JIMMETS - GOD’S ABIDING LOVE

Time with Jesus - 22 July 2013

Hi all,

I am the True Vine

A day or so ago we looked at the script-writing talent of Allan Simpson and Ray Galton. In that era there were other script-writers who were the power behind the comedians. Frank Muir and Denis Norden were known for “Take it from Here” staring Jimmy Edwards, Dick Bently and, for a while, June Whitfield. 

L-R Michael Stanton (Barman)
Pa Glum (Jimmy Edwards)

You may remember “The Glums” from that series. Another “team” of script-writers was Barry Took and Marty Feldman. They wrote the “Around the Horn” series. Perhaps the best remembered character from that series is Kenneth Williams, the “star” of all the “Carry on” movies.

Frank Muir & Denis Norden

It was in the 1960’s when I first came across the brilliance of Frank Muir and Denis Norden. They featured in “My Word” and “My Music”, two radio programmes that were also popular in South Africa. Radio comedy continued to be popular in UK and RSA through the 1970’s and into the 80’s. Radio tailed off in popularity in the 1980’s for several reasons. Partly was the popularity of TV. Another reason was the demise of many of the stars of those days.

Frank Muir & Denis Norden in
My Word

Many radio and TV stars of that era “cut their teeth” in broadcasting during and just after WW2. In wartime Britton, radio comedy was something which kept up the “spirit” of the people. Most of Europe was devastated and ablaze from the bombs of the Nazi’s and later of the Allied forces. Furthermore, when the people were not sure if their families would survive another night, comedy was one of their few “escapes from reality” into the world of laughter. I was too young to understand what was happening. I’m told that my parents and grandparents gathered round the radio to hear BBC News and to listen to the likes of ITMA, George Formby, Vera Lynn and Gracie Fields.

ITMA
Tommy Handley

We have a proverb in English which states, “Every cloud has a silver lining”. There was even a song composed about this, “Look for the silver lining, whenever clouds appear in the blue”. These words may not be an actual quotation from Scripture. Nevertheless, they echo down through time from as far back as the fall. Perhaps a better way to put it is to say, “God is in control”. Things may appear to be blacker than black. It could seem as if there is no reason, even to hope! But God still has everything in hand.

What is useful for Christians at such times is knowing we can rely on Him. Job said, ¹⁵ though he slays me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. Job 13:15 KJV. This hasn’t changed, in spite of the stunts of Satan to make us believe otherwise.

Jesus continues to be fully aware that for you and me, beginning is easy. It’s not starting that presents us with a problem. It’s to keep going and to finish the course! There are literally dozens of examples of this. Stopping smoking; weight loss programmes; attending the gym, are only three. How many of us keep our new year’s resolutions? I’ve cheated on this a little. My new year’s resolution made in 1976 remains unbroken. It was easy. I resolved that I wouldn’t make any more New Year’s resolutions!

This lack of “stick-ability” in His followers prompted Him to speak, on several occasions, about our “keeping on”. John quotes Him as having said: ⁶ anyone who does not remain in Me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. John 15:6 NLT

Remain in Jesus

It seems clear He is telling Christians, if they quit actively following Him and asking Him for His strength to continue living a “Christian Life”, they will be thrown away. I understand He is insisting that we remain faithful to Him. We need to gather round Him like the people did in WW2 listening to the “radio”! He may not bring us laughter. He will bring us joy! Jesus is not a comedian. He’s God’s Son. His words bring abundant life in this world and the next.

Abiding means Staying the Course

Today’s meditation comprises two Jimmets. They are, “Abide in the Vine” and “Keep your-self in God’s Love” The first focuses on Jesus’ teaching about the vine. The second is a quotation from Jude’s epistle. He points out that Jesus will be faithful to us. Our responsibility is to keep ourselves in Jesus’ love.

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus 22 July 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	JIMMETS - GOD’S ABIDING LOVE
Hanging on my wall there are three certificates. They required time and effort on my behalf to obtain. On occasions I’ve wondered how accurate someone’s qualifications really are. I’ve thought, “How do I know that the examination was written by that person?” Much depends on the integrity of the individual and the vigilance of the examiners. Is it possible that a “professional exam writer” wrote the exam on the person’s behalf? Do such things happen? Occasionally, I’ve felt the “expert’s” qualifications were found in a lucky packet! Integrity is a strange “thing”. There was a time when people were as good as their word. Agreements were settled with a handshake. Not today. We employ lawyers to check every clause, including the fine print, before we sign on the dotted line. Lawyers have profited from this. Has anyone else? As a schoolboy “weighing machines” were found on almost every street corner. For one penny it would “spit out” a piece of paper with your weight on it. A later refinement was to select a question on the dial. The machine would give you your weight and the answer. I remember one that asked, “Where will I find happiness?” The answer was, “Under ‘H’ in the dictionary. Today I find if I asked the question, “Where will I find integrity?” The answer would be, “Under “I” in the dictionary”. It grieves me this is true, even among Christians. Jesus Christ and his half-brother, Jude, commented on this some 2000 years ago. Jesus said, “Abide in Me and I in You”. This surely indicates the possibility that His followers would not do so. They would be tempted away and lose their connection with Him. They would be “cut off from the vine”; and perish. He added that without Him, we can do nothing. But surely, if we lose our integrity as Christians, we have lost everything? You may well be forgiven, but others will not trust you again. Jude made it clear we are to keep ourselves in God’s love. This suggests we are free not to do so. Whether this refers to our eternal salvation is not the issue. What’s important is to see you and I have a responsibility for doing so. He won’t do it for us. His love is available to everyone. But He does not force His love on anyone. If you don’t want it, you can quit or say, “No thanks!” Staying in His love is our responsibility. We must do it. How? The answer is by living a life that follows His lifestyle. Integrity is an example of this. It could be equated to keeping our word. Better still, it’s a question of keeping His Word. Do we? Or is integrity still only found in the dictionary. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			21 Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Jude 21 NIV	ABIDE IN THE VINE Those who are abiding in the vine, Their fruit will always be the very best. This is His intention and design, Helps us see how much we have been blessed. The sap is always flowing from the root, And spreading to each branch’s outer tip. To bring it’s juicy richness to the fruit, And luscious flavour to its very pip. There’s no other way for fruit to grow. The sap must rise to bring the nourishment. If you ever interrupt the flow, The fruit will wither, for its life is spent. Abide in Him. United to the vine. You’ll be fruitful, ‘til the end of time. Jim Strickland  22nd July 2012 KEEP YOURSELF IN GOD’S LOVE Jude said “Keep Yourselves within God’s love; Wait for Christ, eternal life to bring. It is not the task of God above. We’re responsible to do this “thing”. There are some tasks Jesus will not do. They’re for our accountability. God is never going to do for you, That which He’s commanded you and me. Loving others isn’t idleness. It’s involvement, not just standing by. Seeking opportunities to bless, Other folk and never asking “Why?” This was Jesus’ lifestyle to the hilt! It’s no wonder that His blood was spilt. Jim Strickland  22nd July 2012
			4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bear much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:4-5 ESV
			22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 ESV
			8 When you bear a lot of fruit, it brings glory to my Father. It shows that you are my disciples. 9 "Just as the Father has loved me, I have loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love. In the same way, I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. John 15:8-10 NIrV
			5 But whoever obeys what Christ says is the kind of person in whom God's love is perfected. That's how we know we are in Christ. 1 John 2:5 GW
			12 This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. John 15:12 MSG
			8 But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8 NLT
			16 So we know that God loves us. We depend on it. God is love. Anyone who leads a life of love shows that he is joined to God. And God is joined to him. 1 John 4:16 NIrV