THE PROVISION DECISION

Time with Jesus - Thursday, 07 March 2013

Jim & Phyllida Strickland in Capernum

Hi all,

You and I live in a world where we are expected to roll up our sleeves and work for a living. We see it as quite normal. Our employer gives us a job of work and, provided we do what he tells us to do, at the end of the month, we will be rewarded financially. We have an attitude whereby to obtain anything, we have to work for it. I suppose you could call it an if/then promise. If I work, then I’ll get paid. Very simple to follow.

God gives us certain if/then promises in His Word. If we love Him and obey Him, then He will be our God and we will be His people. Not particularly difficult to follow.

Then Jesus comes along and seems to take it one step further. ³³ Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. Matt 6:33 NLT

It easy to say and easy to teach. Doing it, is a “horse of a different colour”. The point for us is, we can trust our employer. If he breaks his word, you can sue him. But no one can sue God. So we tend to nod in agreement and look wise. In the meantime we have credit cards, medical aid, investments and all kinds of other stuff. So if God doesn’t “deliver” we adopt plan B. Of course, I’m talking about me. I know my readers would never stoop to such an attitude!

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland 

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Thursday, 07 March 2013			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 Provision Decision
All the promises of God are “Yes” in Christ. In his second letter to the Corinthians Paul stated, 20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. 2 Cor. 1:20 TNIV At the same time, all God’s promises are conditional. Is this a contradiction? Not at all! God’s promises to the entire human race are made possible to the recipients in and through the finished work of Christ Jesus. We cannot add to them or take away from them. You will find that most of them are “If/then” statements. E.g. If you keep My commands then I will be your God and you will be My people! By implication, if we don’t keep His commands it’s possible that He will not be our God and we will not be His people. It’s a bit severe. But I don’t make the laws. I only have to keep them! The word “Testament” gives us a clue about this. We get our expression, “Last will and Testament” from this concept. The New Testament is a bit like God’s “will”. In this case, Jesus has signed it at the bottom in His blood. His signature makes it valid. Thus everything God has promised is ours by virtue of Jesus’ “signature”. The question is whether or not you are a beneficiary? I can’t answer that. It’s a matter for you to settle with the Lord. Check the “If/then” clauses to see if you are or are not! John Gill (1697 – 1771) in the quaint language of the 18th century summarised the promises of God as follows: 1.        There are some which concern the temporal good of the saints; as that they shall not want any good thing; and though they shall be attended with afflictions, these shall work for their good, and they shall be supported under them. 2.        Others concern their spiritual good; some of which relate to God himself, that he will be their God, which includes his everlasting love, his gracious presence, and divine protection. 3.        Others relate to Christ as their surety and Saviour, by whom they are, and shall be justified and pardoned, in whom they are adopted, and by whom they shall be saved with an everlasting salvation: 4.        Others relate to the Spirit of God, as a spirit of illumination, faith, comfort, strength, and assistance, and to supplies of grace by him from Christ: and 5.        Others concern everlasting life and happiness, and are all of them very ancient, which God, Who cannot lie, promised before the world began; are exceeding great and precious, suited to the various cases of God's people; are free and unconditional, immutable and irrevocable, and will all of them have their certain accomplishment. They are a little difficult to follow. But with perseverance, you’ll find that they are worth reading. I must state that this man’s commentary is excellent. It’s untarnished with the opinions of later commentators. I particularly enjoy this. It’s too easy to comment on Scripture by quoting our own “flavour of the day”. It’s one of my shortcomings. Some 30 years ago, Malcolm Smith pointed this out. He was right. Our meditation today looks at the promises of God. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			14 Desperate, I throw myself on you: you are my God! 15 Hour by hour I place my days in your hand, safe from the hands out to get me. 16 Warm me, your servant, with a smile; save me because you love me. Psalm 31:14-16 MSG 3 Indeed, He loves His people; all His holy ones are in His hands. They follow in His steps and accept His teaching. Deut. 33:3 NLT 2 Then the LORD said to Elijah, 3 "Go to the east and hide by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River. 4 Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food." 5 So Elijah did as the LORD told him and camped beside Kerith Brook, east of the Jordan. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook. 7 But after a while the brook dried up, for there was no rainfall anywhere in the land. 8 Then the LORD said to Elijah, 9 "Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. I have instructed a widow there to feed you." 1 Kings 17:2-9 NLT 25 "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Mat 6:25-33 ESV 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart. Do not depend on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways remember him. Then he will make your paths smooth and straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 NIrV 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7 NLT	We’re never isolated, though we may think it’s true. No matter where we go to, My God we’re near to You. We know you are more able than a multi-millionaire; That all the money in the world, cannot buy Jesus’ care. When I first started knowing this, I really wasn’t sure. You may do this for others; but I am far from pure. I really don’t deserve it. You’re much too good for me. Perhaps one day I’ll qualify; then maybe You I’ll see! And yet there’s something in Him that still commands our trust. We know that He has made us, from a little pile of dust. And yet the dust has feelings, so desperately we cry! My God I long to be with You. How do I qualify? I know I have to trust You! My life is in Your hands! Teach me how to serve You and follow Your commands. I’ve done this every hour, since I was but a lad. Help me know You love me and make my spirit glad. Your Word tells me I’m holy. Why don’t I feel that way? I feel more like a little boy who’s wandered far astray! So Lord Please help me follow. I cannot trust my mind. For every time I do it, it seems as though I’m blind. Perhaps Lord, Like Elijah, You’ll send me to the brook? Perhaps you’ll send the ravens with food for me to cook? Perhaps there is a widow, already standing by? Perhaps You’ll send the manna which comes from You on High? Lord, teach me not to worry. It doesn’t help at all. It shows I only trust myself and not Your Holy call. I’ve looked around at nature. The birds, the flowers, the trees. They surely lack for nothing. You take good care of these! So if I’m feeling nervous about what You’ll provide, Help me look above it. For when I’m at Your side, I’m amply provided for. For clothes and food and drink, Will come to me in such a way that I can never think. In fact there will be plenty. For surely You’ll provide! For You are Yahweh Yireh. Who came to earth and died. Yes! You provided Abraham a sacrificial ram. He didn’t have to slay his son. For You’re the great I AM. You gave him what was needed. And Lord You are the same. You are the great provider, In Christ the Saviour’s Name. So Lord, please take my worries and all my cares and fears. Teach me that from here on in, through my remaining years, That You are the provider of food and clothes and drink. And all of the necessities my mind can ever think! Jim Strickland Written 7th March 2012