WHOSOEVER WILL MAY COME!

Time with Jesus - Wednesday, 08 August 2012

Hi all,

At Kingswood College in 1951 we sang hymns most evenings from the 1936 Methodist hymnbook. I was nine years old. One of my favourites was, “Whosoever Will May Come”. I learned later it was a celebration of that great passage from John’s Gospel. ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 TNIV Today I love saying, “I’m a whosoever! Are you?”

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Wednesday, 08 August 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
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	INTRODUCTION		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	WHOSOEVER WILL MAY COME!
One of my favourite quotations is, “Love God and do as you please”. My suspicion is that it dates back to Augustine. It’s the sort of comment one would expect from him. Its meaning is dramatic. If you love God, you will want to please Him. Furthermore, what pleases you will be what pleases Him. So we end up with one of the most liberating quotations a Christian can know. The question is, whether or not it’s that simple? It should be. But we tend to be so complex in our thoughts and actions; it’s all too easy to falsely imagine that we are correct when we are not! By way of illustration we only have to look back over the last two thousand years of Christianity. Literally millions of Christians, men and women have been tortured and butchered in the name of Jesus Christ. It is also quite true that the Crusades are not really something to brag about. Rightly or wrongly, their dealings with Islam are still remembered in the Arab nations to this day. Before everyone jumps down my throat and says that what happened was not Christian, let me state categorically, I agree. But the perpetrators genuinely believed that what they were doing was in the best interests of Christianity! So how can we know that what we are doing is Christian? The fact is we do not have a series of “laws” with which we must comply. That would make it easy. We do have the Holy Spirit and He will guide us, if we are prepared to pause and listen. But bear in mind, in those days the perpetrators thought He was leading them too! So where do we go from here? In the Old Testament we have been given a couple of thumbnail sketches which we may apply as we think about Christian life. My favourite comes from the Book of Micah. 8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8 ESV These instructions encapsulate most of what the Lord requires of us to this very day. The reason I mention this in today’s meditation, is because many people come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then they ask, “What now?” Generally speaking this question is seldom raised by those who come to Jesus Christ. The emphasis has always been, “Come to Jesus!” Nothing could be more important. But what then? Often they go home and that’s the last anyone sees of them. We must help our new converts. They may be sinners, dying on their own cross. They could be young people with lives and potential ministry in front of them. What they don’t need, is to be forgotten! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			13 So then, "Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:13 GW 37 Everyone the Father gives me will come to me. I will never send away anyone who comes to me. John 6:37 NIrV 42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. Luke 23:42-43 KJV 32 Jesus stopped and called over, "What do you want from me?" 33 They said, "Master, we want our eyes opened. We want to see!" 34 Deeply moved, Jesus touched their eyes. They had their sight back that very instant, and joined the procession. Matthew 20:32-34 MSG 13 Even though you are evil, you know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more will your Father who is in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11:13 NIrV 26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26 ESV 37 "'Message of GOD, the Master: Yet again I'm going to do what Israel asks. I'll increase their population as with a flock of sheep. Ezekiel 36:37 MSG 14 And we are confident that He hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him. 15 And since we know He hears us when we make our requests, we also know that He will give us what we ask for. 1 John 5:14-15 NLT	Poles and Finns and Russians, Norwegians, Czechs and Danes, Swazi’s and Namibians, citizens of Spain. Peruvians and Latvians, and men who come from Chad. Canadians, Australians, though they be good or bad. Chinese and Koreans and folk from Pakistan. Everyone’s included be you woman or a man. He’s said “whosoever”, and that means me and you. All the citizens of earth, they are invited too. All your friends and relatives, yellow, white or black. No one is excluded, the Master want’s them back. Islamists and Buddhists, Confucians and Hindu’s Sikhs and Orientals, Christians and Jews. He is all inclusive and will not turn away, Anyone who trusts Him and calls on Him today. The vilest, wicked sinner this world has ever seen, If they come to Jesus, He’ll wash them squeaky clean. Even if you’re on a cross, being crucified; Do not be discouraged. For you, the Lord has died. You are not excluded, paradise awaits. You don’t have to go to Hell. Indeed, the Master states, If you will return to Me, you will be secure. I will cleanse you white as snow and I will make you pure. If the devil’s blinded you, let Me touch your eyes. You will have your sight restored and see the devil’s lies. Step right up and follow Me. You won’t be led astray. I’ll be with you constantly, each second of the day. Even though you’re evil, your children get the best. My Father up in Heaven, He wants to see you blessed. He’ll give the Holy Spirit, to anyone who asks. He’ll give to you a brand new heart to fit you for the task. That stony heart within you, He’ll certainly replace. You will have a heart of flesh to fit you for the race. You will be My people, fruitful you will be. Like sheep within a pasture, if you will follow Me! Anything you ask for, in line with Father’s will, I know He will certainly provide and will fulfil, The deepest aspirations that you have ever made. Just because you follow Me; and Me you have obeyed. Jim Strickland Written 8 August 2012