NOT PLAYING GAMES!

Time with Jesus - Sunday, 16 September 2012

Hi all,

Christianity is for anyone and everyone, regardless of nationality, culture or language. God loves all of us equally. At the same time, it is not a lifestyle for sissies. Although He is with you every step of the way, He expects us to be strong and courageous. It’s something like a top-class Paralympic athlete competing in the Games. There is one major difference. He wants us to finish the course. Failure is not an option!

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Sunday, 16 September 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	NOT PLAYING GAMES!
Have you enjoyed watching the Olympic and Paralympic Games on TV? It really was special. We only saw the final moments of that which the athletes have invested in time and effort to get there. Most of them didn’t even win a medal! Sure we cheer the winners. We should do. But how many of us identify with those who won silver or bronze medals. Many of the athletes were in tears because they didn’t get “gold”. It seems that there are no prizes for being second best! As Christians our hearts reach out to them. Not because we are better than them. Frankly I don’t have the dedication to sport that they do. The training, the pain and suffering to win a race. Why? It’s beyond me! There is a comparison between training for the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Christian life. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians expresses it as follows: 25 All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You're after one that's gold eternally. 1 Corinthians 9:25 MSG Eugene Peterson’s translation puts it in classic “Olympic Games” language. What we do not realise is that in the race of Christian life, there is only one person we have to beat. Ourselves! In a way, everything is the “wrong way round”. In London 2012, only one person in the race gets gold. They get it after they have won the race. In Christianity, we are informed that the “Gold medal” is awarded to everyone who finishes the race. To get “gold”, we have to keep on keeping on! Others may be faster and better than we are. But not in Jesus’ eyes. He sees us all as gold medal winners, if we complete the course. That’s encouraging. There is a sense in which we are running as “Paralympic” athletes. In London, the Paralympic contestants are divided into various groups so that people only compete against others similarly challenged. That’s quite correct and is considered fair. But in our race of life each of us is in a class of our own. Jesus sees you and me as unique. We don’t get categorised. We run against ourselves in a one person race. If we finish the course we win. The “gold” is there for the taking. If we finish the race, we’re in first place! The question is, will we finish? The Paralympics is a competition. But in the Christian race of life, we are not competing with others. The difference is that Satan and his bunch do everything they can to discourage and force us out of the race. In a way, we could say that most of the officials don’t want us to finish and use everything they know to keep us away from the finishing line. We can’t ignore them. We have to get past them. But we have the greatest Coach who ever lived on Earth. Jesus Christ. More than that, He runs with us. With Him, we will never be defeated. The “gold” is ours. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			5 For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favour lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. Psalms 30:5 NLT 3 We sent him so that no one would be upset by times of testing. You know very well that we have to go through them. 4 In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that our enemies would make us suffer. As you know very well, it has turned out that way. 1 Thessalonians 3:3-4 NIrV 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." John 16:33 ESV 15 Because I do what is right, I will enjoy your blessing. When I wake up, I will be satisfied because I will see you. Psalms 17:15 NIrV 12 The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing! God is putting the finishing touches on the salvation work he began when we first believed. Romans 13:12 MSG 4 Then he will be like the light of morning at sunrise when there aren't any clouds. He will be like the bright sun after rain that makes the grass grows on the earth.' 2 Samuel 23:4 NIrV 8 He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. Isaiah 25:8 ESV 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Revelation 21:4 NIV 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them. We will be taken up in the clouds. We will meet the Lord in the air. And we will be with him forever. 18 So cheer each other up with these words of comfort. 1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 NIrV	His anger lasts a moment. His favour lasts for life. No matter what our problems are; regardless of the strife, We know we’ll be delivered, the weeping soon be gone. The night will soon be over; with joy we’ll carry on. Don’t let pain and suffering cause us to fail the test. Go through the experience and in it we’ll blessed. Our enemies are doing it; the devil wants to smash, The followers of Jesus and cause our hopes to crash. We knew that it would happen. It’s what he’s always done. But we’ve received the victory through Christ, God’s only Son. The Lord said tribulation, was sure to come about. So it is going to happen. Of this, there is no doubt. Even in the midst of it, we’ll know His inner peace; No matter what they do to us, His love for us won’t cease. So let us be encouraged and let us all take heart. The Lord has overcome the world and Satan cannot part, Us from the love He has for us. The world cannot succeed, And tear us from God’s Kingdom and the life He helps us lead. Indeed it’s like a nightmare. Excruciating pain, Is what the devil uses. But it is all in vain. It only lasts a moment; and in eternity, The actual duration is just momentary. There’s really no comparison. It isn’t cause to quit. Pray and ask the Master to help you cope with it. He will not refuse you. He will not let you down. And in His Royal Kingdom, you’re sure to wear a crown. A woman in her labour will cry out in her pain. But when the child’s delivered, the thoughts within her brain, Will never be her anguish; she will be filled with joy, Because she cradles in her arms her baby girl or boy! Her suffering was worth it. She knows it very well. Even if she went through the very fires of hell, The joy which she experiences through her baby’s birth, Is more than all the treasures we find upon the earth. So let us all take courage. Our life on earth is short. Yes, there’s tribulation. Satan will resort To anything available, to keep you from the Lord. But Jesus is the One Who should be worshipped and adored. Nothing is worth keeping! He’ll dry up all our tears; He will swallow death and put an end to time and years. We will live forever and be with God Most High. If we follow Jesus ‘til the instant that we die. Jim Strickland – Written 16th September 2012