Past Devotions

Sometimes it’s the small things …

by TerryLema

I was reading through Exodus last week. I was just past what I often think of as “the good parts.” You know the “good parts,” those chapters that tell us about Moses and the things God did through him to get Pharaoh to allow the Israelites to leave Egypt. I love the accounts of the Passover, and the parting of the Red Sea. I love the giving of the commandments on Mount Sinai too.

Even when I get into the laws and ordinances I do okay. Where I bog down is in the instructions for the building of the Temple and all its furnishings.  All those cubits and overlays and where to fold curtains and how many rings.  Sadly, where I should pay attention, I drift.

But then, last week, I read a sentence that I have probably read many, many times, and I saw something I had never noticed before.  In the giving of the instructions for the building of the Ark, God included instructions for the poles that would be used by the priests to carry the Ark.

“Make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. Insert the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark in order to carry the ark with them. The poles are to remain in the rings of the ark; they must not be removed from it.” [Exodus 25:13-15 HCSB]

The part that leapt off the page is that instruction that the poles were to remain in the rings of the ark and not be removed.  Wow. What a small, seemingly insignificant instruction.  Yet not following that instruction may have caused an incident that people still puzzle over, an incident that caused a king to become angry with God, an incident which included the loss of a life.

That incident is in 2 Samuel 6 when King David attempted to bring the ark to Jerusalem. Was it because the poles were not left in the ark as God instructed that the Ark was placed on a cart, oxen stumbled, Uzzah reached out his hand to steady the Ark, and God struck Uzzah for his irreverence?

What if the priests had followed the instructions? What if they left those poles in the rings on the Ark? Would they have been reminded when they decided to move the Ark to Jerusalem of what God said so long ago … the Ark was to be carried on the shoulders of the priests?

Wow.  A simple instruction about poles and rings. I think that there are no small things in God’s instructions.

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Blameless & Pure

by TerryLema

As I was reading further in Philippians, I came across another occurrence of the English word “blameless.”  I saw that word in Chapter 1 (which I wrote about yesterday), and then it occurred again in Chapter 2.  That made me wonder if it was the same Greek word.  Turns out, it is not.

The “blameless” in Chapter 1 is “aproskopos.”  It means “not causing to stumble, not stumbling.” It conveys the idea of free from harm or hurt, not offending nor causing offence.  Paul prayed in Chapter 1 for his readers to have increasing knowledge and discernment so that they could approve things that are superior and could be “blamesless” (not stumbling, not causing others to stumble).

Then in Chapter 2, Paul reminds his readers of more important items that they need to watch out for.

“Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world.” [Philippians 2:14-15 HCSB]

Paul’s word for “blameless” in this passage is “amemptos,” and it means simply “free from fault or defect, above reproach.”

Oh, beloved, we are to be above reproach in all things. We are not to grumble or argue.  We are to be people of integrity and honesty, full of compassion and kindness and light.  We are to be different from the world.

Paul described the world in his day as “a crooked and perverted generation.” We could describe the world in our day the same way.  So, if we act like, or look like, or talk like the world … if we grumble and argue … how can we be light? How can we shine like stars?

Oh Father, help us to be light amid all this darkness.  Amen.

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Things that are superior …

by TerryLema

I do not know about you, but I am bombarded every day with so much stuff. It comes through the television, the online news pages, Facebook, emails, snail-mail, and a host of other avenues. It wants my attention. Often it wants my money too.

Just the other day I was invited to pursue hearing aids, burial insurance, life insurance, new windows for the house, lawn care, a new home, a new car … and that was just in the mailbox. The commercials on television were worse. The ads on Facebook popped up constantly. My phone rang with robo-calls telling me my auto warranty was up on cars we no longer own!

Bombarded from every side. Even as I am writing this, an ad for faster wi-fi flashed on my screen!  Perhaps that is why I was captured by Paul’s prayer for the Philippians.

“And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, so that you can approve the things that are superior and can be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.” [Philippians 1:9-11 HCSB]

Paul prayed for his readers to have a growing knowledge and discernment so that they could “approve the things that are superior.”

Then he described those things. He wanted his readers to be pure, blameless, filled with the fruit of righteousness. He wanted them to lead lives that brought glory and praise to God.

I really was struck by that phrase “approve the things that are superior.”

The world bombards us with things that are inferior. It demands our attention to stuff that will pass away with the using. It wants us consumed with consumerism. Our Father God wants us to grow in the knowledge of Christ Jesus so that we might live superior lives, consumed with the desire to know eternal things that will last forever.

Maybe we should all be praying Paul’s prayer – for ourselves and for each other.  Amen.

