Time with Jesus - 11
Sept. 2013
Hi all,
The Genesis account of creation is beautiful beyond
description. It’s a simplistic explanation of the process of going from nothing
to a magnificent world, perfect in every respect. |
| A Beautiful World Perfect in all Respects |
Precisely how God
went about creating isn’t spelled out. It wasn’t intended to be a detailed scientific
account. God didn’t intend it to be understood that way. How could He do so?
Even today, the technical detail would be such that few, if any, could
understand every part of it. However, although each of the events may not be
understood, the sequence is logical and believable by men and women of every
age, regardless of intellectual ability. This makes it all the more believable!
We are told creation took place in six days. Some
believe this to be six, twenty four hour periods. I will not argue this with
you. My concern is that when God created light, our planet had yet to be
created. Since “day” as we understand it, constitutes one revolution of our
planet on its axis, how can we define a “day” in those terms when our planet
didn’t exist on day one?
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| Adam's First Job |
The creation story continues to the “end” of the sixth
day, when God looked at His handiwork and stated that everything was very good.
31 Then God
looked over all He had made, and He saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth
day. Gen 1:31 NLT
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| Chapters and Verses? |
When reading the Bible we must remember that in the
original, there were no chapters and verse numbers. These are a man-made
addition for our convenience. Although it has helped us find a place in
Scripture, in many instances, the divisions have done more harm than good.
 |
| Just in case we've forgotten! |
A
good example is the end of Genesis 1. Gen 2:1-3 fits more comfortably at the
end of Genesis 1. For better understanding, in my opinion, Genesis 2 should
begin at Gen 2:4. In this way, the establishment of the day of rest (the
seventh day) would be seen as part of the overall creation account. The present
chapter divisions give the impression that creation ended at the end of chapter
1. But the end was when God “stepped back” as it were, to look at creation and
enjoy what He saw. He said It was very good!
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| If you don't do what he said, This guy will surely shoot you dead! |
It’s an interesting observation that God required Adam
to work before he was given a wife. Of course, this is how it should be. A man’s
first priority is to work for a living. Interestingly enough, Adam’s work preceded
fellowship with God in the cool of the day and before marriage and a family.
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| In Summary |
This principle applies even after the fall in Genesis 3. As a man, I am
expected to provide for my wife and family before attending a church. I know
this is not popular, but it follows the creation sequence.
 |
| Get Going Guy! |
The experience of women down through the centuries has been,
"I will greatly increase your pains in
childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be
for your husband, and he will rule over you”. In many respects, since
the fall, women have “worked” harder than their male counterparts. 
Shalom,
Jim & Phyllida
Strickland
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – 11 Sept 2013
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
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©
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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
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©
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INTRODUCTION
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DAILY
LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
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WORKING OR SHIRKING?
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Naivety is one of the most prevalent difficulties
associated with Christianity today. We tend to believe anything and trust
everyone. It doesn’t take long before the “gilt wears off the gingerbread”
and for us to realise that, generally speaking, Christians are not much
different from unbelievers. I know it’s a terrible conclusion to reach, but
it’s true. We know it shouldn’t be this way. Christians should live a
Christ-like lifestyle. We seldom find this to be the case.
The biggest surprise in this regard was when I went
to Bible school. My expectation was that all of us would be doing our very
best to live a Biblical lifestyle. Many did. But the lifestyle was more like
that of Ahab and Jezebel than of Jesus. Within three weeks a man was
“unmasked”. He could “flow in the Holy Spirit” and “prophesy” most
convincingly. Sadly he was like Elmer Gantry. His purpose was to rip-off
young ladies. He was impressive and a total “shyster”.
I had been able to save the fees for Bible School
and paid for the full year in advance. The norm seemed to be people who
wanted to attend for free. They had been “called” to attend Bible School but
had no money to pay the fees. For several months the school staff pursued
them before eventually, either the people left, or they paid up. They found
someone to pay their fees!
What really shook Phyllida and me was the way so
many Christians were not interested in working. They said they were trusting
God for their finances. But the idea of working was anathema. They struggled
on day after day, week after week and year after year. At the end of the
period they were still waiting for God to fill their pockets. It’s rather sad.
Much of this originates from our passion for taking Scripture out of context.
A good example comes from Phil. 4:13 It’s
qualified by Phil. 4:12, the preceding
verse. 12 I know how to live on almost
nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every
situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.
