INDEPENDENCE

Time with Jesus - Saturday, 06 October 2012

Hi all,

Today’s topic is about independence. It can be good or bad. It’s good when children are being encouraged to stand on their own two feet and get on with their own life. It’s bad when it is nothing more than rebellion against authority.

Blessings,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Saturday, 06 October 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	INDEPENDENCE
Wikipedia tells us: - Independence: A condition of a nation, country or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over the territory. The definition is fine but doesn’t refer to that which is in the heart of the individual. The drive to be free from the control of others. The classic example is surely the freedom demands of an enslaved people. We have no difficulty identifying this in a nation or a part of a nation. A bit of thought will remind us that it starts in the heart of an individual and spreads from there to become the desire of many. In many ways, independence is something we all should seek for ourselves. Babies are not independent. They rely totally on the care of others. In most cases this is their parents or other care giver. As they grow, we find each one stretching their boundaries in an effort to explore their own independence from parental control. A healthy relationship between parents and child encourages this. Each youngster seeks a measure of independence as they grow. When I was a baby, my mother washed, fed, clothed and dressed me. If she hadn’t, in all probability I’d be dead! This slowly changes over time. As a 10 year old it would be intolerable for me to be in the same situation, unless there was a medical condition that demanded it. During the teenage years, the young man or woman is given more and more freedom. The wise parent realises it won’t be long before the child reaches maturity and is in a position to repeat the process. Then, as grandparents, we are able to watch our sons and daughters establishing their own homes and raising their own children. Wow! All this is very good. We think so anyway. I wonder what God thinks of it? I’m sure He must have mixed feelings. In the first place, man was never designed to be independent of God. To leave Him is to walk away from life itself. At the same time, He wanted us to obey Him from within a relationship of love and care. We see this in the garden. God gave Adam complete freedom within that garden with one exception. He was not to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Defend Adam all you like. The fact remains, he broke the only law God had in place in that Garden. Sadly, through the wiles of the serpent and the gullibility of his wife, Adam declared UDI. It was a unilateral declaration of independence. This declaration had catastrophic results. This messed-up world was the outcome. Adam declared his independence from God and took on the nature of a fallen creature. It was worse than that. He became the slave of a fallen angel who hated him and intended to kill him and all his offspring. Adam lived a further ±900 years. The real death was his immediate separation from God. Physical death only came to get him all those years later. I’ve often wondered why? The answer that amuses me most is that it took Satan ±900 years to figure out a way to do it! In this case Adam changed from dependence on God to be “in-dependence” upon Satan. Cut off from God. From being free, to being a slave of Satan. In this case I don’t think independence was much of a deal! Any comments? Jim & Phyllida Strickland			17 "What was it he said to you?" Eli asked. "Do not hide it from me. May God deal with you, be it ever so severely, if you hide from me anything he told you." 1 Samuel 3:17 TNIV 8 But he's already made it plain how to live, what to do, what GOD is looking for in men and women. It's quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbour, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don't take yourself too seriously-- take God seriously. Micah 6:8 MSG 13 Obey the LORD's commands and rules. I'm giving them to you today for your own good. Deuteronomy 10:13 NIrV 10 And that means that anyone who tries to live by his own effort, independent of God, is doomed to failure. Scripture backs this up: "Utterly cursed is every person who fails to carry out every detail written in the Book of the law." 11 The obvious impossibility of carrying out such a moral program should make it plain that no one can sustain a relationship with God that way. The person who lives in right relationship with God does it by embracing what God arranges for him. Doing things for God is the opposite of entering into what God does for you. Habakkuk had it right: "The person who believes God, is set right by God--and that's the real life." Galatians 3:10-11 MSG 19 The purpose of the law was to keep a sinful people in the way of salvation until Christ (the descendant) came, inheriting the promises and distributing them to us. Obviously this law was not a first-hand encounter with God. It was arranged by angelic messengers through a middleman, Moses. Galatians 3:19 MSG 1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors at many different times and in many different ways through the prophets. 2 In these last days he has spoken to us through his Son. God made his Son responsible for everything. His Son is the one through whom God made the universe. Hebrews 1:1-2 GW 9 So he said to Samuel, "Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, 'Speak, LORD, your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went back to bed. 1 Samuel 3:9 NLT	It started in a garden a long, long time ago. Adam and his side kick thought things were kind of slow. This diet they were living on was only nuts and fruit; They thought what was forbidden, was somehow rather cute. That’s what the serpent told them and it looked kind of good. And so they tried a sample of what they never should. They wanted “independence”; that’s what the snake implied; And after they had eaten it, the life inside them died. The found that independence was just a “hill of beans”. Not what they had thought about; not in their wildest dreams. They wanted independence from the God Who Reigns on High. And only changed their “ownership” which sort of made them cry. But they were somehow stuck with it and they were then enslaved, By Lucifer, the devil. He made sure they behaved, The way that he intended. He made their firstborn son, Become the world’s first murderer. The dreadful deed was done. He killed his younger brother from jealousy it seems, Because the Lord rejected his offering of greens! By now they’d left the garden. Their time with God was through. It’s clear that right from then on in, the things they had to do, Was what the devil told them; there really was no choice. They’d lost their contact with the Lord and couldn’t hear His voice. But from that very moment, when it was done and dusted, They knew that in the devil’s words they never should have trusted. Independence still remains the people’s heartfelt cry. “I don’t want you to rule me; I think I’d rather die”! How often have we heard this? How often have we thought, It’s time for me to run away; I hope I don’t get caught! We dream of independence. We long to see the day, When we can softly close the door and somehow get away, From the responsibilities which we see all around. But independence isn’t something anyone has found. Not while we are living. We find we need each other. The way that little children need their father and their mother. A wife still needs her husband. The husband needs his wife. We know that their relationship should last them both for life. But still we somehow long for that which we know can’t be. A chance to taste forbidden fruit which everywhere we see. O yes, that man looks handsome. I’ll taste a little bit. But when romance is over, will you own up to it? That woman sure looks sexy. Far better than my wife. I think I’ll try a little taste. It will “spice up” my life! How very, very silly. It is adultery. And you have broken covenant. That isn’t liberty! And just as Eve and Adam departed from God’s will. Your streak of “independence” your marriage you could kill. Jim Strickland – Written 6th October 2012

