FOREVER NEAR

Time with Jesus - Monday, 28 May 2012

Hi all,

The race of life we are running in is an extraordinary one. Paul tells us to run as to win. We are also told that there is a “Crown of Life” laid up for the “ Over-comer”. So which one is right? The answer is, both are true. A Christian must finishes the race. He/she must also run to win. I've found in life that my opponent is me! That’s our meditation

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Monday, 28 May 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
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INTRODUCTION			DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	FOREVER NEAR
Schooldays were great fun. Getting to know the guys in the class and watching them develop into manhood was an experience that’s hard to forget. Occasionally, I look back at my old school photographs. I was with most of them for nine years apart from the odd times when I was elsewhere at a different school. The class photographs are a bit eerie! The same guys shown in short pants with school socks and “toothy” smiles have grown up and are barely recognisable. It’s not difficult to follow their and my development, adds a touch of pathos to revisiting the photographs. Sadly some of them have died far too young! In 2009 most of us attended our 50 year matric reunion. That’s when the changes were really obvious and “fallen comrades” were really missed. In an odd way we remembered them best as we knew them years before. It’s easy to remember the good times we had together. The bad times, when we had been in trouble at school were not forgotten but were raised as something to laugh about. At our 50 year reunion we had a look at the sports team photographs. We found that five members from the under-13 school rugby team were present. So we took another picture. We doubted if any of us could “go the distance” in a 90 minute rugby match. Those of us present doubted that we could do well against the current under-13 team. But it was fun. I was never much good at sport. A wee bit too large round the girth if you follow my drift. A bit too timid for competitive rugby and not good at athletics; the only sport I was any good at was cricket. Not good enough for the first team so I was relegated to keeping wicket (rather badly) for the second team. Since there were only two teams it wasn’t much of an achievement. In those days in school, sport was “played” for fun. Win or lose didn’t matter. Winning was easy. Losing was a bit disappointing. But we were back in the classroom on the Monday morning with another week in front of us. We had enjoyed the exercise but the outcome was not critical. In real life after school, sport changed rapidly. The sporting attitudes displayed so brilliantly in Chariots of Fire had passed away. That’s when I first came across the phrase, “There are no prizes for coming second”. I felt it was very unfair! Then I became a Christian. Suddenly I found that we are all in a competition. It’s a lifetime marathon. The prize is given to everyone who finishes the course. No prize for quitters! I found that my biggest competition came from me! Age, health, size and gender didn’t matter. If you completed this marathon, you received a crown of life! The Lord and His angels want us to finish the marathon. They help wherever possible. Lord, please help me finish. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			24 Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 1 Corinthians 9:24 NLT 13 The loafer says, "There's a lion on the loose! If I go out I'll be eaten alive!" Proverbs 22:13 MSG 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV 1 Since we have these promises, dear friends, we need to cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit and live a holy life in the fear of God. 2 Corinthians 7:1 GW 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14 ESV 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:26-27 NLT 31 Those who use the things of the world should not become all wrapped up in them. The world as it now exists is passing away. 1 Corinthians 7:31 NIrV 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 14 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. 2 Peter 3:13-14 ESV 13 Therefore, your minds must be clear and ready for action. Place your confidence completely in what God's kindness will bring you when Jesus Christ appears again. 1 Peter 1:13 GW	They all came to the stadium the objective was to run, The aged and the crippled all thought it would be fun. The little tiny children, the old ones in wheel-chairs. Men and women, boys and girls. As singles and in pairs. They didn’t look athletic. The short, the fat, the tall. No person was excluded; they responded to the call. If you looked closely at them, you’d see that some were scared. As though they were attempting that which they hardly dared. They came up to the starting line, they knew they would succeed. Others came reluctantly afraid to do the deed. The fittest ones stood at the front. The others stood behind. The sick, the lame and lazy, the halt, the lame, the blind. They were the strangest people who thought “This can’t be done”! And Our Lord and Saviour, set off the starter’s gun. The fastest of the runners had wings upon their heels. They shot off like a rocket charged by their mighty zeal. To run and keep on running so they could win the prize. And be some sort of “hero” in everybody’s eyes. Some started off so badly, they’d hardly run a yard, When they began to grumble and say, “It’s far too hard”. But, miracle of miracles, though they were far from fit. Not one of them decided that it was time to quit. Take a closer look at them and tell me what you see. Jesus and an angel were with them constantly. So as they found the difficulty far too much to do. They heard a word behind them, “I’ll always be with you”. And so it hardly mattered that they could hardly cope. For Jesus filled their being with, love and faith and hope. The first one reached the finish line and Christ was standing there. He gave to him a victor’s crown. “I think this will take care Of trials and tribulations, you noticed in the race” And then He gave the same reward to him in second place. At last all the contestants had crossed the winning line. “My good and faithful servant, you really have done fine! Your biggest competition, My son, it came from you. With all your disadvantages you really couldn’t do, The things which you had wanted. But you have won the prize. You didn’t come in last of all and truly, in My eyes, This crown of life is yours to wear for you have overcome; All that Satan tried to steal from you; My “special son”. I don’t reward the fastest, just those who persevere. So take your place with Me My son. With you, I’m always near. Jim Strickland Written 28th May 2012