13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me
strength. Phil. 4:12-13 NLT Looking
at both verses together we see that Paul was talking about living with and
without the essentials of life. He was saying Jesus empowered him to do all
this in and through His strength. Phil. 4:19 NLT has
also been misinterpreted. In the previous verses, Paul was referring to how
their gift had provided for his needs. Paul was confident that others would
provide for their needs in a similar way in and through Jesus. What was sad was that 2 Thess. 3:10 (Anyone
who will not work will not eat) & 1 Thess.
4:11 (do your
work, and earn your own living), were
ignored. Not that we were surprised. Why work if you can find someone who
will support you financially?
I’m trying not to be cynical, but it’s not easy. Christians are not
welcome by many businesses, because they don’t pay their bills. They steal
from their brothers and sisters when they ask them to do a job and have no
means of paying their bill. That makes them liars and thieves! This happens
regularly. Personally, I prefer not to do business with a Christian unless I
know he/she will pay up. I can’t afford to work without them paying their bills.
Am I being too fussy? I don’t think so. What I’m longing to see is integrity
among my brothers and sisters in Jesus. Is it ever likely to happen? You tell
me.
Jim & Phyllida
Strickland
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23
Meanwhile, men and women go out to work, busy at
their jobs until evening.
Psalms 104:23 MSG
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I’m
told that we are swearing when we use four letter words.
A lot of people do so. Still do, from what I’ve heard.
Some
words are quite disgusting and banned from Christian speech.
But even so, for some of them, these words are still in reach.
But
now there is another word which seems to haunt the church.
Some Christian when they hear it, it knocks them off their perch.
Please
read it very quietly and don’t spread it around.
Some people say it’s toxic and never should be found,
In
any Christian circle, because they’re trusting God,
To get another hand out, while on the road they trod.
What
is this frightful little word that makes folk run off scared?
I’m going to have to use it, although you’re unprepared.
It
only has four letters and rhymes with the word “shirk”.
So please excuse me using it; the little word is “work”.
I
know it isn’t popular, but it’s what God requires.
Sadly, many Christians, find that the word inspires
Many
to be busy. They’d rather spend the day,
Jabbering and chattering in every sort of way.
“I’m
trusting God” they tell us. “I hate activity;
And I’ve received a calling that’s totally work free.
Please
don’t be offended. I think I’d rather pray
For God to send me money, in His mysterious way”.
We
meet them by the dozen and mostly they are poor,
Some are getting hungry, but they are very sure,
That
just around the corner, someone will help them out;
That they’ll be given millions, they do not ever doubt.
They
do not read the Bible to find what it contains.
The thought of their employment, is banished from their brains.
It
seems they are allergic to working with their hands.
And haven’t ever read the Word, that says the Lord demands,
His
people to be working. Without it, they won’t eat.
That’s what the Lord is saying. Man has to earn his meat!
Whatever
you can find to do, do it with all your might.
That way the Lord will bless you, with blessings “out of sight”.
There
is a sure connection about our daily bread.
God says, “Go out and earn it, without food you’ll be dead”.
And
if you are a father, it’s you who must provide,
To feed all of your family. From this you cannot hide.
The
Lord holds you responsible for all your family.
If anyone is starving, He’ll put the blame on thee.
And
though it sounds unsavoury, make work your way of life.
Then He will take good care of you, your family and wife.
Jim
Strickland
Written
11th September 2012
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19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until
you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you
are and to dust you will return."
Genesis 3:19 TNIV
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10 Even
when we were with you, we gave you a rule. We
said, "Anyone who will not work will not eat."
2 Thessalonians 3:10 NIrV
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11 Also, make it your goal to live quietly, do your work,
and earn your own living, as we ordered you.
1 Thessalonians 4:11 GW
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10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might,
for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you
are going.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 ESV
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4 We
must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the One who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work.
John 9:4 NLT
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9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will
reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9 NIV
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58 My
dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Don't let anything move you. Always give yourselves completely to the work of the
Lord. Because you belong to the Lord, you know that your work is not
worthless.
1 Corinthians 15:58 NIrV
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9 So there is still a Sabbath rest for God's people.
Hebrews 4:9 NIrV
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12
'These last workers put in only one easy hour, and you just made them equal
to us, who slaved all day under a scorching sun.'
Matthew 20:12 MSG
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12 to
whom he has said, "This is rest; give rest
to the weary; and this is repose"; yet they would not hear.
Isaiah 28:12 ESV
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