Time with Jesus - Wednesday, 21
March 2012
Hi all,
I’d
like to share a couple of thoughts about today’s Scriptures; particularly Psalm
136. These are only thoughts and may well be incorrect. But sometimes it’s
worth stimulating thoughts in order to understand more clearly.
In
the New International readers Version (NIrV), in Psalm 136, nine times the Psalmist
directs us to give thanks. Twenty six times he states that God’s love endures
forever. 26 Give thanks to the God of
heaven. His faithful love continues forever. Psalm
136:26 NIrV.
Like
the Psalm, no matter how short or long our lives may be, we find God’s steadfast
love at the beginning and at the end. We also find that, as is the case in the
Psalm, we begin life giving thanks to God. We should end the same way; by giving
thanks to God. In between there is life – our life.
A
generation is thought of as being ±25 years. It’s only
a rough guess. In a family, from the birth of the father to the birth of his
son is ±25 years. Now our Psalm has 26 lines. What I like about
this is we can see this Psalm applies to every generation! May I suggest that
this Psalm also speaks to every individual in every generation? i.e. We are all
able to personalise it! We don’t live forever, God does. His faithful love
spans all our generations. It also spans each year of each generation. He is
faithful – equally faithful to all our generations.
Notice
also that the Psalm starts with giving thanks and ends with giving thanks.
Furthermore, throughout the Psalm and throughout our lives it is appropriate to
give thanks to Him. We should begin life giving Him thanks and no matter how long
we live, we need to conclude life giving Him thanks.
Today’s
meditation bemoans the fact that our lifespan is limited. Biblically we are
allotted 70years. 80 years if we are strong enough. We only have one chance in
life. No Matter where we are or what we do, keep in mind that this is not a dress
rehearsal. In these few years we determine our eternal destiny. We come into
this world naked and leave much the same.
According
to Shakespeare; life is “a walking shadow ……. signifying nothing”. But death is
not the end! There is life after life. Life with God made possible by Jesus!
God planned it before you and I ever saw the light of day. God changes shadows
into reality. Furthermore, God is our Creator. He specialises in making
something out of nothing. He has a destiny for His people; a destiny that staggers
our imagination. So let’s give thanks to Him. His faithful love continues forever!
Blessings
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
His Faithful love Endures forever
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We only have one lifetime in
which to do it all.
A strong man has some eighty
years before death comes to call.
Our time is very limited. It
goes by in a flash.
A bit like our athletics in the
hundred metres dash.
There goes the starter’s pistol
and each of us is born.
We reach the finish ribbon and
from this world we’re torn.
We really do not have the time
for us to make mistakes.
Then we do something stupid and
sin within us wakes.
That’s when the chance is over
to get to God Most High.
Our actions have condemned us
and we all have to die.
Of course we’re disappointed
that it all came down to this.
But just one little tiny sin
and death we cannot miss.
We think that it’s “game over”
the message tells us “tilt”
Then we are very grateful that
Jesus’ blood was spilt.
It is the one way possible to
know the Father’s love.
His faithfulness continues and
reaches high above.
Since Jesus came and paid the
price for each and every sin.
We now have what is needed for
us to enter in.
His love endures forever. He
will not let us down.
The Lord gave me His
righteousness and lets me wear a crown.
He’s overlooked rebellion and
wickedness in me
It’s by His grace He does this
and it is ours for free.
The cost to us was nothing. But
grace is never cheap.
It’s by His endless mercy His
blessings we may reap.
It cost the Saviour everything.
He even had to die.
He suffered for our sinfulness
and here’s the reason why.
Mankind was truly helpless. We
couldn’t get away.
We were the slaves of Satan.
With him we had to stay.
Just because our ancestor did
what he shouldn’t do!
All of his successors had
fallen with him too.
But Christ knew all about it
before the worlds were made.
His cross was predetermined;
the foundation was laid,
For Him to come and rescue us
and be our Great High Priest.
And He could be the Saviour of
the greatest and the least.
So even in our sufferings, when
we had lost all hope,
He knew what He was doing and was
certain He could cope!
And so he brought us comfort;
our greatest fears allayed.
And by His willing sacrifice,
our debt to God was paid.
Jim Strickland
Written Wednesday 21st March 2012.
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