NO SECRETS

Time with Jesus - Monday, 09 July 2012

Hi all,
Jesus’ clear instruction to us was not to hide our light under a bushel. Another way to put it is to say, don’t have any secrets you cannot or will not disclose. Bring out your past into the light. If you do, that secret will be “shouted from the roof tops” for the entire world to hear and know about. Be open and honest and there will be nothing to fear. This is examined in more detail in today’s meditation.
Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Monday 9th July 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
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	INTRODUCTION		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	NO SECRETS
There is a tale that goes back to the late 19th or early 20th century. It is about two British Parliamentarians .They decided to play a trick on 6 other members of parliament chosen at random. They wanted to observe their reactions. So they sent identical letters to the 6 MP’s. The letters read, “Flee – all is discovered”. The story is all six of them left England as quickly as possible. Is it a true story? I don’t really know. What I can say is that I’m not surprised! Most of us have “skeletons in our closets”. When I was growing up I quickly learned not to speak about one of my aunts. If I did, the subject was changed immediately. Exactly what had happened was not revealed for several years. She had done the unthinkable. In those days it was a lot more unthinkable than it is today. She fell pregnant before she was married. So she was sent to a private nursing home in a distant town. Then, after the baby was born, the child was adopted by person or person’s unknown. The child was never referred to again by anyone in the family. Everything was quietly swept under the carpet. But for many years thereafter, she was thought of as the black sheep of the family. In point of fact she was a delightful person. Except for sadness in her approach to, that was hard to understand. Not unless you knew the circumstances. I guess all of us have something in our history that is “unmentionable”. Mine was being caught cheating in my matric examination. The result was my being whisked out of the country to serve an apprenticeship as a fitter in the same company that employed my father. It was a devastating experience. In the end, it brought to me the reality to Paul’s letter to the Romans: 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them. Romans 8:28 NLT28 Perhaps the most important lesson I learned, was that it’s better to own up and admit something, than to try and hide behind a pack of lies. Liar’s need to have good memories. Telling the simple truth may bring embarrassment. But in the long run it is the only solution. This is vital if you are going to launch out as a minister for the Lord. Secrecy can be fatal in the ministry. Jesus warned us about this: 22 For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light. Mark 4:22 NLT Without going back into the details of the Bill Clinton “affair”, it is fairly clear that if he had spoken up and admitted what he had done, history would be much “kinder to him”. Then it could not be said that he’s a philanderer and a liar! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			13 Each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 1 Corinthians 3:13 ESV 5 Therefore, don't judge anything before the appointed time. Wait until the Lord comes. He will also bring to light what is hidden in the dark and reveal people's motives. Then each person will receive praise from God. 1 Corinthians 4:5 GW 10 Now then, who are you to judge your brother or sister? Why do you look down on them? We will all stand in God's courtroom to be judged. 11 It is written, "'You can be sure that I live,' says the Lord. “And you can be just as sure that every knee will bow down in front of me. Every tongue will tell the truth to God.'" (Isaiah 45:23) 12 So we will all have to explain to God the things we have done. 13 Let us stop judging one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put anything in your brother's way that would make him trip and fall. Romans 14:10-13 NIrV 16 And this is the message I proclaim--that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone's secret life. Romans 2:16 NLT 22 In addition, the Father judges no one. Instead, He has given the Son absolute authority to judge, John 5:22 NLT 27 And He has given Him authority to judge everyone because He is the Son of Man. John 5:27 NLT 18 You show love to thousands but bring the punishment for the parents' sins into the laps of their children after them. Great and mighty God, whose name is the LORD Almighty, 19 great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to the ways of all; you reward everyone according to their conduct and as their deeds deserve. Jeremiah 32:18-19 TNIV	Do you have a secret you think nobody knows? Do you think it’s something you never will disclose? Have you done your very best to hide it far away? Perhaps you’ll be ashamed of it until your dying day? Was it done in secret where nobody can see? Have you done it often? Perhaps repeatedly? If the secret came out now, how is it you’d react? You know your character would be horribly attacked. You’d suffer great embarrassment and massive loss of face; And in the daily papers, experience disgrace? If this is a description of what it is you’ve done, Perhaps I just might help you to put it right old son. Think of our Lord Jesus and all that He went through. Nothing quite as serious will happen unto you. Handled like a charlatan and beaten with the lash, Accused of speaking blasphemy; they said that He was trash! Stripped till He was naked nailed upon a “tree”. Exposed to all creation; He died for you and me. Went through that embarrassment and suffered all that pain. So that evil people might all be born again. If He could go through this, for folk like me and you, Surely you can emulate the things which you must do. They won’t execute you; perhaps you’ll pay a fine? But you’ll have the approval of Jesus Christ Divine. Nothing more can happen. Perhaps you’ll go to jail? And you’ll be in the bosom of the God Who cannot fail. But if you confess it and say, “It was a sin”! “Master, come and help me this victory to win”. You will know His presence and He will set you free. Even in a prison, the Lord will be with thee. So stand up to the problem and face it like a man. Jesus Christ can do it. He always makes a plan. The worst thing you could ever do is turn and walk away. He desires to set you free upon this very day. He has the authority from God to be your judge. Don’t reject His offer and say you will not budge. Don’t think it is a secret. He’ll spread it far and wide! Those are the alternatives. What is it you decide? Jim Strickland – Written 9th July 2012