Time with Jesus - Friday, 09 March
2012
Hi all,
There
are times when we must admit that we should be standing on our heads. The world
we live in appears to be completely the opposite of what God’s Word informs us
about the Kingdom of God. The way to the top in the world is up. To get on in
the world we have to more or less fight our way until eventually we arrive at
the top of the muck heap. We then find that it is still a muck heap and the
cost in time, effort and getting past others leads to mental strain and burn
out. Furthermore, staying at the top requires industrial and political “clout”
which “takes the gilt off the ginger-bread”!
This
is not the way to the top in the Kingdom of God. In fact there is already
someone at the top. He is God. So don’t bother. But we are told that if we want
to be great in the Kingdom of God, we must be the servant of all. Now I don’t
know anyone in this world who is answerable to his servant. It doesn’t work
that way. But the Bible teaches that if I want to be “better than you” (the
statement is incongruent with Scripture) I must be your servant. The Politicians
have got it right. The UK is led by the Prime Minister. He/She is supposed to
be everyone’s servant. Perhaps someone will inform Mr Cameron in the UK of this
rather unpalatable requirement.
In
South Africa, at least we are honest. We have a President; the top man in a
huge bureaucracy which seems intent on self survival! In the Kingdom of God,
the secret is to die to self! Essentially, I’m told that the way up is down.
That’s what Jesus did. He laid His life down for all of us. In this life we get
a chance to try it. No man or woman has ever completely succeeded; although I’m
told that the late Mother Teresa came close.
The
one thing we are all taught in this life is that we get rewarded for effort;
the more the work, the greater the reward. So in the end we can all sing Frank
Sinatra’s favourite doctrine. “I did it my way!” Our libraries are stacked with
books telling us how to do it.
The
Kingdom of God is the opposite. Not one of us will be admitted on the basis of
what we have done. Admission is based on what Jesus did. Sure we have a part to
play. That part is faith in His finished work on Calvary! I’m not sure any of
us understand this. It goes against everything we’ve learned from infancy. But
we are talking about God’s Kingdom. So the best we can do is say, “Lord, if
that’s what you want, whom may I serve today?”
Today’s
meditation speaks of the song of the redeemed. It’s written slightly
differently, but with the same style as yesterday. It’s another attempt at my
trying to explain the inexplicable.
Blessings
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
The Sounds of the Redeemed
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The choir was
singing a wonderful song.
The four living
beings, they too sang along.
The twenty four
elders did more than just croon.
The hundred and
forty four thousand in tune!
All praising the
Saviour, who opened the way,
So all the
redeemed could enter and stay.
They sang in
amazement; for nothing at all
Had made any
worthy to answer His call.
His mercy alone
washed their sins far away.
He was the
reason they’d entered to stay.
Life through the
Spirit of mercy and grace,
Shown by the Saviour
to all in that place,
Had made it
possible, through faith alone.
“Sinners” could
come to His wonderful throne.
Mercy had given
them all they would need.
So they rejoiced
in God’s marvellous deed.
All had been
given a life that was new.
Trusting the
Master was all they need do!
How can this
possibly make any sense?
Jesus alone had
made full recompense.
No one could
brag of the things they had done.
All had been
given by Jesus, God’s Son.
So they gave glory
for the steadfast love;
Streaming to
them from the Father above.
He had been
faithful in every way,
So they could
come to the Father to stay.
Cleansed from
all sin by Him shedding His blood.
Pouring on men
in a glorious flood.
They give Him
glory, for He set us free!
All kings and
priests by His death on the tree!
From every
nation and from every tribe;
Every language
that we can describe;
People all
standing in front of His throne,
Praising His
Name for the love He has shown!
Dressed in white
linen with palms in their hands
Saved by our God
through the blood of the lamb.
Shouting aloud
and all praising His name.
“Thank You Lord
Jesus that you really came.
Jim Strickland
Written 9th March 2012
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