Time with Jesus - Tuesday, 10 July
2012
Hi all,
In today’s meditation we look
at percentages. Of course there’s nothing wrong with attaining 100% in the
examination of life? What we are required to do is the very best we can and go
even further than that. The question is, do we try? Are we as committed to
Jesus Christ as He is committed to us!
Blessings
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – Tuesday, 10 July 2012
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
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©
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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
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©
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INTRODUCTION
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DAILY
LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
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DO
MORE THAN IS EXPECTED
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In the newspaper this past weekend there was a complaint by a student
concerning her exam results. She ended up with 99.95% and was complaining
that she should have received 100% Personally; I admire her for her very high
achievement. 99.95% is a fabulous result for an examination. During my days
at school, 40% was the pass mark. We all tried to do better and usually we
were successful.
Did you enjoy writing examinations? Most of the time I enjoyed. I
suppose it was a matter of the effort you had put in.
I have heard it said that if 40% is the pass mark and you get 41% it
represents 1% wasted effort. A similar question goes like this. Two medical students
write their final exams. A pass mark of 50% is required. One of the students
get 90% and the other 51% What do you call them? The answer is you call both
of them Doctor. The next question is which Doctor would you prefer to
consult?
How does this affect us in our Christian Faith? First of all we need
to realise that there is no such thing as a part time Christian. It’s not
possible to be 50% Christian and 50% pagan. In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus is
recorded as having said: 24 "No
one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You
cannot serve both God and money. Matthew
6:24 NLT It is just as true today as it was ±2000 years ago!
In spite of this many Christians think they can. On Wednesday evenings
and all day Sunday, they are Christian. For the rest of the week they are
anything but Christian! This doesn’t work.
King Solomon, the man who (supposedly) wrote Ecclesiastes, was in
something of a bad humour when he wrote: 10 Whatever you do, do well.
For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge
or wisdom. Ecclesiastes 9:10 NLT Another
way to put it is to say, “This isn’t a dress rehearsal. You only get one shot
at life!” We need to be radical Christians. Anything less than 100% is only
serving God part time. The young woman’s 99.95% does not qualify her as being
a Christian. Yes, there are problems and difficult circumstances. How would
you feel if Jesus said to you He will only be with you 99.95% of the time?
You would ask Him, “Lord, please tell me when You are not around. That’s when
Satan’s attack will be the greatest.” On top of this, it’s time to realise
that every moment in life is your time for being a witness for Christ! I’m
not talking about speaking but about life itself. In this 21st
century, what you are speaks much louder than what you say. So do more than
your best for Jesus. How can we do better than 100%? Jesus will show you.
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
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26 O my son, give me your
heart. May your eyes take delight in following my ways.
Proverbs 23:26 NLT
29 If only they would fear me and obey all my commandments
as long as they live! Then things would go well for them and their children
forever.
Deuteronomy
5:29 GW
21 You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.
Acts 8:21 ESV
7 Focusing on the self is the opposite
of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self, ignores God, ends up
thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he
is doing. 8 And God
isn't pleased at being ignored.
Romans 8:7-8 MSG
5 They did more than we expected. First they gave themselves to the Lord. Then
they gave themselves to us in keeping with what God wanted.
2 Corinthians 8:5 NIrV
21 Hezekiah incorporated
Moses' Teachings and commands into worship and dedicated his life to serving
God. Whatever he did for the worship in God's temple, he did wholeheartedly,
and he succeeded.
2 Chronicles 31:21 GW
23 Above all else, guard
your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Proverbs 4:23 TNIV
23 Work at everything you
do with all your heart. Work as if you were working for the Lord, not
for human masters.
Colossians 3:23 NIrV
6 Try to please them all the time, not just when they
are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the
will of God with all your heart. 7 Work
with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.
Ephesians 6:6-7 NLT
32 I am quick to follow
your commands, because you have set my heart free.
Psalms 119:32 NIrV
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What is it that excites you? Is it the good or bad?
The way you take a look at things, will make you sad
or glad?
But what will give you confidence, is following My
way.
Know that it will thrill you for your remaining
days.
But many do not fear Me. My Word, they won’t obey.
If only they would do it; things wouldn’t go astray.
If they would live forever, with all the family,
They have to change direction and follow after Me.
But at this very moment, things are not going right.
Because your heart’s not with me, you’re sure to
lose the fight.
Your attitude before Me has got to be correct.
If not, you’ll have a setback you never would expect.
Stop looking at the hindrance; stop focussing on you!
The situation will not change, if you don’t change
your view.
For those who fix their focus, on anyone but God,
Will find that it’s a rocky road on which their feet
have trod.
The Lord will not approve of it, if He has been
ignored,
And you will reap the judgement of his terrible
swift sword.
My friend, don’t treat this lightly. He knows what’s
going on.
A Holy God will not approve of anything that’s wrong!
It always leads to judgement and you are sure to
lose.
Now’s the time for taking sides. Which is it you
will choose?
Do more than is expected. You were not made a wimp.
And you are not expected to be a spineless shrimp.
So give yourself completely, to Him Who reigns on
high.
You will either follow Him, or you will surely die.
Be like Hezekiah; incorporate God’s law,
In every little move you make. Don’t think you can
explore,
The outer limits of His grace; for if you would
succeed,
The time has come to follow Him in word and truth
and deed.
Whatever else you choose to do, I bid you guard your
heart.
That’s where everything we do gets its initial start.
Work with everything you have. Put all your energy,
In doing what the Lord requires and not
half-heartedly.
Jesus is your Master; so be His willing slave.
Whatever He requires of you is how you must behave.
Do it with a willing heart, a servant of the King.
Surely He will free you from all this world might
bring.
Jim
Strickland – Written 10th July 2012
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