Tag:

Redemption

Fear!

by TerryLema

I have been listening to the news coming out of Russia and Putin’s threats of a nuclear war if he does not get what he wants. It was clearly a fear-tactic, common among megalomaniacs and dictators. It has been used down through history because it clearly works. Fear of what might happen often cripples people into compliance.

The news reminded me of Luke 21 when Jesus’ disciples asked Him “What will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” [21:7 HCSB]

Jesus responded, “Watch out that you are not deceived.” [vs 8 HCSB]

Then He began to outline the signs that would take place at the end of the age. He told them many would pretend to be Him, there would be wars and rebellions. He talked of earthquakes, famines, and plagues. Then He told them about persecutions and captivity that would come.

Finally, He spoke of the signs in the heavenlies in verses 25-28. I found it interesting that Jesus does not mention fear until that part of the prophecy. “People will faint from fear and expectation of the things that are coming on the world, because the celestial powers will be shaken.” [vs 26]

It is when God enters the picture that a fear unlike any other will enter mankind. “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” [vs 27]

And if you are reading along with me this morning in Luke 21, you must love how the next verse begins … “But …”

“But when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near!”

Today: Amen, LORD, thank you, no matter what the world looks like, our redemption is assured!

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Why is it …?

by TerryLema

Why is it that every time I buy something, in the next day or so, even next hour or so, it turns up cheaper somewhere else?

That happened this week.  I needed some things and had put off buying them because they can be a bit pricey. I finally gave in, checked around local sites, and headed to a store, picking up what I needed.

The very next day I decided to visit an online delivery site to reorder a couple vitamins and thought I would check if they carried what I just bought. They not only carried them, but they also sold them at half the cost.

That seems to be the story of my life. My timing is always off. Whenever we bought a house prices were high. Whenever we sold a house prices were low. I never can seem to get it right.

Maybe that is why God gives “freely.” He knows if He sold us what we needed, we would all be paying a different price, looking for a bargain, or most likely fall short of any asking price.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. They are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” [Romans 3:23-24 HCSB]

I received the greatest thing I will ever need, redemption, freely by God’s grace. I will never look around and say, “Why is it …?” and regret I did not look for a better offer somewhere else.

I have fallen far, far short of God’s glory. Yet freely He has given me a place in His family all because of Christ’s sacrifice. Oh, the marvelous grace of God!

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His Light Shines Upon Us

by TerryLema

Psalm 118: 27-29: “The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar. You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.”

What a beautiful way to end a difficult month. Our LORD is God. Christ Jesus has made His light shine upon us. The world around us can be a dark, scary place but our citizenship is not in the darkness, it is in the light. “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” [2 Corinthians 4:6]

And if that doesn’t make your heart leap for joy, let Colossians 1:14 remind you that “He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

In Idaho, our Governor is allowing churches to open their doors after May 1 in the first step of starting up our economy. I am so pleased that on May 10, we will have our first indoor church service. (Granted there are restrictions about social distancing and masks, etc.)

For many, the opening of our economy again is as if the “light” is finally breaking through our current darkness. While that may be true from the world’s perspective, in God’s perspective we broke through into the light the moment we surrendered our lives to Jesus as Savior and LORD. He took us out of the dark scary place we were in and translated us into the kingdom of His Dear Son – a kingdom of light and love and forgiveness and redemption.

What a joy Psalm 118 has been to my heart. I pray it has been to yours also. “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Amen & Amen.

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