Sunday, June 23, 2013

COME AND SEE

Time with Jesus - Monday, 24 June 2013

Hi all,
Driving round the suburban areas of the bigger towns in South Africa, we are sure to see a number of signs which read “Beware of the Dog”. More often than not, there is the head of a large snarling dog included on the sign somewhere. 
A variation on this was one which read, “Never mind the Dog,
Beware of the Owner”. Included on the sign was a picture of a rather large and threatening hand-gun.
For many of those whose roots go back to Europe, dogs are regarded as “man’s best friend”. But that’s not true of some nations. In the days when Jesus ministered “in the flesh”, to call a man a dog was an insult. The Jews disdainfully referred to all Gentiles as “dogs”. It wasn’t quite the lowest form of life to them. But it was far down the ladder of social and religious acceptability.
A Pharisee
A typical prayer from someone like a Pharisee was, "Blessed are you, Hashem, King of the Universe, for not having made me a Gentile, a slave or a woman”. I’m not sure of the order of significance. This prayer does however illustrate the importance attached of all three.
Slave
There was another category of people hated in those days. These were the tax collectors. In Jewish society, tax collectors were “the scum of the earth”. They were intensely hated, although they were all Jews. The Romans knew a thing or two. They realised that the best way of raising taxes was to use the local population. Thus they appointed Jews to the position. They told the tax collector how much they wanted. The tax-man could then charge more or less what he wanted and keep the difference. 
Tax-collector, a dog
or a woman
It follows that tax-men were relatively wealthy. They did it by overcharging their “clients”. This is why tax-men were seen as the dregs of society. A Gentile was thought of as a dog. A tax-man was thought of as less than a dog.
It was against this background Matthew, the Gospel writer, recorded some of the most poignant words in the New Testament.
A Woman
9 As Jesus was walking along, He saw a MAN named Matthew sitting at his tax collector's booth. "Follow Me and be My disciple," Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed Him. 10 Later, Matthew invited Jesus and His disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. 11 But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with such scum?" Mat 9:9-11 NLT
A Dog
This portion of Scripture always gives me hope for the future and a sense of deep thankfulness every time I read it. When Jesus looked at Matthew, He didn’t see a dog. He didn’t see one of the lowest life forms on earth. Jesus saw a man! Matthew knew it. He was the man. He recorded it for us in his Gospel. Mark and Luke refer to the incident in their Gospels. But Matthew shows us the significance of what had taken place that day, by the addition of two little words; “a man”. Jesus looked beyond the exterior and saw; not a gentile dog or a tax collector. Jesus saw a man.
A Young Man
Me
Thank God for this. One evening in October 1960, Jesus walked through Bainbridge Memorial Methodist Church and saw a man. Not much of a man admittedly. He saw a young man who had destroyed his own future and was an outcast. He saw me! “Follow Me” Jesus said to me. In spite of everything seeming to be as bad, if not worse than a tax collector some 2000 years ago, He saw me. He saw a young man! I got up from my seat in that youth meeting and have followed Him ever since. Thank you for seeing me Lord.
Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give
Time with Jesus – 24 June 2013
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
©
INTRODUCTION
DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
COME AND SEE
From the day we docked in Cape Town on the Carnarvon Castle, we lived in hotels. That’s not something to boast about. It was like that, because during WW2, very few houses were built and even rental property was hard to find. In addition, most hotels were “Residential” and cheap. My Dad told me that when we moved into Hornby House in Humewood, Port Elizabeth, the hotel costs were £7 per person per month. In other words He paid £18 per month for all three of us. This included three meals per day. The last time I was in Port Elizabeth, Hornby House was still there. But now it had been converted into apartments, catering primarily for holiday makers. No meals provided. Since it is slap bang on the Humewood beach front, there is no shortage of holiday makers at ±R750 per day. When we lived there in 1950 the idea of such staggering rents didn’t even appear on our radar screen!
At the beginning of 1952, through a friend of a friend, we rented a flat in Pearson Street. And shortly thereafter, rented a house in Park Lane almost next to St Georges Park. We had gone from a flat to a house. Such a possibility was unimaginable when we were in Hornby House. By 1959/60, developers were building more and more houses so it was easier to buy your own home, than to pay the rent.