 

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By His Wounds …

by TerryLema

Recently, a local pastor and church had a healing service on a Sunday morning. Upon reading the announcement in Facebook, I commented that I wished I could be there, but I would be in my own church at that time. The pastor let me know they would pray for me … and let me know the following day that they prayed for me by name!  Last Sunday a visiting minister at The Way also prayed for me for healing.

I believe in Divine Healing. I know it happens because it happened in my family even before I surrendered my life to Christ. I heard doctors say, “we do not understand why there have been no more kidney infections,” when nothing changed except God’s intervention.

I know God can heal me. I am trusting that He will heal me. Isaiah 53:5 contains the promise of our healing in that marvelous chapter of the Suffering Messiah.

“But He was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on Him, and we are healed by His wounds.” [HCSB]

I know God can use medicine and science to heal, and I know that He can heal supernaturally.  I am claiming my physical healing at His Hand. I know that my healing may come in this life, and I know that if it does not, my healing is a certainty in the next life in His Presence.

My soul and spirit have been made alive by my Savior and LORD. Death has no hold on me. When I exit this life, by whatever means, I simply am escorted into the complete eternal life I now realize in part. I will then see not only my soul and spirit eternally alive, but I will be outfitted with a new body that will never experience pain or aging or death.

For now, I am claiming my physical healing each day. I am trusting Almighty God to complete His perfect plan in me. Amen!

 

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But God …

by TerryLema

Yesterday I wrote about verses that recently appeared in my Verse-of-the-Day. They are from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthian church.

“But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.” [2:9-10 HCSB]

I was captured by those two little words, “But God.”  Oh, how many things in our lives are made wonderful with just the acknowledgement of those two little words – But God!

 I know it is probably a silly thought, but I think some of the best times in heaven will be when we learn what might or could have happened to us … “But God.” 

One of my favorite Scriptures is found in Romans 5:8. When I am reading Romans and get to that Scripture it makes me stop, catch my breath, and praise the One Who Loves Me So!  “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  [HCSB]

Then there is that wonderful “But God” in Ephesians 2:4-5 that always causes thanksgiving to our LORD: “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!”  [HCSB]

And finally, no matter what life dishes out … I can sing with the psalmist, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever.”  [Psalm 73:26 HCSB]

I say again … Oh, how many things in our lives are made wonderful with just the acknowledgement of those two little words – But God!

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Eye Has Not Seen!

by TerryLema

Sunday was a difficult day for me, as I mentioned yesterday. One of my auto-immune diseases was seeking to dominate everything. It was probably one of the worst days I have had in quite a few months.

Monday morning I had a scheduled doctor visit. He asked how I was doing. I told him what was better with the infusion treatments and reduced medication levels, and what was worse with the infusion treatments and reduced medication levels. I told him about my bad days and my good days, and all the in-between ones. I expressed (tactfully I hope) some of my frustration.

I love this doctor. He is kind, compassionate, and honest. After hearing me out, he honestly admitted that auto-immune diseases are extremely difficult to endure and to treat. He reassured me that he would not abandon me, but also reminded me that it could be a long haul toward remission and there were no guarantees that remission would come. He acknowledged my frustration and said he was often frustrated that he could not just “make it better.”

This morning my Verse of the Day gave me pause. “But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’” [1 Corinthians 2:9 HCSB]

After reading the verse, I opened the chapter and read the verse that follows. “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.” [2:10 HCSB]

Those two little words, “but God” blessed my soul mightily. My doctor, as kind, compassionate and knowledgeable as he is, can make no guarantees that good things are in my future. “But God,” my God, can.

Paul wants us to know the wonderful things God has prepared for those who love Him. While we cannot understand them with our natural minds, He has given us His Spirit who searches those deep things of God and now reveals them to us.

Oh, the things God has prepared!

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So that you became examples…

by TerryLema

We finished a two-part message on choosing joy at The Way last Sunday. It was not a joy-filled experience for me, however. I had some difficult effects of my auto-immune disease Sunday morning that left me shivering and weak in my big lounge chair, huddled in a blanket, with no thoughts of standing behind a pulpit.  I called a board member and asked him to fill in, which he graciously agreed to even though he had no warning and no preparation time.

When it was almost time for song service to begin, I was feeling a bit better and decided to get dressed and head over to church. I walked in during song service and sat down to bring the second part of a joy-message. But first … first I had to address some church etiquette issues. There was nothing major, minor housekeeping types of things, but still not something on my favorites-list to do.

Finally, JOY!  One of the Scriptures in the message hit home for me.  It is from Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians.

