Time with Jesus - Thursday, 28 February 2013
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| Jim & Phyllida Strickland |
“Are you saved brother/sister?” For “Christians” in the 20th and
21st century, this question is passed round from person to person,
almost like a “mantra”. Normally, people think that there are only two possible
answers. “Yes!” or “No!” Is there another? In today’s meditation we look at an
aspect of this.
Shalom,
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – Thursday, 28 February 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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Blinded by Love
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It was a Sunday evening
in October 1960. I had just committed my life to Jesus Christ as Saviour and
Lord. For most of the next couple of days, Jesus Christ thrilled and excited
me. Then, progressively, over the next few weeks, doubts started to multiply
in my heart. These doubts are best summed up by the question, “How do you
know you have been saved?
I must admit, apart from
being excited about Jesus Christ, everything seemed so normal. I didn’t feel
any different. In fact, I felt much the same as I had done before my conversion.
I distinctly remember being shown words in the Bible. “So what”, I kept on
asking? “What is this all about? What is there about the Bible I can trust?
There was very little in it I could understand anyway. Furthermore what had
the antics of a bunch of ex Egyptian slaves, roaming round the wilderness,
carrying a weird tent and its furniture got to do with it? Genesis and Exodus
were easy enough to read; but what about all those odd regulations and sacrificial
rituals in Leviticus? Where was God in all this? Where was Jesus?
Furthermore, why should I trust it? They said it was the Word of God. But how
did I know it was God’s Word? Everything was as clear as mud and twice as
murky. I didn’t know it then, but I was experiencing a head on attack by
Satan or one of his pals. I think I would have quit, but I was quite enjoying
it and getting to know the other young people in the church; especially the
girls. Sometimes I think I was attracted to Christianity by the ladies. O
well, at least I’m willing to admit it!
Then something very
important happened. I started attending the Prudhoe Street Mission on
Saturday afternoons. Shortly thereafter I began responding to calls for
salvation. I kept going to the front regularly. I needed assurance of
salvation. The people helped me considerably. Then came 1961 and Billy
Graham’s Greater Manchester Crusade. They wanted counsellors. I volunteered
on the basis that it would help me with my understanding of being a
Christian. I didn’t get to meet Billy Graham. But the counselling and choir
sessions were being led by Cliff Barrows in the Prudhoe Street Mission. It
was during these training sessions that I began “soaking up” Christian truth
and getting answers to my questions. Of course, I didn’t get all the answers.
What I did get was a passion for Jesus that is with me today.
This experience taught me
one unforgettable lesson. I learned that God is greater than my heart. I had
so many questions that needed answering. But somehow, He kept me going on
with everything. In other words, His Word was bigger than my doubts. I felt
condemned by what I didn’t understand. But He was and is greater than my feelings!
Now I try and keep short accounts with God. By regular confession and repentance,
I’m able to stay close to Him. As a result, the words in John’s first epistle
help me continue. 20 It's also the way
to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it.
For God is greater than our worried hearts
and knows more about us than we do ourselves. 21 And friends, once
that's taken care of & we're no longer accusing or condemning ourselves,
we're bold & free before God! 1 John 3:20-21 MSG
All this comes from
beginning to know the Word of God. No longer are there any questions in my
mind concerning its validity.
Jim &
Phyllida
Strickland
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27 The LORD's light
penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive.
Pro 20:27 NLT
7 When they persisted in asking him questions, he
straightened up and said, "The person who is
sinless should be the first to throw a stone at her." 8
Then he bent down again and continued writing on the ground. 9 One by one, beginning with the older men, the scribes
and Pharisees left. Jesus was left alone with the woman.
John 8:7-9 GW
11 God asked, "Who
told you that you were naked? Did you eat fruit from the tree I commanded you
not to eat from?"
Gen 3:11 GW
17 Whoever knows what is
right but doesn't do it is sinning.
James 4:16 GW
18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk
but in deed and in truth. 19 By this we shall know that we are of
the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than
our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have
confidence before God;
1 John 3:18-21 ESV
20 Don't ruin God's work because of what you eat. All
food is acceptable, but it's wrong for a person to eat something if it causes
someone else to have doubts. 21 The
right thing to do is to avoid eating meat, drinking wine, or doing anything
else that causes another Christian to have doubts. 22 So whatever you believe about these things, keep
it between yourself and God. The person who does
what he knows is right shouldn't feel guilty. He is blessed.
Rom. 14:20-22 GW
23 Search me, O God, and
know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me
along the path of everlasting life.
Psalm 139:23-24 NLT
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No matter where we run to, from God we cannot hide.
He knows us intimately; what’s going on inside,
The heart of every person. Be they Christian or not,
The way that we react to Him. That puts us on the spot.
He penetrates our Spirit, with light ineffable;
And He continues doing it. He carries on until,
We come to the position, where we have made Him Lord.
Where sin has been defeated, by His great & mighty sword.
He doesn’t take a holiday. The Lord is never tired.
He knows our every motive for the things we have desired.
The things we think are hidden, in the recess of our soul,
Are lit up like a lighthouse to display our every goal.
Adam couldn’t fool Him from the time he ate the fruit.
He’d disobeyed the Master. The man could not refute,
His terrible exposure, to the God Who reigns on high.
And understand because of it, that He was bound to die.
Humanity had fallen. With all destined for hell.
Until the Saviour came and rang the “liberation” bell;
And by the Holy Spirit, could break the bonds of sin;
Return again to Father and truly enter in.
But still we have a problem, for Satan’s on the prowl.
He hunts around to get us like a predatory owl.
But he is unsuccessful, if Jesus is our King.
And we desire to serve Him much more than anything!
Christ provides the method, by the Holy Spirit’s power,
For Christians to be “sinless”, every moment, every hour.
Confession and repentance from sin will keep us clean;
And He will keep us spotless, no matter where we’ve been.
But Satan is a liar. He tells us we are lost.
He says that we are wicked; and we must pay the cost,
Of something that’s forgiven. He makes us feel condemned;
And that it is impossible to ever make amends.
But God has made a promise and assures us we are saved.
That we have been forgiven for the way that we’ve behaved.
Perhaps our heart condemns us, but God is so much more.
And He’s the One to turn to, to obtain the final score.
His truth brings the assurance of the facts about our fate.
While we are serving Jesus, the devil is too late!
God’s given us the victory, no matter how we feel.
And we can keep on serving Him with fervency and zeal.
So do not be misguided; Satan’s lies can make you blind.
But while you are obedient, God love is what you’ll find!
Jim Strickland
Written 28 February 2012 |
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