It wasn’t until 1960 that Dad could buy a house. Having lived in hotels and rented property since 1947, it was like going to heaven. If I had been asked in 1947 to describe my “dream home” I think my mind would have gone “tilt”. But now we were living in it. I was 5 in 1947. I was 18 in 1960. The imagination of a 5 year old does not measure up to the reality of what things are to an 18 year old.
In many respects, what is described above is reminiscent of what Paul wrote to the Corinthians: 9 But as Scripture says: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love him."1 Corinthians 2:9 GW
We can never even try and guess the things God has prepared for us. It will be infinitely greater than the difference between the imagination of a 5 year old and an 18 year old. One thing we do know is that Jesus Christ has gone to prepare a place for us. Scripturally each one of us will receive a mansion. I’m reluctant to try and guess what this might be. This I do know. 8 But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.2 Peter 3:8 NLT Jesus ascended on a Thursday. Two “days” later takes us to the middle of Saturday. So He’s only been preparing for us for two days! Furthermore, if today for Him is Saturday afternoon then it’s His Sabbath. I’m not sure how much preparing He is doing today? Not that it matters. He’ll come when all is ready. I’ll wait!
Jim & Phyllida
Strickland
38 Jesus looked around and saw them following. "What do you want?" He asked them. They replied, "Rabbi" (which means "Teacher"), "where are You staying?" 39 "Come and see," He said. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon when they went with Him to the place where He was staying, and they remained with Him the rest of the day.
John 1:38-39 NLT
2 There is plenty of room for you in my Father's home. If that weren't so, would I have told you that I'm on my way to get a room ready for you? 3 And if I'm on my way to get your room ready, I'll come back and get you so you can live where I live.
John 14:2-3 MSG
20 Look, I'm standing at the door and knocking. If anyone listens to my voice and opens the door, I'll come in and we'll eat together. 21 I will allow everyone who wins the victory to sit with me on my throne, as I have won the victory and have sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Let the person who has ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches."
Revelation 3:20-22 GW
15 For this is what the high and lofty One says-- he who lives forever, whose name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.
Isaiah 57:15 NIV
20 Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And you can be sure that I am always with you, to the very end."
Matthew 28:20 NIrV
7 How precious is Your loving-kindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.
Psalms 36:7 NASB
John’s disciples followed Him. “What do you want: said He?
“Where are you living Rabbi?” He answered, “Come and see”?
Two thousand odd years later, the same thing is still true.
We ask Him where’s He’s living? He says to me and you,
“Follow Me and I will surely take you on a road,
That ultimately takes you to My heavenly abode.”
He doesn’t show before-hand what it’s like in His home.
To give a full description would fill a giant tome.
You can’t describe what’s infinite with any English words.
Just the thought of doing it is utterly absurd.
How do you pour the oceans into a little jug?
If you think you can do it, my friend, don’t be so smug!
And yet the Lord has hinted at what it is we’ll see.
He says it is a mansion He’s making just for me!
And I am not the only one. He’s making one for you.
And every other Christian will find they have one too!
So Jesus has been busy since he went up above
Building us a mansion which speaks about His love.
Each mansion will be different. Each one is tailor made
To fit the personalities of those who have obeyed.
If you like fitted carpets, they’ll be upon the floor.
All your aspirations you’ll find they’re there and more.
For if you can imagine it, your thinking’s far too small.
It’s infinitely better than what you can recall.
I don’t know how He’ll do this; each mansion’s right next door,
To where the King is “living”. You couldn’t ask for more.
To live next door to Holiness, means you’ll be holy too.
O Master I can hardly wait to be a bit like You!
O Lord Your loving-kindness. It blows my puny mind.
There isn’t any other God that anyone can find.
O Lord, You are exclusive and totally unique.
All You ever want to do, You only have to speak;
And it starts its existence. It stands before your throne;
Only You can do this. Just You and You alone!
How can a man describe these things? Your Spirit indicates,
The things we cannot guess at, or even estimate.
For what you have prepared for those who seek to follow You.
And follow in obedience, Your Holy will to do.
Jim Strickland
Written 24th June 2012

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