Past Devotions

ABLE!

by TerryLema

Yesterday I wrote about our God and some of His greatness displayed throughout the Scriptures.  I included a doxology from Ephesians.  A doxology is a hymn or formula of praise. There are three notable ones in the New Testament. We looked at Paul’s Ephesians doxology yesterday.

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work with us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”  [3:20]

There is another one that ends that little letter of Jude.

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.” [Jude 24]

The third doxology ends Paul’s weighty letter to the Romans.

“Now to Him who is able to establish you ….  to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.” [16:25-27]

As I read those three this morning, my heart is refreshed and encouraged by those first six words in each … “Now to Him who is able ….”

Able. The Greek word is the same in all three doxologies, It is dunamai and is the word from which we get our English word dynamite!  It means power.

Our God has the power to keep us. He has the power to do even more than we can imagine. He has the power to establish us forever. That means He has the power for everything we are or ever will experience!

To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

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Another Reminder

by TerryLema

Ah, what a wonderful reminder came my way a couple days ago. I opened one of my Bible Study apps and right there was the day’s reminder.

Psalm 90:2, 4: “Before the mountains were born, before You gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, You are God.” [HCSB]

As I read that verse, I thought about the greatness of our God. Have you ever stood on a mountain and looked out at God’s glory seen in creation? Perhaps you are like me and love to stand at an oceans shore and consider how vast the waters are?  Maybe you see Him in the beauty of flowers or hear Him in the laughter of children. Maybe you even consider His greatness shown to us in the Scriptures.

Colossians 1:17: He is before all things and in Him all things hold together.

Psalm 147:5: Great is our LORD, and abundant in power, his understanding is beyond measure.

Malachi 3:6: I the LORD do not change.

Psalm 33:6: By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.

Isaiah 46:9-10: Remember the former things, those of long ago, I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.

Deuteronomy 32:4: The Rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; a God of faithfulness and without injustice, Righteous and upright is He.

Psalm 145:8: The LORD is gracious and merciful; Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness.

Revelation 4:8: Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD Almighty!

I guess we can understand why Paul included this doxology in his glorious letter to the Ephesians:  Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work with us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.  [3:20]

 

Yes, Forever and Ever. Amen

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Action!

by TerryLema

When I opened my newsfeed this morning there were multiple stories of “celebrities” who were once again changing partners. One in particular just left her partner a couple months ago but now was “in love” with someone new.  It seems at time that they change love interests as often as they change clothes.

Love, as defined by those stories is nothing more than feelings, and feelings as we all know are often misleading.

Love, however, as defined by God in the Scriptures is far more than an emotion. It is an action.  We see that especially in those precious verses in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

“Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not conceited, does not act improperly, is not selfish, is not provoked, and does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” [HCSB]

Everything Paul says about love is an action directed toward others, and in particular, how a person is to treat people. As I once again read those actions that are to define the way I treat others, I realize how far short I often am. I can stumble over just the first three words … love is patient!

If I get past those first three words, I certainly stumble over the last three … endures all things.  I wonder if I can ever love like that. I so often am concerned with my own interests and issues and how others affect me. Still, I know I must continually try because that is the way our God loves us and the way He expects us to love others.

Of course, here is the Good News. Through Christ all things are possible, and we can love others through the grace that He provides rather than following our own self-centered instincts.

We must remember to call on the grace of God for everything we need to keep our love genuine and Christlike!

 

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He prowls …

by TerryLema

I have been thinking seriously about the enemy of our soul. Whatever you want to call him—devil, adversary, Satan—he has one goal. He wants to hurt God and thinks the best way to do that is to devour those whom God calls His own. We need to think seriously about his influence in our lives.

1 Peter 5:8: “Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.” [HCSB]

Peter urges his readers to be serious as well as to stay alert when it comes to the adversary. That means recognizing that the devil is prowling around us all the time. That is his job – to prowl and destroy. He and his little minions do not take a day off. They lie in wait, seeking opportunities to enter our lives.

The problem is that too often we do just that – give him an opportunity to enter.

Paul reminds us in Romans 12:2 that we must not be “conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of [our] mind, so that [we] may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” [HCSB]

From that verse we learn where the battle with the enemy of our soul always begins … in our minds. When we listen to the world’s counsel, we invite the devil in. When we succumb to negative thinking, we invite the devil in. When we do not cooperate with the Spirit of God who wants to lead us in all righteousness, we invite the devil in. When we do not read and study the Word of God, so that we might know His ways, we invite the devil in.

