Past Devotions

Down by the riverside

by TerryLema

Well, if you have been on Facebook recently or at The Way last Sunday, you probably already know that my husband fell into the Boise River while fishing last Saturday. He tumbled down the bank and ended up headfirst in the river Thankfully, the flow was low so he was not carried downstream. He struggled to get up on the bank but could only make it halfway out. He said he could not push up with his feet nor pull himself up with his arms.

Two guys and a gal walked by and found him and helped. They got him up the bank. Being the rather stubborn old man he is, he thought he could drive home, but was unable to get in his truck. Realizing he was bleeding, bruised and could not move his left arm, they called 911. Paramedics transported him to our local ER.

His right arm has multiple scrapes and cuts, and over the last couple days lots of bruising has shown up on his right arm and side. His left shoulder blade is fractured, and he has multiple cuts on his left hand. He is bandaged and his left arm is in a sling until we can see the ortho surgeon.  If you ask him what was the worst thing that happened, he will smile and tell you he lost his Marine Corps hat in the river.

It is funny how fast things can change. One minute you are getting ready to leisurely fish on the riverbank, the next moment you are in the river and struggling to get out, cold, hurt, frustrated and maybe even a little afraid (although I would never accuse this former Marine of fear!).

What should show up as one of my daily verses today?  Psalm 91, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” [vs 1 NKJV]

I took a moment to read the rest of the song … and came to rest on verse 15, “He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble.”

Take a moment and read Psalm 91 today. Be reminded of the rescues that are noted there. Too often we become so familiar with a portion of Scripture that we fail to really consider what is contained therein.

“I will be with him in trouble.” That apparently includes taking a header into a river!

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?

by TerryLema

Last Sunday I brought a message about forgiveness and what is demanded of us as sinners who have received forgiveness from God.  One section of the message was titled, “What if?”

I remember when my children were young, especially when they were teenagers. It seemed they were consumed by the “What if?” question.

I would tell them to come directly home from school and that would prompt a series of “What if’s?”  What if I’m hungry and want to stop for something to eat? What if John asks me to take him home? What if Sara asks me to come over and help her with her homework?  What if? What if? What if?  Thankfully, they outgrew the “What if?” phase.

But I am not sure I did. How many time have I asked God, “What if?” when he has commanded me to do something, such as forgive someone I really do not want to forgive.  Or if He asks me to forgive someone who is not at all sorry about hurting or offending me.

I think the Scriptures are clear that none of the elements of forgiveness are dependent on our situations or the actions of other people. God’s Word or call on our lives is never at the mercy of the behavior of others, and His Word stands regardless of the difficulties we face.

Colossians 3:13: “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the LORD forgave you”

I think God must hate “What if?” questions as much as I do. Maybe more!

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Able and …

by TerryLema

There are three notable doxologies in the New Testament (Ephesians 3:20, Jude 24, Romans 16:25-27). Each begin with those six wonderful words, “Now to Him who is 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 for anything and everything we will ever need. That reassures my heart. And there is something that encourages my heart even more! Three little words found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

“Now a leper came to [Jesus], imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, ‘If You are willing, You can make me clean.’ Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’ As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.” [Mark 1:40-42, also Matthew 8:3, Luke 5:13]

I think you know what three little words minister to my heart.  When the leper asked if Jesus was “willing” to heal Him, our LORD responded with “I am willing.” Then He conveyed healing’s power (dunamai) with a touch and the leper was cleansed.

It is one thing to have the power to do something; it is quite something else to have the willingness to do it.

Our LORD is both willing AND able to move in our behalf. Praise His Glorious Name! Amen.

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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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