthians 6:19-20 HCSB]

I figure if the Spirit of God in old men means “old men will have dreams,” then the Spirit of God in old women means they can have dreams also.

So, LORD, this old woman wants to know what her new dreams and goals will be. Amen

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The Appearing of our Savior

by TerryLema

I have been spending time in 2Timothy. I was planning on reading and studying the entire letter, but I cannot seem to make it past those middle verses in the opening chapter. Every verse built more truth on top of the preceding one and I found such depth in words like power, ashamed, evident.

As I read verse 10 once again, I found another word I really embraced.  “This has now been made evident through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” [2 Timothy 1:10 HCSB]

I love words and the word I fell in love with this morning is abolished (katargeó). It means to make of no effect, to be totally without force, done away with, completely brought down.

What a wonderful word, especially so when applied to death! Christ Jesus, our Savior, not only made evident our salvation and holy calling with His life, but through His death, resurrection, and ascension, He abolished our death and brought us life and immortality. What Good News!

I have been reading Psalm 91 and contemplating what it means to dwell in the shadow of the Most High in verse 1: “The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty.” A shadow cannot hurt us. It provides protection from the heat.

I also remember what David wrote in psalm 23, “yea as I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for you are with me ….”

Those who believe in Christ Jesus have had death abolished. It has no force to act against us. When our bodies reach the end of their number of days, we walk through the shadow of death into our immortality … all because of our Savior and LORD.

 

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It is Evident!

by TerryLema

Yesterday I wrote about 2Timothy 1:9: “He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.” [HCSB]

God provided the grace in Christ Jesus for our salvation and holy calling (our individual salvation and holy calling) before we were created. Now Paul tells Timothy that there is evidence that is so.

“This has now been made evident through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” [2 Timothy 1:10 HCSB]

Some translations render the Greek word for “evident” (phaneroó) as “having been made manifest.” The Greek word for “evident” comes from a root word meaning “light” and it means to make visible or clear, to illuminate, to become apparent.

We cannot see into creation past, but God provided proof of His abundant love and mercy, proof of our salvation and holy calling, proof of His purpose and grace given us when He sent His Son into this dark world. Jesus, the Light of the World brought the evidence of God’s love for us.

And there is even more! And that more has yet to be revealed. “Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed (phaneroó). We know that when He appears, we will be like Him because we will see Him as He is.” [1 John 3:2 HCSB]

When we see Jesus, we will be like Him. That thought should take our breath away. I cannot even imagine now what that will be like, but I can receive that promise in abundant thanksgiving.

 

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A Holy Calling

by TerryLema

I was in 2Timothy chapter 1 and contemplating Paul’s reminder that the power of God (dynamis) is with us to overcome fear, and to also not be ashamed of the testimony of the LORD but to share in suffering for the Gospel. As I read on past those opening verses, I halted at verse 9, struck by the awesome relevance for our life today.

“He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.” [2 Timothy 1:9 HCSB]

If we were to describe our lives right now, we might include the word “stress.” The definition of stress is a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances. Ah, maybe we could just abbreviate it this way: Life=Stress.

I found it very interesting that I could not find the word “stress” in the NIV, KJV, NKJV, or HCSB, unless it was a rendering of the word meaning to emphasize.  The Bible does not give us detailed instructions on how to cope with stress, instead it shows us stressful situations and God’s abundant power and grace to overcome them.

When I read verse 9, it hit me that this is a verse about God’s provision in the midst of stress.

It tells us 1) that God has saved us; 2) He has called us to this salvation with a holy calling; 3) We did nothing to earn this salvation or holy calling [it was not because of our works]; 4) God purposed to save us and call us and did it through His abundant grace; and 5) this all started before time [creation] began.

Is that not a remedy for the stress this life produces in the natural? What an astonishing truth, that God provided the grace for our salvation and holy calling (our individual salvation and holy calling) before we were created – meaning before we ever did anything right or wrong!

It is not about us – it is all about our wonderful, awesome, LORD and Savior. Amen

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I Am Not Ashamed

by TerryLema

I was visiting Paul’s second letter to Timothy recently, especially that first chapter. Paul begins his letter to Timothy by first offering thanksgiving for Timothy’s faith, which was handed down to him by his grandmother through his mother. Paul also reminds him to keep “ablaze” the gift God gave him. He adds that God has not given a spirit of fear, but instead one of power (love and sound judgment). [2 Timothy 1:6-7 HCSB]

After Paul reminds Timothy that the power of God is with him to overcome fear, Paul goes on to prompt Timothy to not be ashamed of the testimony of the LORD and instead to share in suffering for the Gospel.  As he did so, God’s power would be with him in those circumstances also.

