Time with Jesus - Wednesday, 18
July 2012
Hi all,
If we tried to compress into
one word the God we serve and adore, the word is likely to be love. In fact
John tells us: 16 We have known and
believed that God loves us. God is love. Those who live in God's love live in God, and God lives
in them. 1 John 4:16 GW The next word
we would probably think of is “forgive”. Forgiveness is so closely entwined
with love that they become hard to distinguish from each other. Forgiving
within a framework of love is one of His fundamental qualities and is our
meditation today.
Blessings
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – Wednesday, 18 July 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
|
FORGIVE!
- PSALM 112
|
||||
“What
is God like?” A few days ago we looked at this and observed that Jesus is
like God. This has nothing to do with physical appearance. The connection is
character. In fact God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are
indistinguishable. You and I cannot see any differences. But when it comes to
His appearance, we have a problem. God is Spirit. What that means is unknown.
There may well be some sort of a clue evident in the post resurrection appearances
of Jesus. He appeared and vanished apparently at will.
So,
what is the significance of the descriptions of God in His Word? What is
likely is that the Prophets and Psalmists were using “anthropomorphisms” in
their descriptions on God. i.e. Using familiar terms to describe the indescribable.
Moses’ illustration in Psalm 91 is a good example. 4 He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter
you with His wings. His faithful promises
are your armour and protection. Psalms
91:4 NLT
The
factors that really scare me about God is His Holiness, Purity and
Righteousness. Outside of His Son, Jesus Christ, to draw near to Him would be
fatal. We know and have some understanding of this. His Righteousness scares
me the most. In this regard, He is utterly consistent. Judgement is an
excellent example.
You
and I have certain values and standards by which we measure others. Perhaps
it’s a thimble-full. Perhaps a table spoon-full. It could be a shovel-full or
even a front end loader-full. In other words someone fails our test if it is
bigger than the standard we’ve set. If we are pernickety or pedantic, our
standard will be a thimble-full. If we are generous and forgiving our
standard would be a front end loader-full. We know the “size” of that
standard. Furthermore, we evaluate and judge others in terms of that
standard. God also knows its “size. He then uses the same standard on us. He
will judge you and me in terms of the standard we set for others. So the more
forgiving and generous-hearted we are the better for us.
Most
of us love the first half of Luke 6:38. The second half is not so well known
or understood. 38 Give, and you will
receive. A large quantity, pressed together, shaken down, and running over
will be put into your pocket. The
standards you use for others will be applied to you." Luke 6:38 GW
We
need to be very generous with our forgiving others. In fact we need to be
more than merely four-giving. Let’s go for five-giving or even twenty
six-giving. If we don’t, God will judge us in terms of the standards we have
set. That really scares me!
Jim
& Phyllida Strickland
|
8 She (Mary
Magdalene? or Lazarus’ sister Mary?) did
what she could. She poured perfume on my body (Jesus) to prepare me to
be buried.
Mark 14:8 NIrV
3 He said, "The plain truth is that
this widow has given by far the largest offering today.
Luke 21:3 MSG
41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a
cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly be
rewarded.
Mark 9:41 TNIV
12 Do you really want to give? Then the gift
is received in keeping with what you have, not with what you don't have.
2 Corinthians 8:12 NIrV
18 Dear children, let's not merely say that
we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.
1 John 3:18 NLT
15 For instance, you come upon an old friend
dressed in rags and half-starved 16 and say, "Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled
with the Holy Spirit!" and walk off without providing so much as a coat
or a cup of soup--where does that get you?
James 2:15-16 MSG
6 Remember this--a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small
crop. But the one who plants generously will get
a generous crop. 7 You must
each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in
response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully."
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 NLT
10 So you also, when you have done all that
you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what
was our duty.'"
Luke 17:10 ESV
|
Forgive the sins of everyone, whatever
they've committed;
Loose them all from what they've done
and let them be acquitted;
Follow the example of Him who reigns
on High;
Who cleanses and remits the sins of
all who would draw nigh.
For those who would pass sentence on
any of their peers,
Will find that all the wrath of God is
heaped around their ears!
Those who judge their brethren, are
certain to obtain,
That very self-same judgment. The One
who does ordain,
That we ourselves are always judged,
in ways that will comply,
With all of the parameters which we
sought to apply!
We receive THAT measurement; THAT
standard which we set,
Is How He'll deal with all of us and
that is what we'll get!
So Christian, be careful. If you
desire to live,
There isn't an alternative. You simply
must forgive!
Jim Strickland
i)
Blessed is the person who fears the Sovereign Lord,
Who takes a great delight in His command.
ii)
His children will be mighty in the land. And his reward?
A blessed generation who can stand;
iii)
Wealth and riches in his house, with righteousness forever;
Where the light obliterates the dark.
iv) Gracious deeds, compassion, will
forsake the righteous never.
An upright, righteous man will have this mark.
v)
Good will surely come to him, who generously lends,
Conducting his affairs and being just.
vi) He will not be shaken; will not need
to make amends;
Remembered as a person one can trust.
vii) He will not be fearful of bad news for
he will be,
Steadfast, ever trusting in the Lord.
viii) He will be secure and will not fear
what he might see;
Triumph o'er his foes is his reward.
ix) He has scattered gifts unto the poor.
His righteousness
Endures until the very end of time. His horn will be exalted and with honour he'll be blessed. He will not be guilty of a crime.
x)
Wicked men will see it and be vexed as they observe;
Will gnash their teeth and quickly waste away. Their longings come to nothing, they’ll get what they deserve; Reaping what was sown yesterday.
Jim Strickland
Written 1987 |
||||
