IT’S YOUR MOVE

Time with Jesus - 29 Dec 2013

Hi all,

Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is unique. He is the only person to have lived on this earth who had a human mother and a Divine Father. 

The Gospel of Mark tells us that He had four brothers, James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon as well as more than one sister. ¹ Jesus left that part of the country and returned with His disciples to Nazareth, His hometown. ² The next Sabbath He began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were amazed. They asked, "Where did He get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?" ³ Then they scoffed, "He's just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And His sisters live right here among us." They were deeply offended and refused to believe in Him. Mark 6:1-3 NLT

Since this incident took place in Nazareth, He was among those who had grown up with Him. The folk from Nazareth would know if Jesus had half-brothers and half-sisters. They would be the children of Joseph and Mary. Protestants have no difficulty believing that Mary had children by Joseph after Jesus’ birth. The Romans Catholics would dispute this strongly. Their belief that Mary was a virgin before and after Jesus’ birth would be contradicted. She would be “downgraded” to being just another woman, wife and mother; a very special mother, but a mother non-the-less.

There is no doubt that Mary was a very special woman. In Luke’s Gospel the angel Gabriel’s greeting to her confirms this. Later, when she visits her cousin Elizabeth, she (Elizabeth) is recorded to have stated: ⁴² Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, "God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Luke 1:42 NLT In this regard we are told that in those days, the Messiah was expected at any time. Not surprisingly, all the young girls of marriageable age secretly wanted to the mother of the Messiah. In a way it’s rather like what many of the young ladies in UK would have liked; to be Prince Charles or later on Prince William’s wife. The expectation was that their son would someday become the King!

Jesus, 4 brothers and 2 sisters

Four names are mentioned as the brothers of Jesus. These are James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. It is often suggested that two of them contributed to the New Testament Scriptures. These are James and Judas, called Jude in the KJV and other English Translations. One of the factors which greatly influenced the church fathers to include the Epistle of James and Jude is the belief that they were His half-brothers. Be that as it may, the fact is these Epistles have been included. Jude’s epistle is very short but very thought provoking. The Epistle of James is longer and has been the source of some criticism by the reformers. Some have suggested it should never have been included in the cannon. Luther went so far as to call it, “Epistle of Straw” based on some of the content which did not seem to coincide with his convictions concerning “faith” and what he thought it meant.

The Epistle of James has, on occasions, been called the “Proverbs” of the New Testament based on its very practical content. Certainly James “told it as he saw it”. Today’s meditation focusses on one of his “pithy statements”. ⁸ Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. James 4:8 NLT

The words are straight-forward and easily understood. The first half of the verse is a very practical comment. If you draw close to God, He will draw close to you. God is not seeking to preserve a defined distance between Himself and His people. He wants us to draw close to Him. The Scripture suggests that God will reciprocate in this. Whether or not God moves physically toward us when we move toward Him is a moot point. God is Spirit and does not “move” the way we understand. What remains true is that if we draw closer to Him, the “distance” between us “decreases”. In itself, this is an excellent reason to draw closer to Him.

The second half of the verse explains why this happens. It is sin that separates us from God. It follows that repentance from sin, (Washing your hands, and purifying your hearts) is the method whereby we draw closer to Him. This is only possible when we have a right and loving relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ. This brings us back to something we have looked at on several occasions. i.e. Without repentance there can be no forgiveness. We will never be able to draw close to God while we remain committed to sin. Sin separates us from God. If we continue in sin and will not repent, we will remain separate from Him.

Actually, it’s a heart attitude we are referring to here. God knows when we are genuinely seeking to turn away from sin. When this is our desire and intention, we are able to draw closer to Him. 

The choice is always ours. Do we desire to follow the ways of the world or the ways of God? He will not accept divided loyalty. We cannot sit on the fence. It’s our choice. Which choice do you wish to make?