“So don’t be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, or of me His prisoner. Instead, share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God.” [I Timothy 1:8 HCSB]

The thought that caught my attention was enveloped in that word ashamed. The word ashamed (GK: epaischunomai) means misplaced confidence or support, or shame that matches the error of wrongly identifying (aligning) with something.

Paul must have felt strongly about those who are ashamed of the Gospel of Christ Jesus as he used the same Greek word when he wrote to the Romans, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.” [Romans 1:16 HCSB]

Paul also used the same Greek word for power, dynamis, in both letters. It is the power of God that enables us to overcome fear – no matter the source of that fear (such as suffering or being aligned with those who are suffering). It is the power of God which brings us salvation and enables us to testify boldly and truthfully about the Gospel of Christ Jesus.

It is the power of God which enables us to shamelessly broadcast — I am not ashamed of my faith in Christ Jesus ….

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How Can It Be?

by TerryLema

We recently sang the Chris Tomlin song, “Amazing Love,” on a Sunday morning. That song always goes right to my heart. We hit the chorus and I am overwhelmed, “Amazing love, how can it be, that you my King would die for me. Amazing love, I know it’s true and it’s my joy to honor You, in all I do, I honor You.”

I get up in the morning. I see myself in the mirror. What is reflected back is the image of an old woman, white hair, wrinkles, turkey neck and a host of other not so pleasant descriptions. It is not what I see on the inside, but what others see on the outside.

What I sometimes see on the inside is perhaps even worse. I see someone who often allows anger or arrogance or impatience to emerge. I see someone who did not live as well as they could have. I see someone with some regrets and some things done right, some sorrows and some joys. I see someone who often fails, and I see someone who usually gets back up and tries again.

In other words, I see an imperfect human being.  So that question in the song, “how can it be” that my LORD and my King would die for me oft times overwhelms. Why, LORD, would you die for me? I cannot comprehend why if I look only at myself through my own eyes.

But see that is the problem, looking at ourselves (inside & outside) only through our own eyes, or even the eyes of others or the world. Once we surrender to our LORD and Savior, we become the home of God’s Holy Spirit. He takes up residence within us. We are then to only view ourselves through the eyes of the One who loves us most and best.  He sees us far differently than the world, the enemy of our soul, even our own flesh.

2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

When my LORD sees me, He sees the new creation … not the old that has passed away. When we look at ourselves, we are to also see the new creation, not the old that has passed away. Glory!

Talley Trio “His Life for Mine”   Talley Trio . His Life For Mine. - Bing video

 

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He Doesn’t Need Me!

by TerryLema

I was studying the doctrine of the “Trinity” a few days ago. The doctrine of the Trinity is that God is one God, eternally existent in three persons. All kinds of big theological words bombarded my brain, tritheism, unipersonalism, trinitarianism, etc. To say I was intellectually challenged would be an understatement.

I am not a Bible scholar. I have plenty of Bible books written by Bible scholars, some of which I understand and some of which I do not. I am okay with that. There are many things with and about God that I do not understand with my mind, but I accept willingly and gratefully by faith.

One of the comments as I studied, however, caught my attention. The commentary described God as eternally self-existent (no beginning, no end, and nothing necessary to complete Him) in three persons, Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Then the writer made this comment that because the Father, Son, and Spirit glorify and love one another, God is “infinitely, profoundly happy in Himself.”

It was the implication of that thought that took my breath away. The writer then asked the question … so why would God create us?  He concluded there is only one reason, He created us not to get joy (remember He is infinitely, profoundly happy in Himself) but to give joy – to His creation.

I have read about the Trinity before. I had to study it in college, but until today I never realized the personal implications. God created us, not because He needed us, but because He wanted to share His joy and His love with us.

God wants me? God wants me! God wants you! He wants us not because of what we do, not because He needs us to do anything … He wants us because He wants to share His love, His joy, His glory with us. What an unexplainable truth!

“…from the beginning God has chosen you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” [2 Thessalonians 2:13b-14 HCSB]

O Precious LORD, you once again captured my heart with Your Amazing Love. Amen.

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