Time with Jesus - Tuesday, 14
August 2012
Hi all,
Today we meditate on God’s Promise to David and on Ephesians 1:3-6. There is also reference to Romans 8:28 in the introduction. 2 Tim 1:12 is not referred to directly, but Paul’s
conviction that God is able to guard that with which He has been trusted is
clear. This conforms with Romans 8:28. Thus
all four Scripture references are utilised. Expressing Ephesians
1:3-6 in Jimmet form was fun!
Blessings Jim & Phyllida Strickland
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus
Tuesday, 14 August 2012 |
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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JIMMETS
– COVENANT GIFT
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A
couple of days ago we looked at an occasion early in David’s reign. At that
time he had wanted to build a “house” for God. The Temple that would be built
by his son Solomon. David was told by the Lord through His prophet that he
was not permitted do this. He was a man of war with blood on his hands. The
temple would be built by his son who would be a man of peace. However, he was
informed that God would build him a house! A throne on which his descendants
would always sit. David’s reaction to this was that he felt completely
overwhelmed.
It’s
worth pointing out that God would build this line. He would be the One who
would design and supervise the building of David’s “house”. In a way, David
would emulate what God had promised to do. He became the architect of the
Temple and went about accumulating materials for the task. He also made
provision so that on his death, all his personal wealth would be donated for
the building of the temple. In this respect, although Solomon built the
temple, it was based on his father’s provision. Perhaps we should refer to
the Temple as “David’s Temple” rather than “Solomon’s Temple”. We don’t do
that for good reasons. But we do remember Sir Christopher Wren as the
architect of St Paul’s Cathedral in London. Does anyone know who did the
building?
In
today’s first Scripture, we move in time to the end of David’s reign. By now,
he was an old man. In spite of this, we notice that he had not forgotten
God’s everlasting covenant with him. It’s interesting to read how confident
David was that God would do this. The New Living Translation expresses his
confidence in God’s undertaking to him and his family: 5 "Is it not my family God has chosen? Yes, He has
made an everlasting covenant with me. His agreement is arranged and
guaranteed in every detail. He will ensure my safety and success. 2 Samuel 23:5 NLT
David’s
attitude sheds additional light on the assurance Paul describes in Romans 8:
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
NLT
David
had no idea that it would be some 1000 years before Jesus would be manifest
in the flesh. During the interim, David’s line had almost disappeared. But it
could be traced back through his mother’s antecedents as well as His
stepfather’s antecedents. Here was the fulfilment of God’s promise to David;
the everlasting King of Kings!
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
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25 "Is it not my family God has chosen? Yes, He has made an everlasting covenant with me. His
agreement is arranged and guaranteed in every detail. He will ensure
my safety and success.
2 Samuel
23:5 NLT
12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced
he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
2 Timothy 1:12 TNIV
3 Praise be to the God
and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms
with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the
world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus
Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-- 6 to the
praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he
loves.
Ephesians
1:3-6 TNIV
27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of
the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with
the will of God. 28 And we know that
in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been
called according to his purpose. 29
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of
his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30
And those he predestined, he also called; those
he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Romans
8:27-30 TNIV
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An
everlasting covenant was cut;
That David
would forever have a son,
Who sat
upon the throne; no ifs or buts;
Until
creation’s time on earth was done.
I wonder
if He really understood,
How God
would bring this promise into fact?
He
realised that God, the Father, would
Keep His
Word and was obliged to act;
The way He
had declared to him that day.
Who else
but God had the ability,
To bring
about the things he heard God say,
And keep
it going for eternity?
But there
was one thing David knew for sure.
God’s
promises forever would endure.
Jim Strickland written 14th August 2012
HIS FREE GIFT
Praise be
unto the Farther of our Lord;
Who
blessed us in the heavenly realms above.
All
Spiritual blessings He has poured,
On us,
through Jesus Christ, the King of Love.
In Him. He
chose us in the “days” before,
He started
to create the things we see.
Predestined
our adoption to be more,
Than
creatures who are lost eternally.
This was according
to His Sovereign will;
The Sons
of God; Not merely men of mud.
And by His
grace, decided He would spill
Christ Jesus’
own and very precious blood!
O what a
plan! To take our punishment!
The very
reason why His Son was sent!
Jim Strickland
written 14th August 2012
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