Time with Jesus - Friday, 27
January 2012
Hi all,
The
goodness of God! What can we say? At times it seems impossible for us to even
get a glimpse of His infinite goodness. Today’s Scriptures make this abundantly
clear.
So
how great is His goodness? I’m reminded of the comment that when Jesus was
asked how big His love was, He stretched His arms out wide and then He died.
What can any of us say in the face of love and goodness this big? Any attempt
to express it in any language is doomed to failure. The context of the
following quote from 1st Samuel 3 is not correct for the quote. But
the sentiments are 100% accurate. “He is the Lord. He will do as He thinks
best. 18 So Samuel told him everything.
He didn't hide anything from him. Then Eli said, "He is the LORD. Let him do what he thinks is best." 1 Samuel 3:18 NIrV
There
have been occasions, particularly in connection with salvation, when someone
has told me that he or she is a good person. My response is to ask if I they
will permit me to shake their hand, because I’ve never met a good person
before. The comment by Jesus was 18 "Why
do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. Mark 10:18 ESV I then add, “So I’m in the presence
of someone who is good?” This usually brings the individual back to reality.
But
this little “put down” cannot conceal the goodness of God. God is good. (Period)
As Moses, God’s spokesman, said to the Israelites before handing over to
Joshua. 19 "Today I have given you
the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on
heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so
that you and your descendants might live! 20 You can make this
choice by loving the LORD your God, obeying Him, and committing yourself firmly
to Him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the LORD, you
will live long in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob." Deut 30:19-20 NLT
Something
of His goodness is revealed here. He tells them to choose blessing or curses.
Then He tells them to choose life. This is approaching the ultimate in
goodness. Only the goodness of Jesus exceeds this.
In
today’s meditation I’ve chosen to use God’s words. “Choose Life”. There is no
way that I can express it any better than this.
Blessings
Jim & Phyllida Strickland.
Choose Life
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We’re standing at the junction,
of a most important street.
And which is the direction that
will not bring defeat?
One way leads to heaven. The
other leads to hell.
Which is the correct one? We
really cannot tell.
Of course we can be foolish and
camp there on the road,
Delaying a decision and
carrying our load.
The choice is ours entirely. No
man may tell us “Nay!”
So what is it that we must do
upon this crucial day?
For many it is simple. They’ll
merely ask their wife,
Which one of these alternatives
leads to eternal life?
But that is not acceptable. The
husband takes the lead.
It’s his responsibility where
both of them will feed.
Another way to do it is gaze
upon the way.
Is it broad and easy, on which
we all can play?
Is it straight and narrow with
only room for one,
So one behind each other is the
way to carry on?
Jesus told us plainly, to take
the narrow road.
The broad way is quite certain,
to be disaster’s mode.
There is a simple answer to, “Which
way will be correct?”
Ask the Holy Spirit to come and
to direct,
Into the way that’s suitable
for you to walk along.
Listen very carefully; you will
not get it wrong.
For God will always show you
the right and proper route;
A way that is impossible for
any to refute.
He want’s you to be with Him. He
doesn’t want to see,
The death of any person through
their own stupidity.
He wants to give eternal life.
He wants us at His side.
He wants us for the Saviour; to
be His precious bride.
He wants us to be perfect! He
wants us to be whole!
He wants to save our spirit,
our body and our soul.
He wants us to be numbered
among His chosen folk,
Who’re thrilled to be His
servants and wear His pleasant yoke.
So as He said to Israel before
His servant died,
“I’ve offered you both life and death. It’s you who must decide.
Choose to have the blessing. Do not choose the curse.
I will not prevent it. I will not reverse,
What you have decided. So I say to you,
Choose life! It is the finest thing that you will ever do!”
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