Time with Jesus - Friday, 22 June
2012
Hi all,
We are living at a time when
“love” means whatever you want it to mean. Most of these meanings have nothing
at all to do with what God intended it to mean. 16 "For God loved the
world so much that He gave His one and only
Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 NLT Real love gives itself away!
Blessings
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
|
Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – Friday, 22 June 2012
|
Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
||||||||
|
©
|
These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and
copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided
it is for non-commercial Christian purposes
|
©
|
||||||||
|
INTRODUCTION
|
DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
|
TRUE
LOVE
|
||||||||
|
Love.
Most people think that love is just another four letter word! What it really
means is just about the opposite of what it really is. “I love, my granny”. “I
love ice cream”. “I love lying in bed in the mornings”. “I love dancing”. “I love
my wife”. “I love ‘sexy dames’”. The only thing these statements have in
common is the word “love”. What is meant in each case is different. Very
different!
The
main difficulty here is the limitations of the English language. Four
different Greek words are all translated “love” in most of our Bibles. The
KJV uses the word “charity” in a number of instances. The following two
translations from 1st Corinthians show this very well
The
word “charity” and “love” are the same words in Greek (I’m told) I found this
confusing. We have the expressions, “as cold as charity” and “charity begins
at home” along with “donations to charity”. I’ve been tempted to change my
name to Mr Charity and collect other people’s money on this basis. But I
managed to resist the temptation.
Back
in the 1980’s one of the very popular Gospel singers was Don Francisco. As
well as being an accomplished composer, he was also a talented guitarist. He
had a remarkable repertoire one of which was called, “Love is not a feeling,
it’s an act of the will”. We Christians need to have that statement “etched”
into our minds. A little earlier, in the 1960’s Julie Andrews sang a song in
“My Fair Lady” called “Show Me!”
Both
songs make the point that merely saying, “I love you!” is inadequate. As the
earlier statements in today’s introduction illustrated, love is not something
we talk about, it’s something we do. Love demands action. In the past, men
have crossed oceans to get near the woman they loved. As a teenager, I walked
miles to be with my girlfriend.
In
Christianity, we have the most outstanding example of love that could
possibly be expressed. Jesus Christ came to this world and gave His life for
His friends. More than that, He gave His life for His enemies. He was not
compelled to do so. He chose to do it. Part of the Gethsemane account shows
us that He didn’t want to do it. He could have stood up and walked away. He
didn‘t. He went to the cross for you and me. Could I do that? Could you? But
His example is the one we must follow. As a husband, I am expected to lay
down my life for my wife. Actually, it’s not a suggestion; it’s one of His
commands. We are told “greater love has no man than this. To lay down his
life for his friend. Will I? Will you?
Jim
and Phyllida Strickland
|
36
The Jews said, "Look how deeply he loved him."
John 11:36 MSG
14 Either way, Christ's
love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe
that we have all died to our old life. 15 He died for everyone so that those who receive His new
life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ,
who died and was raised for them.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 NLT
13 There is no greater love than to lay down one's life
for one's friends.
John 15:13 NLT
25
Therefore He is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through
Him. He lives forever to intercede with God on
their behalf.
Hebrews 7:25 NLT
2 My
Father's house has many rooms. If that were not true, would I have told you
that I'm going to prepare a place for you?
3 If I go to prepare a place for you, I
will come again. Then I will bring you into my presence so that you will be
where I am.
John 14:2-3 GW
24
"Father, I want those you have given me to
be with me where I am. I want them to see my glory, the glory you have
given me. You gave it to me because you loved me before the world was created.
John 17:24 NIrV
1
Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that His hour had come to leave this
world and return to His Father. He had loved His
disciples during His ministry on earth, and now He loved them to the very end.
John 13:1 NLT
19 We love each other because He loved us first.
1 John 4:19 NLT
10 If you keep my commands, you'll remain intimately at
home in my love. That's what I've done--kept my Father's commands and made
myself at home in his love.
John 15:10 MSG
|
“I think you do not love me” the lovely maiden cried.
If you did I’m sure you’d put that stupid game aside.
It’s “Rugby, rugby, rugby, that’s all I ever hear.
Have you no sweet nothings to whisper in my ear?
I’m thinking of our future. You talk about “The Bulls”
You say you want to marry me and yet your mind is full,
Of things which do not matter! You talk of Ellis Park.
The Lions and the Cheaters or the next match with the Sharks.
If you really loved me, you’d put all that aside.
I’m a rugby widow before I am a bride!”
Have you heard this story? I’m sure it isn’t new.
For many wives and husbands, I’m sad to say it’s true.
We have our expectations, of how love ought to be.
It’s mostly an impression of some childish fantasy.
Love became an exercise in how much we could get.
Of wedding bells and honeymoons and going into debt!
It’s living with a partner who refuses to commit,
In case there’s an occasion to say, “Good bye, I quit!”
It’s physical relationships; it’s free love and the pill.
It’s anything erotic which gives some kind of thrill.
It’s watching television where strangers fornicate.
“Your feelings do
not matter as long as I feel great!”
We see this all around us and none of it is true.
We need to know the meaning when we say “I love you”!
You get a rapid overview by standing on your head.
True love keeps on giving
‘til the moment you are dead!
It focuses upon the need of those you plan to love;
And does the same as Jesus did when He came from above.
He loved all His disciples and did so till the end;
He died upon a wooden cross so you and I may spend,
Eternity in fellowship with all the Trinity.
He did it to express His love for sinners just like me.
He didn’t have to do it. He could have walked away.
It was the love of Jesus that functioned on that day.
He gave His life for people. His love was manifest,
So that the folk who hated Him could have the very best!
So when I say “I love you” I really want to say;
I’ll freely give my life for you as Jesus did that day.
Jim
Strickland
Written 22nd June 2012
|
||||||||
