Time with Jesus - Friday, 14
September 2012
Hi all,
Fellowship and Faith: Do they go together? Well,
without faith there can be no fellowship and without fellowship, there can be
no faith. Today’s meditation looks at this.
Blessings
Jim
& Phyllida Strickland
Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – Friday, 14 September 2012
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
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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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FAITH FOR FELLOWSHIP
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“Friendship
with Jesus, fellowship divine,
Oh what wonderful communion. Jesus is a friend of mine”.
Do you remember singing this song or one of its
slight variations? A good friend told me that the tune was that of an old
“Negro Spiritual”. We shouldn’t be surprised. For many years, “Psalms, Hymns
and Spiritual Songs” have been put to the tunes of the day. I’m told that the
Wesley brothers used the tunes of their day and composed wonderful hymns of
praise and worship to God. The people sang them with great gusto. It’s not
quite so easy today. We find that the words and tunes are copy-right
protected. I’ve sometimes wondered what the words were before the Wesley
brothers “saved” the tunes for God’s glory! It does happen. I understand that
Cliff Richards had a small problem along these lines. He took the song “I Did
It My Way” and wrote the words, “I Did It His Way” He was only able to sing
it once. He was informed that he had infringed copy-right and that was the
end of that. I wish I had heard back then. I like Cliff’s singing anyway.
I’ve done the same thing now and then. But I’ve
never had an opportunity to sing my version in public. Just as well I
suppose. One song I distinctly remember was called “Vincent”. It was the
tribute to Vincent Van Gogh and was very popular at the time. The version I
composed was a tribute to Jesus Christ. The words are different. The tune is
the same. If you put your ear right next to the speaker of your computer, you
might hear me sing it for you. Probably not!
This whole copy-right thing is a bit of a problem. I
know that writers and composers should be entitled to some form of financial
return for their effort. What that should be and how it should work is a
horse of a different colour. How do you reward someone for what they like
doing? We are all confronted with this to one degree or other. Many people
love their job of work. They are so devoted to it that they are willing to commit
all their time to it. I know this because I’ve met people who have made their
passion in life their means of employment. Professional football players and
their ilk fall into this category. I suppose great orchestra conductors are
similarly devoted. At the other end of the scale we have those who dislike
their job with a passion that is hard to understand. Those who are forced to
work in sweat shops fall into this category.
Being free and with the right to choose your own
destiny appears to be very much a by-product of those who love the Lord Jesus
Christ. It’s simple to see why. The fact is, no one can be compelled to love.
Freedom and love go together as a unique combination. They are a by-product
of a relationship with Jesus Christ. This was one of the great tragedies of
apartheid. For it to “work” it had to be enforced. It was an unrighteous and
illegitimate concept in the first place. There was no room for love in such
an environment. There was no way it could continue indefinitely. Ultimately
it would implode at the expense of the people it sought to control. That’s
what happened.
Today it is part of our dark and tragic past. There
was a popular song that describes what had happened so well. The words are, “The song has ended, but the melody lingers on”.
Our country will only know fellowship and enjoy peace when we are united in
Jesus Christ. It could happen! Will it?
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
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9 God
is faithful, by whom you were called into the
fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Corinthians 1:9 ESV
17
Jesus resplendent with light from God the Father as the voice of Majestic
Glory spoke: "This is my Son, marked by my
love, focus of all my delight."
2 Peter 1:17 MSG
1 How great is the love the Father has given us so
freely! Now we can be called children of God. And that's what we
really are! The world doesn't know us because it didn't know him.
1 John 3:1 NIrV
1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved
children
Ephesians 5:1 NIV
17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and
co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order
that we may also share in his glory.
Romans 8:17 TNIV
3 This Son perfectly mirrors God, and is stamped with
God's nature. He holds everything together by what he says--powerful
words! After he finished the sacrifice for sins, the Son took his honoured
place high in the heavens right alongside God,
Hebrews 1:3 MSG
16
"In the same way, let your light shine in
front of others. Then they will see the good things you do. And they will
praise your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:16 NIrV
2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our
faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2 ESV
13
"I am coming to you now. But I say these
things while I am still in the world. I say them so that those you gave me
can have all my joy inside them.
John 17:13 NIrV
5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of
Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.
2 Corinthians 1:5 TNIV
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Jesus Christ is faithful. That’s
how He’s always been.
He’s utterly reliable, regardless
where we’ve been.
We don’t know why He does it. He’s
always been this way;
And even if we ask Him, we know
what He will say.
“Right back at the creation, We
knew what was required.
A creature that would follow us and
do what was desired.
We didn’t want a robot. Some
strange automaton,
Without a mind to think with, but
would just carry on,
Doing what we told it. We’d make
them by the score.
Not one of them can love you. That
is their fatal flaw.
The purpose was to fellowship with
people who were free.
To choose that which they wanted
and turn away from Me.
We wanted men and women, whom We
would not control.
A people who would love Us with all
their heart and soul.
We knew that it was dangerous. The
whole lot could rebel,
And choose their independence; But
would they love as well?
It could have taken ages. But not
for Deity.
We knew the best solution,
instantaneously!
And that’s when We decided that We
could then proceed.
And so We put in motion that first
creative deed.
The rest of it is history. It isn’t
a mere tale.
We know how it will all work out in
minuscule detail.
Realise We love you; you’re
children of the Lord.
Please do not be frightened; do not
be overawed.
Our love is given freely There
isn’t any charge.
We’ve made it all available to all
the world at large.
Many folk don’t know us. It really
is a shame;
They can find salvation by calling
on My Name!
Be an imitator and copy My lifestyle.
That’s the way that You should go
to make Our Father smile.
None of you are servants. You are
joint heirs with Me.
Moulded in My image, from sin and
death set free!
No! You cannot feel it. Believe it
is a fact.
You will only know it when you begin
to act,
And live within the compass of that
which I have said;
Following My Spirit, the way that
He has led.
Put aside timidity. Let your light
be seen;
Other folk will see you, and know
where you have been.
Then they’ll praise My Father for
all that He has done;
And want to be a follower of Me,
His Holy Son.
Soon I will be with you. Shortly
I’ll return;
Bringing the reward for faith that
nobody can earn!
Freely I have given. Freely do the
same.
And you’ll know the fellowship of those
who love My Name.
Jim Strickland – Written 14th September
2012
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