Time with Jesus - Thursday, 06 December 2012
Hi all,
How do we express our love for someone? Perhaps the
best way is to be consistently truthful. The most diabolical lie imaginable is
to tell them you love them when you don’t. It an agonising experience. You love
someone and to suddenly find out that they have never loved you is devastating
blow. There is no question that truth goes hand in hand with holiness. God
would not be holy if He told us He loved us when in fact He didn’t. So we start
our journey of life on the Highway of Holiness by being truthful! That’s
today’s meditation.
Blessings,
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – Thursday, 06 December 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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©
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INTRODUCTION
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DAILY
LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
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THE
HIGHWAY OF HOLINESS
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One
of my late father’s favourite expressions was, “He is a bigger liar than Tom
Pepper”. Be that as it may, the question remains, “Who was Tom Pepper”? It is thought his
name originates from Naval Expressions (Nelson’s time), who, according to
nautical tradition, was kicked out of hell for being a bigger liar than His
Satanic Majesty. The term is mentioned by J. A. Gardner in his "Recollections,"
and appears to have been in use in 1787." If this is the case, believe
it or not, I’ve worked with one of his offspring. Sadly, during my sojourn
through this life I’ve come across many of them in English speaking
Christianity. They may still have one or two tricks to learn from their
antecedents but they are making great strides to be another Tom Pepper.
Now I certainly don’t want to
pretend to be free from lies myself. A better expression may be “economic
with truth”. What bothers me is that in the Book of Revelation we are told: 8 But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the
immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars--their fate is in the fiery lake of
burning sulphur. This is the second death."
Revelation 21:8 NLT. Now I don’t pretend
to be an expert in interpreting Revelation. But when I read this portion of
Scripture I am drawn to the conclusion that the people cast into the lake of
fire included Christians and non-Christians. So, if you are one of those
included in terms of this passage, the fact that you made a commitment to
Jesus Christ 20 years ago is irrelevant.
The essence of this really is
where does the “work” of God cease and the “work” of man begin. Extreme
Calvinists will tell you that everything has been predestined. So if God
chose to save me, I am saved whether I want it or not. Mankind has no
influence on the decision. It’s God’s will and is irresistible. At the other
end of the scale we have some believers who believe that they are saved by
baptism. From then on, we must live a sin free life. But logic tells us you
cannot love God or anyone else by command. Love can only be love if it comes
voluntarily from the heart. Furthermore, God could have made robots to do
that. He didn’t. He gave us freedom of choice. Freedom of choice must
therefore be inviolable. He has given it and He will not change it at all in
any way. You cannot predestine freedom of choice. That would not be freedom
at all. As the Divine Omniscient God, He knows what I will choose. But He
will not “make me” do it. I like to explain the difference in terms of giving
money to God. I can do so because He commands it. But if He touches me such
that I want to express my love for Him, my hand will go into my pocket and
give Him all I possess. Not because I have to, but because I want to express
my love for Him truthfully.
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
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5 Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are
the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.
Psalm 25:5 ESV
13 But when the Friend comes, the Spirit of the Truth, he
will take you by the hand and guide you into all the truth there is.
He won't draw attention to himself, but will make sense out of what is about
to happen and, indeed, out of all that I have done and said.
John 16:13 MSG
20 But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given
you His Spirit, and all of you know the truth.
1 John 2:20 NLT
20 They should go to the teachings and to the written
instructions. If people don't speak these words, it is because it doesn't
dawn on them.
Isaiah 8:20 GW
15 You have been taught the holy Scriptures from
childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that
comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 16 All
Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to
make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong
and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every
good work.
2 Timothy 3:15-17 NLT
8 The LORD says, "I will instruct you. I will teach
you the way that you should go. I will advise you as my eyes watch over you.
Psalms 32:8 GW
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"Your eye is a lamp that provides light for
your body. When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light.
Matthew 6:22 NLT
17 Those who want to follow the will of God will know if
what I teach is from God or if I teach my own thoughts.
John 7:17 GW
8 And
a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the
unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong
to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go
astray.
Isaiah 35:8 ESV
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It’s all about our holiness and how we have behaved.
It’s all about our thought life and the things for which we’ve craved.
It’s all about our attitude and how we glorify,
The King of Kings eternal; and how we magnify,
The only One Who matters. The only One Who cares.
The only One Who loves us and listens to our prayers.
This is the truth You’ve taught us, on which we can rely.
From before time started, ‘til eternity’s passed by.
Your Word says that You knew us before we had been born.
That from Your loving fingers, we never can be torn.
Such absolute security! Above what we can think.
You are the source of everything. You are our food and drink!
The Captain of Salvation who came and looked for me
When I was more disgusting than anyone can be.
Why did you even bother? Why should you care at all?
The God of all infinity! To love someone so small
That an electron microscope would never spot a thing!
And You say I am sheltered ‘neath the shadow of Your wing.
You sent to us Your Spirit. He took us by the hand,
To lead us and to guide us, into Your Promised Land.
The One Who breathed the Scriptures into the minds of men.
Who watches us and steers us, in ways beyond our ken!
The One Who gives instruction and points the way to go.
The only One, by Whom Your truth, each one of us may know!
The “author” of the “Handbook” by which we all must live
And even when we “miss it” You say that You forgive.
What sort of Being is this? Perfect in every way!
And yet You dwell with sinful men who long to disobey!
O Lord, How do You do it! I’m sure I’d flee the scene,
If I was with a person half as bad as I have been.
But You keep persevering and getting us equipped.
When we would all have given up and some of us had “flipped”!
And later, on reflection, we see how we have grown.
In spite of all the wild oats each one of us have sown.
So lead us to that Highway where Holiness abounds.
Where sin is swiftly banished and righteousness is found.
Help us Lord to get there and from it never stray.
And all of our ambitions are focused on Your way!
Jim Strickland
Written
6th December
2012
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