Past Devotions

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 ….

0 comment
FacebookEmail

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

 

0 comment
FacebookEmail

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.

0 comment
FacebookEmail

The Saving, Singing, Shouting God!

by TerryLema

I love the various descriptions of our God in the Scriptures. In a chapter which begins with “Woe to Oppressive Jerusalem” and ends with “Promised Final Restoration,” there is a portrait of our Wonderful God.

Zephaniah 3:17: “Yahweh your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will bring you quietness with His love. He will delight in you with shouts of joy.” [HCSB]

The NKJV renders it this way: “The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”

Do you see the beautiful depiction in this verse?  Our God is among us, right in our midst. Jesus said, “remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” [Matthew 28:20 HCSB]

Our God has the power to save us. “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is God’s power to us who are being saved.” [I Corinthians 1:18 HCSB]

I think of those two things as the background of this picture of our LORD and Savior. He is with us, and He saves us. But then look at the detail the author paints. Our God rejoices over us with gladness, He delights in us with shouts of joy (singing!)

In that beautiful chapter of the lost, Luke 15, Jesus tells his listeners that “there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents ….” [vs 7 HCSB]

We always think of the angels and saints rejoicing over the lost being saved, but Zephaniah reminds us that God Himself, Our Wonderful, Awesome Father delights in each salvation with shouting and singing.

And still our LORD God is not done. He quiets us with His love. He grants us peace. “And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” [Philippians 4:7 HCSB]

Our Wonderful Saving, Singing, Shouting GOD!

0 comment
FacebookEmail

Dutch Bros Loves Me!

by TerryLema

On the way back from “Rehab for the Elderly,” I stopped for a Dutch Bros coffee. I figured I would reward myself for the giant effort it took to lift myself up and down off a chair eight times in 30 seconds as well as some of the other exercises. I do not stop for coffee often; it is just too expensive.

I called Bob and asked him what he wanted and placed my order with the young woman who came to my car. The line was long, and I figured I had a bit of a wait. As I got closer to the window, about four cars back, another young woman came out the side door carrying two coffees.

She was grinning as she approached my car and handed me Bob’s hot Americana, black, and my iced cold brew, black. She laughingly told me that the crew at the counter loved me because my drink order was so “simple.” Black coffee, one hot and one iced.

I do love my coffee “simple.” I want to taste the coffee! If I want milk, I will grab a glass. If I want sugar, I will eat a cookie. If I want fruity flavor, I will eat fruit.  What I like about coffee is the coffee! Simple. Pure. Strong. Bold.

I guess I might say that is the way I also like my relationship with God. Simple. Pure. Strong. Bold. There is a passage of Scripture in John’s first letter, Chapter 4:7-19, which talks about knowing God through love. When John gets to the end of the passage, he sums all he has said up with a couple simple, pure, strong, bold words. “We love because He first loved us.” [HCSB]

His love is what enables me to love Him. (I can love Him because He first loved me.)

His love is what enables me to love others. (I can love others, no matter how unlovable they may be, because God loves them.)

His love is what enables me to love myself.  (I can love myself, as undeserving as I am, because God loves me and calls me His child. Perhaps of all things, this is the hardest to do, to see myself through the eyes of God’s love, but who am I to refute my worth if Christ sacrificed His precious blood for a wretch like me.)

0 comment
FacebookEmail

Rehab for the Elderly

by TerryLema

I am saying this with great faith … it appears that at least one of my two auto-immune diseases has gone into remission after two years. Over the last six weeks I have not had any PMR pain, stiffness, or the fatigue from the disease, just the normal “old-age” pain of being almost 75 years old.

What I do have, however, are the lingering effects of the disease and the medication I took (and still take). Apparently, the meds shut down my adrenal glands and they are in rebellion right now refusing to start up again. And also apparently, not moving very much for almost two years because of pain caused my muscle to weaken.

My primary doctor enrolled me in what she calls “Rehab for the Elderly” to regain some muscle strength.  My physical therapist laughed when I told him I came for “Rehab for the Elderly.” I suppose unlike “Rehab for the Young,” mine involves adding small steps, regaining my balance, working on weak muscles, all with the disclaimer that I will never be what I was, but I can be a bit better than I am.

I laughed all the way home with my exercise sheets in hand and my goals set. (I looked at him incredulously when he showed me exercises that are done while lying on the floor; he crossed those out!)

The message was clear … I will never be what I was. That is true of my physical condition, and I mourn the loss of strength and stamina. It is also true, however, of my spiritual condition and I rejoice abundantly and daily. I am not what I once was. My sins are forgiven. My God loves me. Thanks to Jesus I am a recipient of God’s grace and that has made me what I am in Him.

“But by God’s grace I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not ineffective.” [1Corinthians 15:10 HCSB]

Thanks to Calvary:  Gaither Vocal Band - Thanks to Calvary (I Don't Live Here Anymore) (Live) - Bing video
0 comment
FacebookEmail

Simon the Snob and a Courageous Sinner

by TerryLema

The last event in Luke 7 is to me the most treasured. I like reading about the Centurion’s faith. I like noting the compassion Jesus had for the widow who lost her only son. And the story of John the Baptizer and his disciples always makes we wonder about things. But the interaction between Jesus, Simon the Pharisee and a sinful woman is the most precious to me. [Luke 7:36-50]

Jesus had been invited to dinner at the house of Simon the Pharisee. Simon apparently dispensed with the common courtesies afforded guests (water to wash their dusty feet, a kiss of greeting, anointing oil). It showed the great lack of respect that Simon had for Jesus.

At some point during the meal a woman in the town who was known as a “sinner” snuck into Simon’s home and found Jesus. She had an alabaster jar of fragrant oil and she “stood behind Him at His feet, weeping, and began to wash His feet with her tears. She wiped His feet with the hair of her head, kissing them and anointing them with fragrant oil.”

