IN SPITE OF TEARS

Time with Jesus - Wednesday, 06 June 2012

Hi all,

At the lowest point of WW2, Churchill told his people, “I have nothing to offer you except blood, sweat and tears. Jesus said much the same thing.¹³ "You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. ¹⁴ But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. Matthew 7:13-14 NLT Which road are you on?  Are you sure?

Comments, and previous Devotionals can be found on my Blog – http: //jimnphyllida.blogspot.com

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Wednesday, 06 June 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
©	These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes					©
	INTRODUCTION		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	IN SPITE OF TEARS
One of the most successful travel agents of all times was Thomas Cook. In the days before Flight Centre, Cosmos Tours and Trafalgar Tours, one company lent its name to travel to distant places. If you made a circuitous journey to diverse places the expression was that you were on or had been on a “Cook’s Tour”. He was the “father” of all travel agents. What few people know is that he was a committed Christian. He was a member of and promoted the temperance movement. The very first “Cooks Tour” was to take 540 temperance campaigners from Leicester to Loughborough; in England. In one respect, Jesus Christ was a Travel Agent. His plan was for people to go from the “City of Destruction” to the “Celestial City”. John Bunyan described such a journey in his book “Pilgrim’s Progress”, published in the 17th century. Many of the scenarios described in this allegorical book, are scenes and the sayings of Jesus. If you have the patience to put up with the somewhat archaic English, it’s well worth reading. I remember it being read to us at school in 1951. (I was 9) Jesus came to live among us for one particular reason; to reopen the way for man and God to be reconciled. It was necessary for Him to deal with sin. In this sense He came to make it possible for men and women to escape Satan’s prison and journey to be with Him. Many of the things He said dealt with this Journey. Perhaps one of the best known statements made by Jesus to Thomas and quoted in John’s Gospel states: 6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 ESV It would be incorrect to describe this as a travelogue! But Jesus was explaining to His disciples where He was going and how His disciples and others could get there! Perhaps the best known “travel directions” are in Matthew’s Gospel. 13 "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few”. Matthew 7:13-14 ESV This is a warning to all of us. The Christian life is not a “cake walk”. It takes time; the way is difficult; there are no short-cuts. To me, 21st century “cross-less” Christianity does little more than direct men and women onto the wide and easy gate that leads to destruction. My limited 50 year journey toward the “Celestial City” has been through the narrow gate onto the narrow road. Only God knows how I found it. At times the journey has been difficult enough to prompt me to want to quit. That’s when Jesus has put His arms around me and helped me wipe away the tears. There is no other way. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			20 Jesus has opened a new and living way for us to go through the curtain. (The curtain is his own body.) Hebrews 10:20 GW 16 So Cain left the LORD's presence and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. Genesis 4:16 NLT 2 But your sins have separated you from your God. They have caused him to turn his face away from you. So he won't listen to you. Isaiah 59:2 NIrV 14 Try your best to live in peace with everyone. Try to be holy. Without holiness no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14 NIrV 6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 ESV 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 2 Timothy 1:10 ESV 8 By these regulations the Holy Spirit revealed that the entrance to the Most Holy Place was not freely open as long as the Tabernacle and the system it represented were still in use. Hebrews 9:8 NLT 14 For Christ Himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in His own body on the cross, He broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. Ephesians 2:14 NLT 50 Then Jesus shouted out again, and He released His spirit. 51 At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, 52 and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. Matthew 27:50-52 NLT 14 "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. Matthew 7:14 NASB 11 You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your presence and the pleasures of living with You forever. Psalms 16:11 NLT	Many spend all of their days, looking for the Lord. They spend their every penny and all they can afford, Hunting for the Master where He will never be. I wish I could persuade them to take a tip from me. If they’re looking for him within the land of Nod. They’ll find their quest is useless; it’s not where they’ll find God. Cain had left His presence so he could get away. From being with the Master on each and every day! There is a way to find Him. He’s just beyond the veil. He is the only way to God, all other methods fail. They must make a decision to turn away from sin. Repentance is foundational for them to enter in. Then ask Him, “Where’s the entrance”? It is the narrow way. He’ll point you to the narrow gate. Just turn to Him and pray. The way most people walk on, is easy and it’s wide. Many Christian people have been swept up with the tide. They think that it is easy; That they can surely cope. But they will find salvation was just a distant hope. The troubles Jesus went through; on you they will descend It is an uphill battle; on that you can depend. But Jesus and His Spirit will surely lead and guide. As long as you are teachable and put your will aside. Seek the Tabernacle and all it represents. There is now a difference. The inner veil is rent. Jesus gave us entrance to the Most Holy Place, Where we can meet the Father and Jesus face to face! His body had been broken. The cross had done its worst. Jesus sacrificed His life, so we would not be cursed. And all that still is needed is to let Him take your hand, And lead you on the narrow way into the Promised Land. Do not be discouraged. The way is hard and tough. Just concentrate upon Him; your soul may shout, “Enough!” I really can’t continue. I can’t take any more. And then you get the vision of the one Whom you adore. Suddenly it’s worth it. You’re strengthened for the fight. You won’t care what has happened or how dark is the night. With loving arms around you and eyes filled with your tears. You’ll know that you will serve Him for the balance of your years. Jim Strickland Written 6th June 2012