THE HIGHWAY OF HOLINESS

Time with Jesus - Thursday, 06 December 2012

Hi all,

How do we express our love for someone? Perhaps the best way is to be consistently truthful. The most diabolical lie imaginable is to tell them you love them when you don’t. It an agonising experience. You love someone and to suddenly find out that they have never loved you is devastating blow. There is no question that truth goes hand in hand with holiness. God would not be holy if He told us He loved us when in fact He didn’t. So we start our journey of life on the Highway of Holiness by being truthful! That’s today’s meditation.

Blessings,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Thursday, 06 December 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	THE HIGHWAY OF HOLINESS
One of my late father’s favourite expressions was, “He is a bigger liar than Tom Pepper”. Be that as it may, the question remains, “Who was Tom Pepper”? It is thought his name originates from Naval Expressions (Nelson’s time), who, according to nautical tradition, was kicked out of hell for being a bigger liar than His Satanic Majesty. The term is mentioned by J. A. Gardner in his "Recollections," and appears to have been in use in 1787." If this is the case, believe it or not, I’ve worked with one of his offspring. Sadly, during my sojourn through this life I’ve come across many of them in English speaking Christianity. They may still have one or two tricks to learn from their antecedents but they are making great strides to be another Tom Pepper. Now I certainly don’t want to pretend to be free from lies myself. A better expression may be “economic with truth”. What bothers me is that in the Book of Revelation we are told: 8 But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars--their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulphur. This is the second death." Revelation 21:8 NLT. Now I don’t pretend to be an expert in interpreting Revelation. But when I read this portion of Scripture I am drawn to the conclusion that the people cast into the lake of fire included Christians and non-Christians. So, if you are one of those included in terms of this passage, the fact that you made a commitment to Jesus Christ 20 years ago is irrelevant. The essence of this really is where does the “work” of God cease and the “work” of man begin. Extreme Calvinists will tell you that everything has been predestined. So if God chose to save me, I am saved whether I want it or not. Mankind has no influence on the decision. It’s God’s will and is irresistible. At the other end of the scale we have some believers who believe that they are saved by baptism. From then on, we must live a sin free life. But logic tells us you cannot love God or anyone else by command. Love can only be love if it comes voluntarily from the heart. Furthermore, God could have made robots to do that. He didn’t. He gave us freedom of choice. Freedom of choice must therefore be inviolable. He has given it and He will not change it at all in any way. You cannot predestine freedom of choice. That would not be freedom at all. As the Divine Omniscient God, He knows what I will choose. But He will not “make me” do it. I like to explain the difference in terms of giving money to God. I can do so because He commands it. But if He touches me such that I want to express my love for Him, my hand will go into my pocket and give Him all I possess. Not because I have to, but because I want to express my love for Him truthfully. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			5 Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. Psalm 25:5 ESV 13 But when the Friend comes, the Spirit of the Truth, he will take you by the hand and guide you into all the truth there is. He won't draw attention to himself, but will make sense out of what is about to happen and, indeed, out of all that I have done and said. John 16:13 MSG 20 But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given you His Spirit, and all of you know the truth. 1 John 2:20 NLT 20 They should go to the teachings and to the written instructions. If people don't speak these words, it is because it doesn't dawn on them. Isaiah 8:20 GW 15 You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work. 2 Timothy 3:15-17 NLT 8 The LORD says, "I will instruct you. I will teach you the way that you should go. I will advise you as my eyes watch over you. Psalms 32:8 GW 22 "Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. Matthew 6:22 NLT 17 Those who want to follow the will of God will know if what I teach is from God or if I teach my own thoughts. John 7:17 GW 8 And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. Isaiah 35:8 ESV	It’s all about our holiness and how we have behaved. It’s all about our thought life and the things for which we’ve craved. It’s all about our attitude and how we glorify, The King of Kings eternal; and how we magnify, The only One Who matters. The only One Who cares. The only One Who loves us and listens to our prayers. This is the truth You’ve taught us, on which we can rely. From before time started, ‘til eternity’s passed by. Your Word says that You knew us before we had been born. That from Your loving fingers, we never can be torn. Such absolute security! Above what we can think. You are the source of everything. You are our food and drink! The Captain of Salvation who came and looked for me When I was more disgusting than anyone can be. Why did you even bother? Why should you care at all? The God of all infinity! To love someone so small That an electron microscope would never spot a thing! And You say I am sheltered ‘neath the shadow of Your wing. You sent to us Your Spirit. He took us by the hand, To lead us and to guide us, into Your Promised Land. The One Who breathed the Scriptures into the minds of men. Who watches us and steers us, in ways beyond our ken! The One Who gives instruction and points the way to go. The only One, by Whom Your truth, each one of us may know! The “author” of the “Handbook” by which we all must live And even when we “miss it” You say that You forgive. What sort of Being is this? Perfect in every way! And yet You dwell with sinful men who long to disobey! O Lord, How do You do it! I’m sure I’d flee the scene, If I was with a person half as bad as I have been. But You keep persevering and getting us equipped. When we would all have given up and some of us had “flipped”! And later, on reflection, we see how we have grown. In spite of all the wild oats each one of us have sown. So lead us to that Highway where Holiness abounds. Where sin is swiftly banished and righteousness is found. Help us Lord to get there and from it never stray. And all of our ambitions are focused on Your way! Jim Strickland  Written 6th December 2012