Time with Jesus - Monday, 09 July
2012
Hi all,Jesus’ clear instruction to us was not to hide our light under a bushel. Another way to put it is to say, don’t have any secrets you cannot or will not disclose. Bring out your past into the light. If you do, that secret will be “shouted from the roof tops” for the entire world to hear and know about. Be open and honest and there will be nothing to fear. This is examined in more detail in today’s meditation.
Blessings
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – Monday 9th 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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INTRODUCTION
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DAILY
LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
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NO
SECRETS
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There
is a tale that goes back to the late 19th or early 20th
century. It is about two British Parliamentarians .They decided to play a
trick on 6 other members of parliament chosen at random. They wanted to
observe their reactions. So they sent identical letters to the 6 MP’s. The letters
read, “Flee – all is discovered”. The story is all six of them left England
as quickly as possible. Is it a true story? I don’t really know. What I can
say is that I’m not surprised!
Most
of us have “skeletons in our closets”. When I was growing up I quickly
learned not to speak about one of my aunts. If I did, the subject was changed
immediately. Exactly what had happened was not revealed for several years.
She had done the unthinkable. In those days it was a lot more unthinkable
than it is today. She fell pregnant before she was married. So she was sent
to a private nursing home in a distant town. Then, after the baby was born,
the child was adopted by person or person’s unknown. The child was never referred
to again by anyone in the family. Everything was quietly swept under the carpet.
But for many years thereafter, she was thought of as the black sheep of the
family. In point of fact she was a delightful person. Except for sadness in
her approach to, that was hard to understand. Not unless you knew the
circumstances.
I
guess all of us have something in our history that is “unmentionable”. Mine
was being caught cheating in my matric examination. The result was my being
whisked out of the country to serve an apprenticeship as a fitter in the same
company that employed my father. It was a devastating experience. In the end,
it brought to me the reality to Paul’s letter to the Romans: 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together
for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose
for them. Romans 8:28 NLT28
Perhaps
the most important lesson I learned, was that it’s better to own up and admit
something, than to try and hide behind a pack of lies. Liar’s need to have
good memories. Telling the simple truth may bring embarrassment. But in the
long run it is the only solution. This is vital if you are going to launch
out as a minister for the Lord. Secrecy can be fatal in the ministry. Jesus
warned us about this: 22 For
everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every
secret will be brought to light. Mark 4:22
NLT Without going back into the details of the Bill Clinton “affair”,
it is fairly clear that if he had spoken up and admitted what he had done,
history would be much “kinder to him”. Then it could not be said that he’s a
philanderer and a liar!
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
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13 Each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be
revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.
1 Corinthians 3:13 ESV
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Therefore, don't judge anything before the
appointed time. Wait until the Lord comes. He will also bring to light what
is hidden in the dark and reveal people's motives. Then each person will
receive praise from God.
1 Corinthians 4:5 GW
10 Now then, who are you
to judge your brother or sister? Why do
you look down on them? We will all stand in God's courtroom to be judged.
11 It is written, "'You can be sure that I live,' says the
Lord. “And you can be just as sure that every
knee will bow down in front of me. Every tongue will tell the truth to God.'"
(Isaiah 45:23) 12 So we will all have to explain to God the things we
have done. 13 Let us stop
judging one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put anything in
your brother's way that would make him trip and fall.
Romans 14:10-13 NIrV
16 And this is the message I proclaim--that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus,
will judge everyone's secret life.
Romans 2:16 NLT
22 In addition, the Father
judges no one. Instead, He has given the Son absolute authority to judge,
John 5:22 NLT
27 And He has given Him
authority to judge everyone because He is the Son of Man.
John 5:27 NLT
18 You show love to thousands but bring the punishment
for the parents' sins into the laps of their children after them. Great and mighty God, whose name is the LORD Almighty,
19 great are your purposes and mighty
are your deeds. Your eyes are open to the ways of all; you reward everyone
according to their conduct and as their deeds deserve.
Jeremiah 32:18-19 TNIV
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Do you have a secret you think nobody knows?
Do you think it’s something you never will disclose?
Have you done your very best to hide it far away?
Perhaps you’ll be ashamed of it until your dying day?
Was it done in secret where nobody can see?
Have you done it often? Perhaps repeatedly?
If the secret came out now, how is it you’d react?
You know your character would be horribly attacked.
You’d suffer great embarrassment and massive loss of face;
And in the daily papers, experience disgrace?
If this is a description of what it is you’ve done,
Perhaps I just might help you to put it right old son.
Think of our Lord Jesus and all that He went through.
Nothing quite as serious will happen unto you.
Handled like a charlatan and beaten with the lash,
Accused of speaking blasphemy; they said that He was trash!
Stripped till He was naked nailed upon a “tree”.
Exposed to all creation; He died for you and me.
Went through that embarrassment and suffered all that pain.
So that evil people might all be born again.
If He could go through this, for folk like me and you,
Surely you can emulate the things which you must do.
They won’t execute you; perhaps you’ll pay a fine?
But you’ll have the approval of Jesus Christ Divine.
Nothing more can happen. Perhaps you’ll go to jail?
And you’ll be in the bosom of the God Who cannot fail.
But if you confess it and say, “It was a sin”!
“Master, come and help me this victory to win”.
You will know His presence and He will set you free.
Even in a prison, the Lord will be with thee.
So stand up to the problem and face it like a man.
Jesus Christ can do it. He always makes a plan.
The worst thing you could ever do is turn and walk away.
He desires to set you free upon this very day.
He has the authority from God to be your judge.
Don’t reject His offer and say you will not budge.
Don’t think it is a secret. He’ll spread it far and wide!
Those are the alternatives. What is it you decide?
Jim Strickland – Written 9th July 2012
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