Time with Jesus - Sunday, 27 January 2013
Hi all,
“Are you saved?” This is not a popular question to ask
many folk today. They say, “Saved from what?” Of course it’s a valid comment.
The question has become so “stereotyped”, people hardly take it seriously.
Perhaps we should ask, “Have you chosen life or death?” It’s a much more
Biblical Question and unbelievers are more likely to give an intelligent answer.
Then we can respond with the Gospel.
I’m reminded of the statement, “If you do the same
things this year as you did last year, you will most probably get the same
result”. Perhaps the time has come for us all to change our words to
unbelievers; unless of course we want the same result. Do you want the same
result? Then perhaps you should rephrase the question to choosing life or death?
That’s today’s meditation.
Blessings,
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – Sunday, 27 January 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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Choose Life
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The goodness of God! What
can we say? At times it seems impossible for us to even get a glimpse of His
infinite goodness. Today’s Scriptures make this abundantly clear.
So how great is His
goodness? I’m reminded of someone’s remark that when Jesus was asked how big
His love was, He stretched His arms out wide and died. What can any of us say
in the face of love and goodness this big? Any attempt to express it in words
is doomed to failure. The context of the following quote from 1st
Samuel 3 is not correct for the quote. But the sentiments are 100% accurate.
“He is the Lord. He will do as He thinks best. 18 So Samuel told him everything. He didn't hide anything
from him. Then Eli said, "He is the
LORD. Let him do what he thinks is best." 1 Samuel 3:18 NIrV
There have been
occasions, particularly in connection with salvation, when someone has told
me that he or she is a good person. My response is to ask if I may shake
their hand. I tell them I’ve never met a good person before. When they ask me
if I’m a good person, I say “No! Only God is good”. This was Jesus’ comment when
He was asked the same question. 18 "Why
do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. Mark 10:18 ESV I then add, “What a privilege for
me to be in presence of someone who is good!” This usually brings the
individual back to reality.
But this “put down”
cannot conceal the goodness of God. God is good. (Period) As Moses, God’s
spokesman, said before handing over to Joshua. 19 "Today I have given you the choice between life and
death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness
the choice you make. Oh, that you would
choose life, so that you and your
descendants might live! 20 You can make this choice by loving the
LORD your God, obeying Him, and committing yourself firmly to Him. This is
the key to your life. And if you love and obey the LORD, you will live long
in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob." Deut 30:19-20 NLT
Something of God’s
goodness is revealed here. He tells them to choose blessing or curses. Choose
life or death. This approaches the ultimate in goodness. It’s as though God
says, “I want you to live!”
In spite of this, most people don’t want to know
Jesus. Their actions indicate they prefer the curse to the blessing. Why? Who
can say? Jim Elliot, the martyr at the hands of the
Waodani people of Ecuador
is said to have put it this way: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." God offers life. Why choose death?
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
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19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today,
that I have set before you life and death,
blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring
may live,
Deut. 30:19 ESV
32 When anyone dies, it
does not give me any joy," announces the LORD and King. "So turn
away from your sins. Then you will live!
Ezekiel 18:32 NIrV
22 If I hadn't come and
spoken to them, they wouldn't have any sin. But now they have no excuse for
their sin.
John 15:22 GW
47 "The servant who
knew what his master wanted but didn't get ready to do it will receive a hard
beating. 48 But the servant who didn't know what his master
wanted and did things for which he deserved punishment will receive a light
beating. A lot will be expected from everyone who has been given a lot. More
will be demanded from everyone who has been entrusted with a lot.
Luke 12:47-48 GW
23 For the wages of sin is
death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our
Lord.
Rom 6:23 NLT
35 The Father loves His Son and has put everything
into His hands. 36 And anyone who
believes in God's Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn't obey the Son will
never experience eternal life but remains under God's angry judgment."
John 3:35-36 NLT
16 Don't you know that if you offer to
be someone's slave, you must obey that master? Either your master is sin, or
your master is obedience. Letting sin be your master leads to death. Letting
obedience be your master leads to God's approval. 17 You were slaves to sin. But I thank
God you have become wholeheartedly obedient to the teachings you were given.
Rom. 6:16-17 GW
26 Anyone who serves me
must follow me. And where I am, my servant will also be. My Father will
honour the one who serves me.
John 12:26 NIrV
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We’re standing at the junction, of a most important street.
And which is the direction that will not bring defeat?
One way leads to heaven. The other leads to hell.
Which is the correct one? We really cannot tell.
Of course we can be foolish and camp there on the road,
Delaying a decision and carrying our load.
The choice is ours entirely. No man may tell us “Nay!”
So what is it that we must do upon this crucial day?
For many it is simple. They’ll merely ask their wife,
Which one of these alternatives leads to eternal life?
But that is not acceptable. The husband takes the lead.
It’s his responsibility where both of them will feed.
Another way to do it is gaze upon the way.
Is it broad and easy, on which we all can play?
Is it straight and narrow with only room for one,
So one behind each other is the way to carry on?
Jesus told us plainly, to take the narrow road.
The broad way is quite certain, to be disaster’s mode.
There is a simple answer to, “Which way will be correct?”
Ask the Holy Spirit to come and to direct,
Into the way that’s suitable for you to walk along.
Listen very carefully; you will not get it wrong.
For God will always show you the right and proper route;
A way that is impossible for any to refute.
He wants you to be with Him. He doesn’t want to see,
The death of any person through their own stupidity.
He wants to give eternal life. He wants us at His side.
He wants us for the Saviour; to be His precious bride.
He wants us to be perfect! He wants us to be whole!
He wants to save our spirit, our body and our soul.
He wants us to be numbered among His chosen folk,
Who’re thrilled to be His servants and wear His pleasant yoke.
So as He said to Israel before His servant died,
“I’ve offered you both life and
death. It’s you who must decide.
Choose to have the blessing. Do not choose the
curse.
I will not prevent it. I will not reverse,
What you have decided. So I say to you,
Choose life! It is the finest thing that you will
ever do!”
Jim Strickland
Written
27th
January 2012
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