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But God

Little Words, Giant Promises

by TerryLema

At The Way, Pastor Laura was bringing a message out of Ephesians 2, and I was taking notes as usual. We came across a two-word phrase that caught my attention. That was two weeks in a row that my attention was drawn to a two-word phrase.

“But now …” in verse 13 was the one that got my attention that Sunday. (The Sunday before it was “But God …” in verse 4.)

The “But now” phrase led to another two-word phrase in verse 13 that really made me stop and think – “…brought near …”

There are a lot of big words in the Scriptures. And there are a lot of big words when you study theology. I sometimes struggle with those big words, trying to bring them down to my level of understanding. I know I should get excited when I read or study those big words, but, honestly, it is the little words that often make my soul soar into the heavenlies.

“But God ….” Before God ever created mankind, He knew mankind would need a “But God.” “But God” set up the plan of salvation. “But God” brought Jesus to pay the penalty for our sin, our shame, our punishment.

“But now ….” Everything has changed. “But now” God has provided a new life. He didn’t just scrub up the old exterior and give us a shiny new look. He changed our hearts, taking out the old heart of stone and replacing it with a new heart, a heart that is being conformed (made like) the heart of our Savior and LORD.

“Brought near ….” If there is one two-word phrase that thrills my heart, it is “brought near.” We are not away from God anymore. We are “brought near” to His precious side. We are “brought near” to His heart of grace, mercy, and goodness. We are “brought near” to His presence for all eternity.

Little words. Giant promises! Changing our lives for all eternity.

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But God, Part 4

by TerryLema

But God. Acts 13:30: “But God raised [Jesus] from the dead.” [HCSB]

“Then He who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through His Spirit who lives in you.” [Romans 8:9-11 HCSB]

Hallelujah!

I hurt in various places. My right knee often gives me trouble. I ruptured a bicep (which they won’t fix at my age). My hair is getting more sparse. Lots of stuff droops and sags. I am sure the floor is further away than when I was younger. In other words, this old body just ain’t what it used to be!

In this life, our bodies are still subject to the curse of death, even though our souls and spirits have been set free.  We truly are in the ‘land of the dying’ heading, as believers, to the ‘land of the living.’ And what a promise God has given us—that He will one day give us a new body, one that will operate in the New Heavens and the New Earth.

I think everyone at some point in life looks back and thinks that their best days are behind them.  But, beloved, as followers of Christ the truth is that our best days are still ahead of us!

Hallelujah!

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But God, Part 3

by TerryLema

But God. Heb 12:10-11: “but [God] [disciplines] for our benefit, so that we can share His holiness.” [HCSB]

Discipline, not the most thrilling of words. In the NT Greek, it means “to train up a child, i.e., educate.” It is often translated as instruct, learn, teach, and part of teaching can be punishment.

When my middle grandson was a preschooler, his parents were trying to teach him not to use the word “stupid.” Saying “stupid” brought a short time-out to enforce the instruction. Grandpa and I were visiting with them in California and as we sat around the kitchen table, Grandpa unfortunately used the word “stupid.”  Immediately, of course, little Marcus said, “PapaBob, you can’t say ‘stupid.’ We don’t say ‘stupid’ and you said ‘stupid’ so you have to go to time-out.”

My daughter-in-law smiled and backed up little Marcus, “Yes, PapaBob, time-out.” So, there went PapaBob to the time-out chair, the little kitchen timer counting down the seconds of his discipline, with Marcus sitting there watching and wearing the biggest grin.

God disciplines us. He does it to educate us for a divine purpose that we may share in His holiness. At times that education is reinforced with a bit of punishment when needed, a time-out as it were.

We should never confuse God’s discipline with condemnation, however, for Jesus took our condemnation. Discipline is part of sanctification and designed to conform us into the image of Christ Jesus, God’s dear son.

Thank you, Father, for the discipline that makes me more like Jesus. Amen.

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But God, Part 2

by TerryLema

But God.  Paul had been worried about the church in Corinth. He had sent them a tough letter, urging them to deal with both the blatant sin in their midst, and the false teachers that seemed to be winning them over to a heretical gospel.  Paul had sent Titus to Corinth to get a feel for their reaction and report back.

Travel and postal service were a lot slower in those days. News was not instantaneous as it is now, so Paul had to wait, and while he did, he worried. He worried that the work he had begun in Corinth was being perverted. He worried that his “children” were being lured away from the truth of Christ.

Titus finally did return, and with his good report, brought comfort. In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul identified that comfort as coming from God.

2 Cor 7:6: “But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus.” [NKJV]

God comforts the downcast. He comforted Paul through the good news that Titus brought back from Corinth.

God comforts us when we are downcast – and yes, even strong believers get downcast at times.  If it could happen to Paul (and David), it can certainly happen to us.  Good News from God, however, will always revive and lift us.

If you are feeling downcast, read Romans 8. It is full of God’s Good News, and it is a great cure for being downcast.

Glory to God. Amen.

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But God, Part 1

by TerryLema

But God. Two 3-letter words. But God. Have you ever thought about what you would be, what your life would be if those two little words didn’t exist?  But God. It is an interesting study looking up “but God” in a concordance. I want to spend a few days looking at some of my favorite “but God” occurrences in Scripture.

In Luke 16, Jesus tells the story of the master and the dishonest manager. He ends with a dynamic statement, “You can’t be slaves to both God and money.” [Luke 16:13 HCSB]

Luke then tells us that there were Pharisees listening, “who loved money…and were sneering [scoffing] at Jesus.” 

Jesus sees their sneers and tells them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts.” [v 14-15 HCSB]

But God knows your hearts. That is both a negative and a positive statement. For those who sneer at the things of God and hold themselves up for glory in the sight of men, God sees through the arrogance. He knows their hearts. But for those who by their very lives seek to honor Him in the sight of men, God also knows their hearts and they are pleasing to Him.

Father, my heart breaks when I see the sneers or read the insults to You. May I always remember to pray for those souls. May my own heart always honor You. 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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