Sunday, August 4, 2013

THE CHRISTIAN WALK

Time with Jesus - 04 August 2013
Hi all,
Joachim
von Ribbentrop
I learned from Paris Riedhead, that although I’ve given my life to Jesus, Inside I’m still a monster of iniquity. At the same time, the Word teaches: 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Cor. 5:17 KJV

From this, I was taught and believed that when I gave my life to Jesus Christ, I became that New Creature in Christ. I was also taught that I was made righteous in His sight. This did not happen through my obedience to the Law and the Prophets. It came about as a result of faith in Jesus Christ. Paul expressed this to the Romans as follows:

21 But now God has shown us how to become right with him. The Law and the Prophets give witness to this. It has nothing to do with obeying the law. 22 We are made right with God by putting our faith in Jesus Christ. That happens to all who believe. It is no different for the Jews than for anyone else. Rom. 3:21-22 NIrV

My problem with this is my behaviour and the conduct of all the Christian men and women I’ve met. Our lifestyle is not righteous. In 1 Corinthians, Paul stated: 1 But for right now, friends, I'm completely frustrated by your unspiritual dealings with each other and with God. You're acting like infants in relation to Christ, 2 capable of nothing much more than nursing at the breast. Well, then, I'll nurse you since you don't seem capable of anything more. 3 As long as you grab for what makes you feel good or makes you look important, are you really much different than a babe at the breast, content only when everything's going your way? 1 Cor. 3:1-3 MSG.  

Obviously, Paul had similar problems with the Corinthians. Their everyday life was not in line with spiritual truth.

Now Scripture does not contradict itself. It seems that it is possible to have given your life to Jesus Christ, but continue to live like everybody else in this world! Is this possible? Clearly, the answer is “Yes!” It is a divine paradox. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul states, 5 he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! 6 Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah. Eph. 2:5-6 MSG. 
According to this, I am sitting in front of my computer and am seated with Jesus Christ in heavenly places. Which one is correct? The truth is they are both correct.

I'm Here
You and I are living in this world subject to all its principles. Let’s call it, “The Kingdom Now”. But if I am in Christ, I’m in “The Coming Kingdom”. My body can be in front of my computer. Yet my spirit is at home with Jesus in the Coming Kingdom! Are they both together? Yes they are. Jesus Christ is God. He is omnipresent and free from the limitations of time and space. 

So the real me is where He is. My body is here at the computer. My spirit is where He is. Now He is everywhere. So it’s not a problem for me to be here and seated with Him in heavenly places.

We are also Here
J & P on Holiday
in Switzerland
Think of it this way. I’m seated at home in front of the TV watching a DVD of Phyllida and me on holiday. I’m not in two places at once. Yet the experience was absolutely real. If we remove the “time and space” component from the DVD, I’m “in two places at once”. Now I can’t do that and neither can you. But in Jesus Christ, even this apparent paradox becomes not only possible, but true.
So let’s follow Him and “walk in the Spirit”. That way we will not follow the flesh. Our objective is to be so one with Him, our presence with Him is more real than sitting in front of the computer. For us that will be the true “Christian walk”.
Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland







Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give
Time with Jesus – Sunday, 04 August 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 CHRISTIAN WALK
I was deeply touched about a year ago by a testimony I read in one of the magazines. The testimony concerns the life of Joachim von Ribbentrop, the Nazi Minister of Foreign Affairs. He was the first of the war criminals executed on 16 October 1946. The story concerns his young niece. With a name like von Ribbentrop, it’s easy to imagine how she and her husband were hounded round Germany and anywhere else they wished to live. As a close family member she had loved her uncle and was greatly traumatized by his trial and execution. Shortly after the war she converted to Christianity. But she was desperately unhappy about Uncle Joachim and where he would be after his death. It so happened that one evening she attended a prayer meeting where she shared her burden with others. Afterwards she was approached by a woman who said that at that time she had prayed for the men on trial for war crimes. Several years later she came across a man who had been one of the Nuremburg guards. He said that during the days prior to von Ribbentrop’s execution, a man of God had regularly visited the condemned men and led all but three of them to the Lord. Joachim von Ribbentrop was one of those who received a death cell revelation of Jesus Christ. He went to his death knowing that in spite of all he had done, Jesus Christ loved him and had forgiven him. I am not in a position to confirm or deny this story. What I can say is that the love of Jesus Christ has no limits. He can even save a Nazi! He did!
Today’s meditation looks at Jesus’ willingness to save a Christian from the miry pit. I’m not referring to salvation. I’m referring to those on the road of life. Sometimes He delivers. Sometimes He does not. It doesn’t help asking Him why? So much depends on God’s purposes. On occasions He gets more glory from the death of an individual than from rescuing him from his circumstance. To some degree it also depends on us!
We also don’t have the benefit of hindsight. For example, the destruction of Jerusalem, along with the captivity and transportation of the people to Babylon. It was thought to be catastrophic. Indeed it was for the Jews at the time. But for the Kingdom of God it was critical. The Jewish “diaspora” meant that Paul and other evangelists could visit Jews all over the then known world. This might never have happened without the Babylonian captivity. No one could have realised in 586BC anything about its future significance. Hopefully, if Jesus tarries, by 2345, something worthwhile will have been identified from the Holocaust. God alone knows what that might be.
Jim & Phyllida
Strickland
16 He reached down from high above and took hold of me. He pulled me out of the raging water.
Psalms 18:16 GW
How much does Jesus care for us? How far will Jesus go,
To save us when we’re sinking into the world below?
It’s something we can’t measure. It’s up to you and me.
In fact it’s all a measure of our sincerity.
Of course He has no favourites. He treats us all the same.
It’ isn’t our ability, our fortune or our fame.
But somehow He can see the things we harbour deep inside.
He looks at our integrity and any inward pride.
“Mene, Mene, Tekel” was written on the wall;   (See Daniel 5:25-26)
If tried and still found wanting. His rescuing will stall.
It’s not that He’s vindictive. He truly wants to save.
But so much is dependent on the way that we behave.
It isn’t what we’re saying. He looks at what we do.
There’s many other factors preceding our rescue.
It’s not so much our sinning, He takes good care of that.
Do we have teach-ability and where it is we’re at?
To rescue from the miry pit; is it worth His while?
Is His Kingdom better off with or without our smile?
We do not know these answers. We cannot even guess.
I know from my position, I hope the answer’s “Yes!”
Salvation isn’t given by the rolling of the dice.
It’s also not a question of whether we are “nice”.
It’s what He sees within us. Our capability,
Of loving Him forever, no matter where we be!
Each and every factor goes through the Saviour’s mind.
Will we be His servant, gentle, pure and kind?
If He thinks it’s possible, He’ll reach down from on High.
And draw us from the miry pit. If not, He’ll let us die.
I know that this sounds cruel. It’s difficult and tough.
But then again the Christian life is arduous and rough.
There’s little point in rescue if you’ll quickly take a tumble;
If you are proud and arrogant instead of being humble.
If it’s vaguely possible, you needn’t be afraid.
The Lord is always standing by, to give to you his aid.
But He will not be cheated and He cannot be conned.
He doesn’t stoop to foolish tricks nor wave a magic wand.
He looks at the reality, of character and style.
If they are not present, you’ll miss Him by a mile.
He will always rescue those who’ll make Him Lord and King,
Hold them by His mighty hand and give them everything.
Jim Strickland
Written 3rd August 2012
2 I was sliding down into the pit of death, and he pulled me out. He brought me up out of the mud and dirt. He set my feet on a rock. He gave me a firm place to stand on.
Psalms 40:2 NIrV
1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil--the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God's anger, just like everyone else.
Ephesians 2:1-3 NLT
For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by stringed instruments. 1 O God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer! 2 From the ends of the earth, I cry to You for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety,
Psalms 61:1-2 NLT
2 He said, "I cried out to the LORD in my great trouble, and He answered me. I called to You from the land of the dead, and LORD, You heard me! 3 You threw me into the ocean depths, and I sank down to the heart of the sea. The mighty waters engulfed me; I was buried beneath Your wild and stormy waves.
Jonah 2:2-3 NLT
12 Then You put a leader over us. We went through fire and flood, but You brought us to a place of great abundance.
Psalms 66:12 NLT
2 When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.
Isaiah 43:2 NLT

No comments:

Post a Comment