THE JUST WILL LIVE BY FAITH

Time with Jesus - Friday, 05 October 2012

Hi all,

What is meant by the expression, “The just shall live by faith”? There’s been much teaching on the topic of “faith” over the past 30/40 years and the word is better understood than it has ever been. But in the context of the book of Habakkuk, what is meant? What did God intend the prophet to understand by these famous words? Our meditation looks at this and comes up with an answer that may well surprise us!

Blessings,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Friday, 05 October 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	THE JUST WILL LIVE BY FAITH
Martin Luther is said to have launched the Protestant Reformation when he nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to the door of All Saints' Church in Wittenberg on 31 October 1517. His famous rallying cry “The just shall live by faith” has been mistranslated in the KJV. Another translation states 4 "Look at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God. Habakkuk 2:4 NLT This was not a deliberate mistranslation. It’s a slight difference of understanding to the translators ±500 years ago. The issue for English speaking people becomes apparent with a careful reading of the Book of Habakkuk. The meditation in verse today, describes the circumstances around the “dialogue” between Habakkuk and God in Habakkuk’s vision. This constitutes the first two chapters. In brief we read Habakkuk’s complaint about the corruption and violence he sees in Judah. We read of his accusation that God is doing nothing about it. The Lord replies and tells him He is doing something. He is raising up the Babylonians to deal with His people. Habakkuk was horrified. “Surely You won’t do that”, he says to the Lord. “They are more wicked than we are. They are incredibly cruel. They destroy all life when they invade. Men, women, children, animals, livestock, crops and trees. Nothing is left alive when they depart”. It’s a terrible picture of what he thinks the Babylonians will do to God’s people, the occupants of Judah. This is the point where God tells Habakkuk that not everyone will be slaughtered. Those who are seeking to follow Him in justice and righteousness will be protected. They will live because of their faithfulness to Him. i.e. The “just” (righteous) will be protected (will live) by their faithfulness (faith) to God. God had already told Habakkuk to write down the details of this vision on stone tablets and for it to be distributed throughout Judah. They were to be written so that those who run can read, or those who read can run. The message was to be widely distributed. The vision would certainly take place although it would not be in the immediate future. At this point Habakkuk becomes reconciled to what the Lord has promised and the magnificent prayer in chapter three is recorded. He realises that no matter what happens to the people of Judah, those who love Him will survive. The Babylonians can do their worst. He concludes with the glorious words, “17 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, 18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!” Habakkuk 3:17-18 NLT In the 21st century we need to learn from this for our future! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			37 In just a very little while, "The one who is coming will come. He will not wait. Hebrews 10:37 NIrV 2 Then the LORD said to me, "Write My answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others. 3 This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed. Habakkuk 2:2-3 NLT 8 Dear friends, don't ignore this fact: One day with the Lord is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. 9 The Lord isn't slow to do what he promised, as some people think. Rather, he is patient for your sake. He doesn't want to destroy anyone but wants all people to have an opportunity to turn to him and change the way they think and act. 2 Peter 3:8-9 GW 15 But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, Slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness’ and truth. Psalms 86:15 NASB 1 Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence-- 2 as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil-- to make your name known to your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at your presence! 3 When you did awesome things that we did not look for, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. 4 From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him. Isaiah 64:1-4 ESV	“How long must I cry out to You and still You do not hear? Violence is everywhere; Your people filled with fear. Justice is impossible; corruption’s all around. Why do You do nothing Lord? Why can You not be found?” “Look round at the nations! Look and be amazed. I am doing something that’s sure to make you dazed. I’m raising up in Babylon, a cruel and wicked folk. They’ll march through all the nations and make them wear their yolk. They’ll crush all opposition; be forced to bend their knees. Anyone who fight’s them will be butchered as they please. They gallop on their horses and swoop down on their prey. They scoff at kings and fortresses who try to bid them nay! They slaughter men and animals; they burn the crops and trees. The men are mostly massacred. The women mainly seized.” O Lord, You are eternal. You are the Holy One. Are You bringing discipline so we will all be gone? I know we are wicked. But Lord they are much worse. Surely they should be the ones whom You are going to curse? Will you let them catch us like fish caught in a net. They will string us up on hooks? Is that what we must get? Will You let them do this to the folk who bear Your Name? Surely there’s another way our wickedness to tame? Is this Your intention and what You’re going to do? I’ll climb my watch-tower to get a better view, Of what’s about to happen. Perhaps You’ll change Your mind. And some sort of alternative You’ll see if You can find. “Listen very carefully and write My answer down. Chisel it on tablets to take to every town. Summon men to carry it; those who can run fast; Distribute My warning because the dye is cast. Many will be massacred. Many folk will die But I’ll preserve the faithful. I will not deny, Those who truly follow Me. They’ll certainly be saved. All of those remaining will be butchered or enslaved. It is sure to happen. Perhaps not by next year. Sometime in the future, this judgement will draw near. If it’s slow in coming, you must wait patiently. But that it’s going to happen? It is a certainty.” Jim Strickland – written 5th October 2012