Many of our problems are of our own making when we give place in our minds to the enemy of our soul. He is always prowling around us looking for that opening. When he sees it, he will not hold back! He will take every opportunity to influence us. Eventually, we will grow deaf to the Spirit of God’s pleadings, and find ourselves in bondage to the world, the flesh, and the enemy.

If you have given the devil a place in your thinking, it is time to oust him! Seek the leading of the Spirit of God, get into the Word of God, and take authority over your mind. God has given us the means to transform our minds, do not let that go to waste and spend another day in slavery to fear, doubt, or discouragement!

 

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Two Witnesses

by TerryLema

I have been encouraged by thinking about the wonderful truths found in Romans 8:14-16. First the solace of seeing I am a child of God, led by the very Spirit of God. Then the comfort in knowing I have received all I need to overcome fear in my life … the Spirit of adoption whereby I can call out to my Father God, “Abba” and know that He will provide through the power of His Spirit the courage and strength I need to overcome. [vs 14-15]

Then this morning, as I looked at that last verse [16] I saw that I have the testimony of not one, but two witnesses that I am God’s child.

“The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children.” [Romans 8:16 HCSB]

When I was saved nearly five decades ago, my own spirit felt God’s grace come into my heart. I knew I was different than I had been. While I had always known about God, I had never truly experienced God. In that moment of surrender everything changed.

Of course, over the years as I traveled through difficult times and trying circumstances, or when I allowed the world to influence my thinking, there were moments of doubt. There were times when I doubted my ability to be a true follower of Christ Jesus. There were times of doubt when I wondered if God was aware of what was happening to me – or even cared!

It was when those times arose that the second witness, “The Spirit Himself,” spoke loudly and clearly, confirming the reality of my position as a child of God. He reminded me that my position was not based on my meager efforts to follow, was not based on what circumstances I was facing, nor was it based on what the world was telling me.

My position as a child of God was based on God’s adopting me into His family through the power of the Spirit, and nothing in me or in this world had the power to change that!

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Received

by TerryLema

“All those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father!’ The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children.” [Romans 8:14-16 HCSB]

Fear is an atmosphere the enemy of our soul loves, promotes and rejoices in.  The devil knows that if he can keep us in a spirit of slavery to fear, he has effectively made us irrelevant in the kingdom of God.

Fear is one of the greatest issues of our time. It is promoted daily in the media and on social media. It comes through loud and clear. We are to fear the virus. We are to fear our government is not being truthful about the virus. We are to fear the vaccine. We are to fear those who refuse to be vaccinated. We are to fear the vaccine will not be enough to stop the virus. We are to fear our economy will never recover. We are to fear our economy being opened up without better safeguards.

Wherever your opinion on this virus-and fear pandemic, there is enough fear to go around. But notice the solution Paul provides in Romans 15 … “you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba Father!’”

The antidote to a spirit of slavery to fear is “adoption.” The word for adoption is “huiothesia” and it means to be adopted into a divine family. We know it is a divine adoption because Paul links that adoption to the Spirit of God. The word he uses for “Spirit” is “pneuma” and signifies the Holy Spirit of God is involved in that adoption.

Now we have the closest of relationships … instead of crying out in fear we cry out “Abba, Father!” as we remember that our relationship with God is far stronger than our fears.

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Led

by TerryLema

There are times when reading Romans 8 that I think we could read it every day of our life and still not grasp its fullest significance. I always start reading then get to a certain portion and stop. Today I stopped at verses 14-16.

“All those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children.” [HCSB]

Actually, where I first paused was on verse 14: “All those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons.” I then read the next two verses and stopped to consider the passage.

The law was given to lead people to Christ. But once saved by grace through faith, the law no longer has authority to lead. Now all God’s sons and daughters are led by God’s own Spirit.

This leading happens because we enter into a relationship with our Father God. When we become sons and daughters of our Father God, we are received into His family, with all the privileges and responsibilities of adult children. One of the greatest privileges is to be able to claim, “I am a child of God.”

As verse 14 also reminds us, another of those great privileges is to be led by the Spirit of God in our walk with Christ.