Simon snobbishly labeled both Jesus and the woman—she was a sinner and Jesus could certainly not be a prophet if He allowed this woman to touch Him.  Jesus, immediately recognizing what Simon was thinking, told him a parable about much forgiveness and much love. The parable was about a creditor who had two people in debt to him, one owing 500 denarii and the other only 50. The creditor forgave both … so which debtor would love more?  Of course, the one who owed the most.

The woman knew she was a great “sinner,” but her faith, as Jesus noted later, drove her to Jesus. It took much courage for her to come into the house of Simon, a Pharisee who did not think he had any debt at all.

Jesus pointed out to Simon his lack of respect and how this “sinner” woman had provided everything Simon had failed to provide. Then Jesus had two things to say to the woman … “Your sins are forgiven … Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

I love this story because I know that I am like that sinful woman. It took courage to admit that five decades ago, but I did. I came to my Precious Savior. My sins are forgiven. Now I am saved through God’s grace by faith. My peace is real.

0 comment
FacebookEmail

Should We Look For Another?

by TerryLema

What a delightful Savior we find displayed in Luke 7. His interaction with the Centurion who asked for help (and had great faith to receive it) and the widow of Nain mourning her only son who did not ask for help (and yet received it) are some of my favorite events in the life of Jesus.

The news of what Jesus did for the Centurion and his servant, and the widow and her son eventually made its way through Judea. Some of John the Baptizer’s Disciples heard what Jesus was doing and told John, who was in prison. [Luke 7:21-30]

John then sent two of his disciples with a question. “Are You the One who is to come, or should we look for someone else?”

Those disciples went to Jesus with John’s question and rather than just give them a verbal answer, Jesus told them to go back to John and report “the things you have seen and heard.” Those things “seen and heard” were the blind receiving sight, lepers healed, the deaf hearing, the dead raised, and the poor hearing the Good News.

There is much speculation as to why John sent his disciples to Jesus with that question. He was languishing in prison, that we know. I think he knew Herod was never going to free him and only death awaited. Was he doubting his ministry, or that Jesus was “the One who is to come?” I do not know.

What I do know is that John pointed his followers to Jesus. I have always wondered if after John’s death they became disciples of Christ. I think they must have. Who else did they have to turn to?

This portion of Scripture always reminds me that when we mentor people, we often fail to turn their attention and dependence away from us and onto Christ Jesus. We must remember that the answer to John’s question is and always will be … there is no one else to look for, Jesus is the One and Only.

0 comment
FacebookEmail

A Widow with a Great Need!

by TerryLema

I love Luke 7 and the four interactions Jesus had with people. The first interaction was with the Roman Centurion who had a sick servant. Jesus, after noting the faith found in this Gentile, healed the servant without ever going into the Centurions house.

Shortly after, in verses 11-17 Jesus meets another group as He is entering the town of Nain. Unlike the group of Jewish elders that sought out Jesus to take note of the Centurion for his building them a synagogue, this group was totally unaware of Jesus.  Their focus was on the mother as she mourned her only son being carried out of the city for burial.  According to custom, this group would have been wailing as they mourned the loss.

“When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said, ‘Don’t cry.’  Then He came up and touched the open coffin, and the pallbearers stopped. And He said, ‘Young man, I tell you, get up!’” [vs 13-14 HCSB]

That is exactly what the young man did. He sat up and began to speak. Then Jesus gave Him back to his mother.

Amazing, isn’t it! Jesus has the power over death. I take great comfort in that. But I think I take ever greater comfort in the fact that when the LORD saw this widow’s grief, He had compassion on her and without anyone asking Him to do anything, and He acted.

Sometimes I do not know what to ask. Sometimes things hit so fast there is no time to lift up a prayer or make a request. What assurance it is to know that our Savior sees our deepest needs and responds before we even ask for His help.

What a beautiful Savior we serve. All glory to Him be given. Amen

0 comment
FacebookEmail

The Amazing Centurion

by TerryLema

Luke 7:1-10 introduces us to a Roman Centurion. A Centurion was the highest rank held by men who were not part of Rome’s elite political or social classes. They were commanders of a Legion, usually comprised of 80-100 fighting men. Often, they were men who worked their way up through the ranks by acts of courage and bravery.

The Centurion in Luke 7 lived in Capernaum. This Centurion had a dying slave that was highly valued. He sent some Jewish elders to Jesus to request that He come and heal the slave. These elders brought the Centurion’s request to Jesus and added that “He is worthy for You to grant this, because he loves our nation and has built us a synagogue.” [vs 4b-5 HCSB]

Jesus goes with the elders but when He is not far from the Centurion’s home, He is met by a second group who conveys another message. “Lord, don’t trouble Yourself, since I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. That is why I didn’t even consider myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be cured. For I too am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under my command. I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” [vs 6b-8 HCSB]

I have always noted that the Centurion understood not just what it meant to be a person of authority, but he knew what it was to be person under authority.  But I noted something a bit differently this morning.  Jesus responded to the Centurion’s declaration with “I tell you, I have not found so great a faith even in Israel!” [vs 9b HCSB]

This morning I considered the distinction between what the Jewish elders thought of the Centurion and what Jesus thought of Him. The elders regarded the Centurion because of what he did … he built them a synagogue.  Jesus was not impressed apparently by what the Centurion did, but what the Centurion had … faith.

Our worth is not found in what we do (although there will be rewards for those who serve God according to His plan). Our worth is found in who we are in Him. We are saved in Him through grace by faith. It is that faith combined with our need that Jesus responds to. Praise God!

0 comment
FacebookEmail