Time with Jesus - Tuesday, 28 February
2012
Hi all,
It was
a Sunday evening in October 1960. I had just committed my life to Jesus Christ
as Saviour and Lord. For most of the next couple of days, Jesus Christ thrilled
and excited me. Then, progressively, over the next few weeks, doubts started to
multiply in my heart. These doubts are best summed up by the question, “How do
you know you have been saved?
I
must admit, apart from being excited about Jesus Christ, everything seemed so
normal. I didn’t feel any different. In fact, I felt much the same as I had
done before my conversion. I distinctly remember being shown words in the
Bible. “So what”, I kept on asking? “What is this all about? What is there
about the Bible I can trust? There was very little in it I could understand
anyway. Furthermore what had the antics of a bunch ex Egyptian slaves, roaming
round the wilderness carrying a weird tent and its furniture got to do with it?
Genesis and Exodus were easy enough to read; but what about all those odd regulations
and sacrificial rituals in Leviticus? Where was God in all this? Where was Jesus?
Furthermore, why should I trust it? They said it was the Word of God. But how
did I know it was God’s Word? Everything was as clear as mud and twice as
murky. I didn’t know it then, but I was experiencing a head on attack by Satan
or one of his pals. I think I would have quit, but I was quite enjoying it and
getting to know the other young people in the church; especially the girls. Sometimes
I think I was attracted to Christianity by the ladies. O well at least I’m
willing to admit it!
Then
something very important happened. I started attending the Prudhoe Street
Mission on Saturday afternoons. Shortly thereafter I began responding to calls
for salvation. I kept going to the front regularly. I needed assurance of
salvation. The people helped me considerably. Then came 1961 and Billy Graham’s
Greater Manchester Crusade. They wanted counsellors. I volunteered on the basis
that it would help me with my understanding of being a Christian. I didn’t get
to meet Billy Graham. But the counselling and choir sessions were being led by
Cliff Barrows in the Prudhoe Street Mission. It was during these training
sessions that I began “soaking up” Christian truth and getting answers to my
questions. Of course, I didn’t get all the answers. What I did get was a
passion for Jesus that is with me today.
This
experience taught me one unforgettable lesson. I learned that God is greater
than my heart. I had so many questions that needed answering. But somehow, He
kept me going on with everything. In other words, His Word was bigger than my
doubts. I felt condemned by what I didn’t understand. But He was and is greater
than my feelings! Now I try and keep short accounts with God. By regular confession
and repentance I’m able to stay close to Him. As a result, the words in John’s first
epistle help me continue. 20 It's also
the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something
to it. For God is greater than our worried
hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves. 21 And friends, once
that's taken care of and we're no longer accusing or condemning ourselves,
we're bold and free before God! 1 John 3:20-21 MSG
All
this comes from beginning to know the Word of God. No longer are there any
questions in my mind concerning its validity.
Today’s
meditation deals with Divine love and assurance.
Blessings
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
Blinded by Love
No matter
where we run to, from God we cannot hide.
He knows
us intimately; what’s going on inside,
The heart of
every person. Be they Christian or not,
The way
that we react to Him. That puts us on the spot.
He
penetrates our Spirit, with light ineffable;
And He continues
doing it. He carries on until,
We come to
the position, where we have made Him Lord.
Where sin
has been defeated, by His great and mighty sword.
He doesn’t
take a holiday. The Lord is never tired.
He knows
our every motive for the things we have desired.
The things
we think are hidden, in the recess of our soul,
Are lit
up like a lighthouse to display our every goal.
Adam couldn’t
fool Him from the time he ate the fruit.
He’d
disobeyed the Master. The man could not refute,
His terrible
exposure, to the God Who reigns on high.
And
understand because of it, that He was bound to die.
Humanity had
fallen. With all destined for hell.
Until the
Saviour came and rang the “liberation” bell;
And by the
Holy Spirit, could break the bonds of sin;
Return
again to Father and truly enter in.
But still we
have a problem, for Satan’s on the prowl.
He hunts
around to get us like a predatory owl.
But he is
unsuccessful, if Jesus is our King.
And we
desire to serve Him much more than anything!
Christ
provides the method, by the Holy Spirit’s power,
For Christians
to be “sinless”, every moment, every hour.
Confession
and repentance from sin will keep us clean;
And He
will keep us spotless, no matter where we’ve been.
But Satan is
a liar. He tells us we are lost.
He says
that we are wicked; and we must pay the cost,
Of something
that’s forgiven. He makes us feel condemned;
And that
it is impossible to ever make amends.
But God has
made a promise and assures us we are saved.
That we
have been forgiven for the way that we’ve behaved.
Perhaps our
heart condemns us, but God is so much more.
And He’s
the One to turn to, to obtain the final score.
His truth
brings the assurance of the facts about our fate.
While we
are serving Jesus, the devil is too late!
God’s given
us the victory, no matter how we feel.
And we
can keep on serving Him with fervency and zeal.
So do not be
misguided; Satan’s lies can make you blind.
But while
you are obedient, God love is what you’ll find!
Jim Strickland – Written Tuesday, 28 February 2012
