Time with Jesus - Thursday, 05 July
2012
Hi all,
Today’s meditation looks at
the topic of whether something or someone is genuine. The English expression
is, “Is it the real McCoy?” We need to ask ourselves how we can tell. Is it
genuine Christianity or is this a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
Blessings
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – Thursday, 05 July 2012
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
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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
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©
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INTRODUCTION
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DAILY
LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
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GENUINE
OR NOT?
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In English we have a delightful expression, “It’s
the Real McCoy”. The picture on the right is thought to be the origin of the
expression. McCoy is derived from Mackay, referring to Messrs’ Mackay, Edinburgh,
who made a brand of fine whisky from 1856 onwards and which they promoted as
'the real MacKay' from 1870
Over the past 50 years, I’ve come across many men
and women who say they are Christian but are no more Christian than a gold
fish. To some extent, this is because we tend to trust those who say they are
Christians. I don’t know why we are so naïve? In some ways it’s a good way to
be. History is littered with charlatans and flakes. Christians are “fair
game” for the enemy. In addition, one of the easiest ways to get money is to
start a religion. So we need to be able to identify the real McCoy.
A major difficulty we have with this is, because we
are reluctant to being thought of as judgemental. In Luke’s Gospel Jesus
warns us: 37 Judge not, and ye shall
not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall
not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: Luke 6:37 KJVR. But the same Jesus tells un in
Matthew’s Gospel: 15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's
clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Mat 7:15-16 KJVR
These comments are not contradictory. They make it
clear that we are to be careful of those we listen to! Never just allow
anyone to address you. Not until you have had a good opportunity to establish
whether the person in question is a charlatan or a false prophet. You do not
establish this immediately. It takes time to see what sort of fruit they
produce. So don’t give them access to your platform or pulpit until this has
happened. A full year is a good rule of thumb. Note that a fruit inspector is
not a judge. He is exercising a defined rule established by our Lord. You are
not judging the person. Never do that. You are examining what he or she is
saying and doing. You are required to do this in order to protect the flock
from wolves in sheep’s clothing. When this has been done always remember that
you are not “judging” the person but his or her actions. You do not need to
apologise for being reluctant to allow someone to minister to you or your
flock. The Lord requires you to do so. Sadly this is not done often enough.
Phyllida and I have seen many celebrities come and
go in Christianity. Being who they are, they are invited to address the
flock. Then, a couple of months later, we find that the speaker was a liar
and a cheat. Jesus knew this would happen and warned us in advance about this
danger.
So, have a good look at the person’s label.
Establish if he is the genuine thing. Make sure he is “the real McCoy”. Never
settle for a substitute!
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
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16 Live
in harmony with each other. Don't be too proud to
enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all!
Rom 12:16 NLT
1 My dear brothers and
sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if
you favour some people over others?
Jas 2:1 NLT
5
Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn't
God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren't they the ones
who will inherit the Kingdom He promised to those who love Him?
Jas 2:5 NLT
24 We should not look out for our own interests. Instead,
we should look out for the interests of others.
1 Co 10:24 NIrV
8 If we have food and clothing, we will be happy with
that. 9 People who want to get
rich are tempted. They fall into a trap. They are tripped up by wanting many
foolish and harmful things. Those who live like that are dragged down by what
they do. They are destroyed and die.
1Ti 6:8-9 NIrV
27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame
the wise. He chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28
God chose the things of this world that are common
and looked down on. He chose what is not considered to be important to do
away with what is considered to be important. 29 So no one can brag to God.
1 Co 1:27-29 NIrV
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of David. 1
LORD, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not
haughty. I don't concern myself with matters too great or too awesome
for me to grasp. 2 Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like
a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother's milk. Yes, like a weaned
child is my soul within me. 3 O Israel, put your hope in the
LORD--now and always.
Psalm 131:1-3 NLT
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They called him a delinquent for all the things he’d done.
His father was a rich
man; he was his only son.
In and out of trouble throughout his days at school,
But he was rather clever;
in fact was no man’s fool.
At rugby he was excellent. He played for the first team.
To represent his country,
had been a childhood dream.
And then at last it happened. He heard his country’s call;
And joined the other
players in the players training hall.
He played just like a champion. He even scored a try.
And he was a celebrity,
now reaching for the sky.
His lifestyle was unaltered. He’d yell and scream and swear.
No matter who was
listening. It didn’t matter where.
He got a reputation. They called him ‘Mac the Knife’.
And that is what he
wanted to see him through this life.
And then he met the Saviour. As best as we can tell.
The reason that he did
it was keeping out of hell.
But he was a celebrity and churches everywhere,
Came to him and asked
him if he would like to share.
He wanted to impress the folk and picked up “Christian-ese”.
He only told the people
the things he thought would please.
But he was still a reprobate. He did it all for show.
For he was still
unaltered and people didn’t know.
He tramped around the circuit. The people were all tricked.
For he was very
plausible and he had even picked,
The proper words to tell them; and no one seemed to know.
It was all on the
surface. He did it all for show.
And then one day it happened. He made a big mistake.
The people quickly
realised that he was just a flake.
He’d tell the people anything if they would give him cash.
And many folk looked at
him and saw his life go crash!
How often has this happened? A hundred times or more?
We’re taken in by
someone who doesn’t live Christ’s law.
They know the proper standard, but that is far too hard.
Their words sound very
pretty; but in their own back-yard,
The truth of what they really are, comes up and overflows.
But it’s their
“reputation” that only Jesus knows.
What should we all be doing and how should we react?
Don’t invite a stranger,
until we know for fact,
That what he says is genuine. Wait about a year,
Before you ask
celebrities if they’d like to appear.
Do not share the platform with anyone until,
You know about their
lifestyle; the person may just kill,
What you have been teaching. Don’t ever take the chance,
That just because
they’re famous, the tune to which they dance,
Is absolutely Christian. If Jesus is their Lord,
They won’t object to
waiting till their lives have been explored.
Jim Strickland
Written 5th July 2012
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