“And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit…”  [1:6 HCSB]

Joy and Affliction – not necessarily words you find together. But for Christians, joy is found in all types of situations and circumstances. Joy and Success. Joy and Trials. Joy and Tribulations. Joy and Good Health. Joy and Chronic Disease.  You can put joy with anything we face because it is not based on anything we face … it is based on “Whose we are.” We belong to God Almighty through the work of Christ Jesus our LORD, and our joy is secure in that relationship.

But as I looked up that verse again this morning, I was reminded that there is more to it. The verse that directly follows is part of the same sentence.  “…so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe.” [1:7 HCSB]

Christian Joy amid affliction not only benefits us. When we exhibit joy during trials, we provide an example to others who believe, so that they might be strengthened with joy also in their trials. God never wastes anything! 

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Complete Boldness

by TerryLema

In Acts Chapter 3, Peter and John were going up to the temple complex to pray. They encountered a lame man who begged for money at that location every day. Instead of money, Peter and John told him to get up and walk in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, which is exactly what he did. [3:6-9]

Not only did he walk, but this former lame man also began to leap and shout and praise. That brought the attention of those around him and gave Peter and John an opportunity to give a salvation message.

That also brought some unwanted attention from the Jewish rulers, the same ones that had orchestrated the death of Jesus. They arrested Peter and John, and after commanding them to not speak again about Christ Jesus released them. Peter and John reported all this to the brethren with great joy.  Then they prayed, and it is a prayer that we might think about praying along with them.

 “And now, Lord, consider their threats, and grant that Your slaves may speak Your message with complete boldness, while You stretch out Your hand for healing, signs, and wonders to be performed through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”  [Acts 4:29 HCSB]

Is not that the best prayer!  Peter and John asked God to take note of the opposition aimed at them and give them complete boldness to respond. They also asked God to grant healing, signs and wonders in the name of Jesus.

Healing, signs, and wonders are a wonderful prelude to the preaching of truth. People take note of such things. When people see a lame man leaping and shouting and praising, they want to know how it happened, and that opens the door to preach salvation in the Name of Jesus.

God answered the other part of their prayer too – that part for complete boldness no matter the strength of the opposition.  “When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak God’s message with boldness.” [Acts 4:30-31 HCSB]

Maybe this should be the prayer for our generation … LORD, give us complete boldness, and grant healing, signs, and wonders that generate opportunities to speak salvation in the name of Jesus. Amen and Amen!

 

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Ready for Action!

by TerryLema

After reading in Peter’s first letter about our “imperishable uncorrupted, and unfading [inheritance], kept in heaven for [us]” and about God’s power protecting us, I read a little further and a couple words caught my attention.  They are words that we often do not see or think about in the same context.

Peter had already talked about the trials and tribulations his readers were currently encountering and now he urges them to have their minds ready for anything else that they might have to confront.

“Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be serious and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” [1 Peter 1:13 HCSB]

Their hope, like our hope, is focused on the grace that Christ Jesus brings with Him when He returns. Grace, that marvelous gift of God that combined with mercy gives us what we do not deserve (salvation) and does not give us what we do deserve (punishment.)  The NT is clear that it is by our faith in God’s grace that we are saved and set apart for Him.

Then in the very next verse there is a word that seems at odds with grace.

  “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. But as the One who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct.” [1 Peter 1:14-15 HCSB]

Obedience and grace are seldom seen together.  As Christians we often hold to the “just-as-I-am” principle of salvation. And while God does accept us just as we are, that does not mean we are to stay just as we were.

Upon being saved, we are to become “holy in all [our] conduct,” just as He is holy.  We are to become “obedient children.”

Let us never forget that our faith, while founded through faith in God’s grace, is to be an obedient faith.

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Protected!

by TerryLema

I was able to make an appointment last Friday morning for my husband for his COVID-19 vaccine. Our local health system notified him through our online chart that he was now eligible to make his appointment. He wants the vaccine, so I scheduled it.  (Tried to schedule mine but for some reason I was not yet eligible to do so.)

Science is promising us that the vaccine is 95 percent effective in protecting us from this virus. I hope so, especially since we are in the most vulnerable category for getting the virus and having severe side effects from it.

Even if the vaccine cannot protect us from the virus or its side effects, I am still protected! I am protected from much more devastating events and by a much greater power.

After Peter told the readers of his first letter that the Father of our LORD Jesus Christ had given them “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 [them],” Peter also reminded them of an especially important caveat. [1 Peter 1:3-4 HCSB]

 “You are being protected by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” [I Peter 3:5 HCSB]

We are protected by God’s power for salvation. We will not experience the devastation of condemnation and punishment. We will never hear God say, “Depart from me….” We will never fall victim to a power greater than the power of God because such power does not exist.

We entered that divine protection through faith. As Christians, we embraced God’s way and the full outcome of God’s way combined with our faith will be revealed to us when we enter His Eternal Presence.

 

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