Time with Jesus - Wednesday, 02 May
2012
Hi all,
The April/May 2012 holidays
are now a thing of the past. They were a bit like the “hiccups” They came and
went in irregular intervals and did nothing for us whatsoever. Other that is
than pandering to our whim for having days off work legally! No doctor’s note
required. Great for the body, but not great for the national economy!
Blessings
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
Time with Jesus – Wednesday, 02
May 2012
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INTRODUCTION
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DAILY
LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
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KEEP YOURSELVES
FROM IDOLS
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The Apostle John made an interesting statement in
his first epistle. 21 Little children, keep
yourselves from idols. Amen. 1 John 5:21
KJV
What is fascinating about the comment is what so
many people had learned. They accepted that which was happening around them
as normal. History confirms that conditions in the Roman Empire are similar
to what we see around us now. All that appears to have changed is “who?” and
“why?”
We are a strange people. We soon become adjusted to
that which is happening where we are. We are told by holocaust survivors that
life in the camps was terrible. But in order to survive it was necessary to
live in it and through it. We are told that the prison camp guards went home
in the evening to sing Christmas carols and play with their children. For
them their monstrous behaviour and lifestyle had become “normal”. One
prisoner stated that Camp commanders we so convinced that the Jews were
sub-human, they wanted the Allies to join them in their fight with the
Russians.
We find such behaviour so contradictory to the
Christian way of life that we are repulsed by such stories.
Standards usually deteriorate with the passing of
time. Things which were unacceptable fifty years ago are seldom seen as wrong
in society today.
Biblical history describes the conditions in Judah
during the prophet Habakkuk’s lifetime. He was horrified by what he saw. In
many ways it was not grossly different from what we see in and around us
today. He took his complaint to God and asked for justice.
God already knew about it. The people were following
a god of their own imagination: a deity who permitted them to do anything
they wanted. The book of Judges tells us; 25 In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes. Judges 21:25 NLT
This attitude has been consistent throughout
history. The Lord sees it as idolatry: worshipping our own god! There comes a
day when he decides that enough is enough. That’s when He acts in ways we
seldom like!
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
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21 Little
children, keep yourselves from idols.
Amen.
1 John 5:21 KJV
26 O my son, give me your heart. May your eyes take
delight in following my ways.
Proverbs 23:26 NLT
2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things
that are on earth.
Colossians 3:2 ESV
3 "Son of man, these leaders have set up idols in their
hearts. They have embraced things that will make them fall into sin. Why
should I listen to their requests?
Ezekiel 14:3 NLT
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your
earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed,
which is idolatry.
Colossians 3:5 NIV
9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation,
into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge
people into ruin and destruction. 10 For
the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered
away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. 11
But as for you, O man of God, flee these things.
Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.
1 Timothy 6:9-11 ESV
10 Put no
trust in extortion; set no vain hopes on robbery; if
riches increase, set not your heart on them.
Psalms 62:10 ESV
19 My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold, my
wages better than sterling silver!
Proverbs 8:19 NLT
21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your
heart will also be.
Matthew 6:21 NLT
7 But the
LORD said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I
have rejected him. The LORD doesn't see things the way you see them. People
judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks
at the heart."
1 Samuel 16:7 NLT
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Idolatry; Idolatry, we see it everywhere.
It seems to be so prevalent; it gives us
quite a scare!
We see it on the bill-boards; we see
it on the news.
We see it in our households. It
permeates our views.
Large screen television with a great
big fancy screen;
Watching our “soap operas” to see how “good”
they’ve been.
All those famous characters - we hunger
after more.
That’s whom we bow down to; to worship
and adore.
Murder and hijackings, corruption and
deceit.
Such enormous quantities, it clearly
can’t be beat.
Steal from the Receiver. Don’t pay
income tax
Schoolwork is impossible for
discipline is lax.
Undermine authority. It’s better to be
free?
Anything we think is right is how it
has to be.
This is what was happening in Israel
that day.
Habakkuk was watching. He didn’t like
the way,
People were behaving. Just as bad as
us.
“Lord what are You doing? Lord please cause
a fuss!
Change what is occurring!” “I’ve got it all in hand!
Babylon is coming to sanitise the land.
They will “gut” Jerusalem and tear the
Temple down.
The people go in slavery into a distant
town.
All that they’ve been doing is mere
idolatry.
That which I am planning is not prosperity!
The people need to realise they’ll reap
the things they sow.
When My prophets speak to them, they do not
want to know.
They carry on regardless, no matter what I
do.
Babylon will conqueror them. Judgement is
now due.”
Habakkuk was mortified! Just what was
He to say?
The things he had been looking at were
certainly that way,
Rightly he described it. It couldn’t
carry on.
And just as God had stated, Jerusalem
was gone.
The only thing in question is what
will happen here?
Judgement is approaching; abundantly
that’s clear.
Will there be survivors? It’s clearly
up to you.
Worship God Almighty. No other “god”
will do.
Jim Strickland –
Written Wed. 2nd May 2012
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