Thursday, April 5, 2012

YOUR OPEN INVITATION


Time with Jesus - Friday, 06 April 2012
Hi all,
In the Scriptures today, Isaiah 9:6 appears three times as indicated in the quote. 6 A child will be born for us. A son will be given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. He will be named: (1) Wonderful Counsellor, (2) Mighty God, Everlasting Father, (3) Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 GW I’ve combined two of them to preserve the quoted Scripture portion to manageable proportions.
I’ve often wondered why we are told that, 1) a child will be born for us and 2) a son will be given to us. At first I thought it was just semantics. So I consulted a couple of commentaries. The Believer’s Bible Commentary stated: The First Advent is described in verse 6a: "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given." The first clause speaks of His humanity, the second of His deity: Isaiah 9:6
This made a lot of sense and I’ve incorporated this into today’s meditation. Thus you find them highlighted in the Scripture portion and emphasised in the poetry portion.
The meditation has been compiled as a dialog with the Lord. The two colours make it easier to follow. The topic emphasises Jesus’ Humanity and His Divinity to assist us understand the Scripture.
I wonder what was in Isaiah’s mind when he wrote this Scripture. Seldom were the prophets even remotely aware that their words were inspired by the Holy Spirit. I suspect that if they had been, they would have been terrified. The insight was so “normal” that they had no clue of Divine influence. I’ve noticed this in my own life. On the odd occasion when I’ve been used by the Lord in any capacity, it was so normal that I was completely unaware what was taking place. For this I thank God. I’m sure that if something abnormal took place whereby I was convinced that what I was about to say or do was motivated by the Lord, I would have run away! It’s altogether too awesome to consider seriously!
Many years ago I heard a man speak about this in his own life. The comments above more or less correspond with what he said. He was afraid of getting into pride because of what happened. This terrifies me too. If I knew that my next few words were directly from the Lord, I think I would be struck dumb. It’s not something to brag about but something very humbling.
The meditation is an open invitation for people to come to Him. The invitation is open to us from birth to death. After that the opportunity has gone.
Blessings
Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Your Open Invitation

To know Him is to trust Him. This is forever true!
But you will never know Him, until He’s met with you.
It seems a contradiction and also rather odd.
But if we are to know Him, we first must meet with God.
But where’s the invitation for us to go and meet?
Is it in the market place or on a busy street?
This is the burning question in more that just one sense.
For if we’re not in contact, what will be your defence,
If He turns round and says to you, “You never even tried,
To come and meet your Maker. No effort on your side,
Was made by you to contact Me. You seldom had the time,
For anyone except yourself. This is your greatest crime.
My doors were ever open and just one little prayer,
Was all you ever needed; but you just didn’t care.
There were too many baubles attracting you away!
And there was never time enough to hear what I would say.
You missed out on the blessings through the power of My Name.
To you, your sojourn on the earth, was just a little game.
And yet a child was born to you, an ordinary man.   Isaiah 9:6 - Humanity
Deliberately chosen to fit into My plan.
He had to take on Satan and never ever sin.
A person fully human to represent your kin,
Or He would be disqualified. An angel wouldn’t do.
He had to be a person, a man the same as you.
Yet in his full humanity, He had to be Divine;
And so a Son was given. The only Son of Mine.      Isaiah 9:6 - Divinity
Humanity united with Divinity in One.
A sinless individual whom man could look upon.
He came here as a servant. No title and no rank.
And by the very life He lived, the “ship of Satan” sank!
Each moment He was on the earth He had to spend with me.
Yet represent your people simultaneously!
So why was it so difficult? For you one little glance,
Would be of such sufficiency, that you would have the chance,
To live with us forever! But you would not comply.
So you must reap the consequence. Indeed you have to die,
Outside of the protection that I had offered you.
You showed you didn’t want it; and I’ll respect your view.
Your lifestyle demonstrated the way you wish to go.
Do not try and lie to Me and say you didn’t know!
My brother or my sister, you’ll surely rue the day,
If you reject the Master before you pass away.
Spend some time with Jesus. If you’ll invite Him in,
You will not know the consequence of your disgusting sin.
Repent and cry out to Him, to be one of His own.
Then follow in obedience, the way His Word has shown,
Jim Strickland – Written 6th April 2012