But lest we forget, one of the greatest responsibilities is to cooperate fully (rather than fight) the Spirit of God as He seeks to lead us!

 

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Building the House

by TerryLema

Yesterday as I read Chapter 5 of 1 Thessalonians, I was struck by verse 11. “Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.” [HCSB]

Encourage is the word “parakaleó” and it means to call to one’s side, to exhort, to encourage.  It comes from a root “paráklētos” meaning legal advocate. It means our encouragement never belittles, never causes discord, but always reflects the gentleness and compassion of The Holy Spirit of Truth, often referred to as “The Paraclete,” our legal advocate and counselor.

There is a second part of that verse that we need to see clearly. While we are commanded to encourage one another, we are also commanded to “build each other up.”

The word for build is “oikodomeó” and it simply means to build a house. Our character is the house we live in. Everything we do will either build up that house or tear it down. Every choice we make, every voice we listen to, every path we choose will strengthen our house or weaken it.

That goes for when we influence others in their choices and decisions. Our voice in their life will either build up their character or it will create doubts, fears, disappointments that will tear down their house. We must always be on our guard as we come alongside others that our motivations and our actions are to build up and strengthen them.

The enemy of our soul is always looking for helpers. His is the voice of destruction and fear. He seeks to enlist others in his cause … and sometimes it is too easy to be recruited as his advocate, especially when our thoughts, ideas or opinions are at odds with others.

Our God is compassionate, kind, good, merciful, and loving. If our words or actions reflect anything other than that, we are far more apt to tear down. Grant us wisdom, O God, to build others up! Amen!

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Are you encouraging or …

by TerryLema

The final chapter of 1 Thessalonians discusses “The Day of the LORD,” and gives us exhortations and blessings. It commands us to do things like “Rejoice always!” and “Pray constantly,” and “Give thanks in everything for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  [5:16-18]

As I was reading it recently the one verse that made me stop came at the very end of Paul’s comments on The Day of the LORD. Verse 11 says: “Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing.” [HCSB]

The word for encourage is “parakaleó” and it means to call to one’s side, to exhort, to encourage.  It comes from a root “paráklētos” meaning legal advocate.

The Holy Spirit (our advocate and counselor) is often referred to as “The Paraclete.” To me that is incredibly significant in determining how we are to “encourage one another.”

Much of what is going on in the world today seeks to divide Christians, because as Jesus reminded us, a divided house cannot stand strong. It is not just the world that has strong opinions. Christians also have strong opinions about this virus-and-fear pandemic, as well as the recent election, and they have not been afraid to express them.

Mask or not mask? Social Distance or Not Social Distance. Vaccinate or Not Vaccinate. Won or Lost.

I have no problem with Christians taking a stance on political or other important issues. I do have a problem when we take those opinions to the point of discouraging other believers because their opinions differ.

When we express our opinions, we need to make sure that we meet the standards of encouragement outlined by God. That means double-checking to confirm that our words … our actions … match what the Holy Spirit of Truth would say and do.

 

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Yours, LORD

by TerryLema

“Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to You. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom, and You are exalted as head over all.” [1 Chronicles 29:11 HCSB]

That verse was my verse of the day on Friday. I needed the reminder!

My heart is always a bit sad following a trip to see our California family. All the anticipation for months, then four days of seeing them close up and hugging them and being a part of their life, followed by the letdown of a long trip home and the uncertainty of when we will see them again.

This trip made it apparent that driving down in one day and driving back in one day will no longer work for us at our age. We could possibly do it making an overnight stop in Reno both coming and going, but financially that probably will not work for us, neither will flying. So, this return home has been especially sad wondering when we will see them again.

As I sat there feeling a bit sorry for myself, reading into the future what may or may not happen, God reminded me that everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to Him. He reminded me that He is King, and He is exalted over all things. He reminded me that He possesses “the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty” and that I can trust Him to bring all that to bear for me.

Too often we lose sight of the greatness of our God. We begin to think only in terms of what is happening to us at the moment. I know that often the temporal visible things around me take control of my heart and mind. I forget about the Great One whom I serve.

Today, I will again focus on my exalted King! I will concentrate on all He is and all He does. Whatever life holds in its joys or disappointments fades in the light of God’s majesty! Amen.

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