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland 

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – 9 Dec 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	IT’S YOUR MOVE
In the early 1960’s in South Africa, national service had not been introduced. There were one or two young men who were called up to undergo some form of army training. In those days, we talked about a ballot system. It was probably something like drawing names out of a hat. If your name was drawn out, you were in. If your name remained in, you were out! All very easy. I suspect. Fortunately, for me, I was never called up. So presumably, I was out. Not that I’m particularly bothered about it. It was something I was privileged not to be a part of. On my return to South Africa in 1974, there was no question of my being called up. It might have happened, but I like to think I was permanently overlooked. In 1988 the State caught up with me and I was called up to serve for a week in Dad’s Army in Ermelo. That week was one of the coldest ever experienced in Ermelo! It was cold, wet and windy. I was given a rifle and told to guard it with my life. On one occasion, we went to the rifle range to learn to shoot. It wasn’t exactly a memorable occasion. What I did find was, the safest place to be when I was shooting, was in front of the target! After the camp we all had to take our rifles home for safe keeping. I didn’t have a gun-safe at home, so the power station did me a favour. They kept it in their arms locker! Several months later, I applied to be classified as a conscientious objector. Having been reclassified, I had to take my kit and rifle back. I was a bit sorry to part with the gun. Thank God I never had to use it! As we read the Old Testament, it soon becomes apparent that the religious life of the Children of Israel was a measure of their rise or fall in their secular life. When they drew close to God, they were successful; particularly with regard to their enemies. I’m not sure it can be quantified, but it seemed that nearness to God determined their security among the nations. We see this very clearly in the book of Judges. When they lapsed into idolatry, their enemies defeated them. When they returned to God, they defeated their enemies. It was so abundantly obvious; it’s hard to believe how quickly the nation could apostatise. We see a similar trend in the UK today. In only 68 years, the people appear to have forgotten their deliverance from the forces of darkness in WW2. Fairly recently, England was placed second as the least God fearing nation internationally. Japan won this dubious honour. There is presently very little Christian influence in UK. The same can be said for USA. RSA seems to be on the same slippery slope. Few realise that if we move away from God, He will move away from us. Dr AW Tozer wrote over fifty years ago, “We are as full of the Spirit of God as we want to be” Many of us aren’t interested in Him. Why should He be interested in us? Jim & Phyllida Strickland			8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. James 4:8 NLT	If I’m sitting near you; perhaps six feet apart. The distance in between us, will noticeably start, Getting somewhat smaller if I’m moving toward you.                 James 4:8 Unless you move away from me. This always will be true, The gap that is between us will visibly decrease. We will get much closer; and this will never cease. It’s just the same with Jesus; unless we start to sin, We have His approval to draw near and enter in. Surely that’s the object? But if we disagree, It will be impossible for Him to walk with me.               Amos 3:3 If we aren’t agreeing about which way to go, We can’t walk together and each other we can’t know! But I’ve learned a lesson. It’s good if we draw near. He becomes my shelter and I am free from fear.          Psalm 73:28 I can tell my neighbours, about what has been done. Jesus came and saved me. I’m God’s adopted son! How wonderful this feeling. It makes me want to share, The news about salvation, with sinners everywhere. Perhaps you are a youngster? Perhaps you’re very old? If you don’t have Jesus, you’re left out in the cold. Think of Azariah, the offspring of Obed. The Spirit came upon him and here is what he said. “Listen to me Asa”, the current reigning King.                          2 Chron. 15:2-4 “Listen O ye people. A word from God I bring. The Lord God will be with you; He will not depart. You won’t be abandoned, if you serve Him from the heart. But if you abandon Him, His presence will be gone. Without His assistance, you’ll have to carry on. But if you will turn to Him and seek Him constantly, You will surely find Him and He will be with thee.” God has planned our future. His plan is very good. Jer. 29:11-13 There’ll be no disasters, the way, no doubt, there could. When you seek, you’ll find Him; He will hear you pray. You’ll have right of access to His new and living way.  Heb. 10:19-22 Jesus, our High Priest, is at His Father’s side. He has washed and cleansed you. You’re invited to abide, Without a guilty conscience; no matter where you’ve been. Sprinkled by His blood, you are untainted, pure and clean. Jim Strickland Written 29th December 2012
			3 Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction? Amos 3:3 NLT
			28 But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign LORD my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things You do. Psalms 73:28 NLT
			2 and he went out to meet King Asa as he was returning from the battle. "Listen to me, Asa!" he shouted. "Listen, all you people of Judah and Benjamin! The LORD will stay with you as long as you stay with Him! Whenever you seek Him, you will find Him. But if you abandon Him, He will abandon you. 3 For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach them, and without the Law to instruct them. 4 But whenever they were in trouble and turned to the LORD, the God of Israel, and sought Him out, they found Him. 2 Chronicles 15:2-4 NLT
			11 For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for Me wholeheartedly, you will find Me. Jeremiah 29:11-13 NLT
			19 And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20 By His death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. 21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God's house, 22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting Him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:19-22 NLT