FAITHFULNESS

Time with Jesus - Wednesday, 27 March 2013

Hi all, 

Jim & Phyllida in Israel

Today’s meditation is on “faithfulness”. Obviously, being faithful is being full of faith! It’s a bit obvious! The real question is what this “thing” is called “faith” we are supposed to be full of? The answer is not obvious. This is because the word “faith” is a noun. The Biblical description is in Hebrews. ¹ Faith is being sure of what we hope for. It is being certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 NIrV

In this Scripture we see “faith” as a noun. Rather like a rock, or a brick, or an aeroplane. You can see it, hold it and even travel in it. This being the case, how do we quantify it? You can’t go to Pick n Pay and buy a “bag” or a “bunch” of faith for R10. So “faith” is abstract. Moreover, we can’t tell with our human senses whether we have “lots” of it or only a “little”.

Sadly, what we seem to be able to do is comment on the “faith” of other people. “Where’s your faith?” is the statement we make about others. More often than not, the question is asked based on the opinion of the questioner. So if I don’t agree with you, I can comfort myself by saying under my breath, “Where’s his/her faith?”

One day we will realise that the measure of faith each of us has received from the Lord, is tailor made for the recipient. Mine may be greater or smaller than yours. That quantity is between the Lord and me!

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland 

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Wednesday, 27 March 2013			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
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INTRODUCTION			DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	Faithfulness
What exactly is faithfulness? We all have different ideas about this topic. As a youngster for me it was indicated in a “cowboy song” sung by Elvis Pressley. I’ve found a copy of the lyrics on the net this morning. It was called “Old Shep” It was a sentimental tear jerker. But that’s me anyway. In those days we had a dog called “Blackie”. A black Labrador combined with Heinz 57 varieties; Blackie was a faithful old dog. I’ll never forget him. He was a genuine canine comedian. In a strange canine sort of way, he is unforgettable. But what exactly is faithfulness? A story I heard many years ago illustrates it beautifully. It’s about a man and his dog. They were inseparable. Suddenly he died. The dog didn’t understand. How could he? But he managed to follow his late master to the corner of the cemetery. He lay there at the foot of the grave. For the rest of his life that dog came to the grave everyday regardless of the weather. He lay down at the foot of the grave looking toward the headstone. Somehow that dog knew where his master was. It ended when the old dog passed away. Now that was faithfulness personified. Or should that be per-dogified? Am I faithful to My Lord to the same extent as that dog? I’m sorry to admit that I’m not. There have been times when I’ve gone “off the rails”. For me, as with most men, it was associated with a lady. Not in a bad way. She was being trained at the teacher’s training college in Sheffield. We had been fairly serious in our relationship together. She was a Methodist Local Preacher. The whole thing ended between us and, typical of men in their early 20’s, when we separated, I was angry and “blamed God”. Back then, I was young and ignorant. Another precious memory is of a time spent in Worcester. We came across Vineyard music and loved it. It was the day when the “Toronto Blessing” was spreading round the world. We loved the music. One of the songs on the CD was called “Faithful One”. We still do! FAITHFUL ONE - BRIAN DOERKSEN Faithful one, so unchanging.  / Ageless one, you’re my rock of peace Lord of all I depend on You. - I call out to you, again and again. I call out to you, again and again,. - You are my rock in times of trouble You lift me up when I fall down. - All through the storm - Your love is the anchor.  - My hope is in You alone. Time tends to reduce memories and change how we see things. Even the memory of past pain dulls with age. Thank you Lord. If it didn’t, life would become unbearable. The faithfulness test today is from conversion to the grave. Are we faithful to the very end?  I hope so! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure. 1 Cor. 10:13 NLT 19 God is not like people. He tells no lies. He is not like humans. He doesn't change his mind. When he says something, he does it. When he makes a promise, he keeps it. Numbers 23:19 GW 21 Jesus became a priest when God took an oath. God said about him, "The Lord has taken an oath and will not change his mind. You are a priest forever." Heb. 7:21 GW 17 God also bound Himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that He would never change His mind. 18 So God has given both His promise and His oath. These two things are unchangeable because it’s impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. Heb. 6:17-18 NLT 19 So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. 1 Pet 4:19 TNIV 12 That's why I'm suffering the way I am. But I'm not ashamed. I know the One I have believed in. I am sure he is able to take care of what I have given him. I can trust him with it until the day he r. - turns as judge. 2 Tim 1:12 NIrV 24 The One who has chosen you is faithful. He will do all these things. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 NIrV 20 God has made a great many promises. They are all "Yes" because of what Christ has done. So through Christ we say "Amen." We want God to receive glory. 2 Cor. 1:20 NIrV	Faithfulness is difficult, because we are so weak. Things go wrong so easily. We have a faithless streak. We know what we’re supposed to do, but do not get it done. The problem is, we’ve actively gone out to have some fun. We know it was a promise. It’s inconvenient. I’ll leave it for the moment and later I’ll repent! But who is it we’re cheating? We dare not truly say. Because we think it’s better, to carry on this way. And so we justify it and ask who really cares? The answer is undoubtedly, the one Who answers prayers. He has a special instrument to note our current score. If we are unfaithful, it tots up a little more. The total is quite frightening and herewith is the rub. It makes us all a member of the devil’s evil club. It doesn’t cost us anything; the membership is free. But trying to get out is an impossibility. He wants to keep us with him and in his “faithful” way. He doesn’t want defectors on each or any day. Thank God he has forgotten that Jesus is in charge. And He has the authority to set us all at large. Provided we are faithful and Jesus is our King, He’ll faithfully preserve us in the shadow of His wing. So we have got two choices. To follow Him or No. To promise we will stick with Him, wherever He may go. To faithfully obey Him, regardless of the cost. Then we have His assurance we never will be lost. When things are inconvenient in any sort of way, We promise to be faithful on each and every day. To always do our utmost, to put the flesh aside. To let Him be a husband and we will be His bride. To worship Him forever, no matter how we feel; And show Him that our love for Him is absolutely real. So if we’re feeling faithless, it means we’re being weak. And we are exercising a somewhat stubborn streak. In which case it is time for us, to take ourself in hand. Make a firm decision, that we are going to stand; And faithfully obey Him, regardless what may come. There is no other way for us to be the Master’s chum! Jim Strickland Written 27th March 2012