A Street called Patience |
Time with Jesus - Sunday, 07 April 2013
Hi all,
Today’s meditation focuses on, among other things, patience. In modern
life, there is no time to be patient. Things have to happen immediately, if not
sooner! The train and the bus mustn’t be late. The plane must take off on
schedule. Meetings must begin on time.
“Punctuality” is not optional. For you
and everybody else this must be true. But I’ve got all the good reasons why I’m
behind schedule. So I’m excused, but you’re not! It’s as though I’m the centre
of the universe and everything must rotate around me. The sun, moon and stars
should follow me. After all ……
Busy; Busy; Busy |
All of us go through phases of this kind of impatience. Here’s the rub. As
shown above, impatience is an expression of selfishness and pride. So do
yourself a favour. The next time you begin to get irritated because you are
being kept waiting, remember, the Lord can easily arrange for you to learn patience in much the same way as described in the introduction. It’s not recommended!
Shalom,
Jim
& Phyllida Strickland
Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – Sunday, 07 April 2013
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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
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©
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INTRODUCTION
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DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
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Be a Little Patient!
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Patience is a virtue.
That’s what we are told. The problem is endemic in today’s culture. “I want
it and I want it now!” Alternatively, “Lord, please give me patience;
quickly!” Of course, the Lord has us at a great disadvantage. He has all the
time in the world. We don’t!
The fact is, God has
everything under control and timed down to the smallest part of a nanosecond.
But that seldom helps us. For example, in Genesis we learn: 13 Then the LORD said to Abram, "You can be sure that
your descendants will be strangers in a foreign land, where they will be oppressed as slaves for 400 years. Gen 15:13 NLT Now
I don’t want to be “picky”; but I’m not sure how I would feel if I was a
slave. Then I found that there was a couple of hundred years still to go for
me and my family. My comment would be something like this: “Lord, I know you
have lots of time, but what do I tell my kids? It wouldn’t help, but it might
make me feel a bit better.
In spite of all this, you
and I have to get on with life. We either do so with enthusiasm and a passion
for living, or we allow ourselves to sink into the slough of despond. The
choice is ours. We can side with Solomon in his old age and say, 2
"Meaningless! Meaningless!" says the
Teacher. "Utterly meaningless! Everything
is meaningless." Eccl 1:2 TNIV or we can side with Jesus who
said, 10 the thief comes only to steal
and kill and destroy; I have come that
they may have life, and have it to the full. John
10:10 TNIV
I’m reminded of the man
who prayed and asked the Lord for patience. The next day was one of the most
stressful and upsetting days in his life. His alarm clock didn’t go off; he
cut his face while shaving; scratched the car reversing out; hit the gate
post; couldn’t find parking; arrived late for the office and got ticked off
by the boss; his wristwatch stopped so he was late for the business
appointment. He’d left his lunch at home; got away from the office late; then
his wife was out and his supper was cold. That night in prayer he complained
to the Lord about his day. “What’s your problem?” the Lord asked. “I answered
your prayer. You’ve had all day to practise being patient!”
Our meditation looks at “meaningless”.
We begin with a man asking “pointless ” questions; questions to which we have
no answers. Then the tone changes and we meet the One Who is able to answer
all questions; the One who wants us to have “abundant” life. The questions cannot
be answered directly on this side of the grave. But the Lord has all the
answers. The meditation concludes with Him giving us His assurance that all
is well in Him and asking us to be a little patient.
Jim & Phyllida
Strickland
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3 The LORD will support him
on his sickbed. You will restore this person to health when he is ill.
Psalm 41:3 GW
9 In all their troubles, he
was troubled, too. He didn't send someone else to help them. He did it himself,
in person. Out of his own love and pity he redeemed them. He rescued them and
carried them along for a long, long time.
Isaiah 63:9 MSG
3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Master, the one you love so very much is sick."
John 11:3 MSG
9 But he said to me, "My
grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the
power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Cor. 12:9 ESV
13 I can do everything through
Christ who strengthens me.
Philip 4:13 GW
16 That is why we are not discouraged.
Though outwardly we are wearing out, inwardly we are renewed day by day.
2 Cor. 4:16 GW
28 “In him we live and move
and have our being”; as even some of your own poets have said,
"'For we are indeed his offspring.'
Act 17:28 ESV
29 He gives power to the weak
and strength to the powerless. 30 Even
youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.
31 But those who trust in the LORD will
find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will
run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:29-31 NLT
27 The eternal God is your
refuge, and His everlasting arms are under you. He drives out the
enemy before you; He cries out, 'Destroy them!'
Deut. 33:27 NLT
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Life is an enigma! No one seems to know,
The reason why somebody’s born: and why they have to go!
It seems so contradictory; we’re only born to die.
And no one I have known has ever said the reason why.
Are we just like the animals, who how have to find a mate,
To keep the species going and so they copulate?
Is this the only purpose? Then why be born at all?
Surely man’s extinction is better than his fall?
Why is it we continue? Why didn’t God see fit,
To finish with His creation and simply stop and quit?
I know these are big questions; but who can indicate,
His purpose in continuing with all our sin and hate?
How long has it been happening? About ten thousand years?
And man has still learned nothing; is how it now appears.
It’s like an endless treadmill that we can’t start or stop.
We’re born and keep on moving till finally we drop!
Where will we find the answer? Without theology,
Such questions can’t be answered; that’s how it seems to me.
God must have had a purpose; but where did it go wrong?
The fact is that the Father had known it all along.
It didn’t come and shock Him, or take Him by surprise.
He knew what Lucifer would say to spread his evil lies.
In fact He’d always known it. When Lucifer was made,
The Lord knew there would come a time when He was disobeyed.
That pride would be the reason for this archangel’s fall.
In spite of this, He knew that it was somehow worth it all.
The whole thing’s still in process. But Jesus knows the end.
It won‘t be interrupted; on this we can depend.
Someday the Lord will say to us, “My child can you now see,
It had to be all finalised to wind up history?
Look now at what has happened! See, It was all worthwhile!
Think back on your questioning. It’s sure to make you smile.
For sin and Satan’s empire, I had to bring to naught.
And that is why I came to earth. To fight the war I fought.
If I had quit the way you said, no one would ever see;
The awesomeness of Jesus and His Great Majesty!
While you were in the grip of time, I couldn’t then reveal,
The fullness of My purpose. You wouldn’t think it real!
How could it ever happen? But now it is so clear!
And in this new dimension, I am forever near!
So be a little patient and wait till time is done;
And you will have the answers directly from My Son.
Jim Strickland
Written
7th April 2012
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