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| This is our God The Servant King |
Time with Jesus - Thursday, 06 June 2013
Hi all,
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| TEARS |
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| Searching |
Today we laugh at such foolishness. Probably because we know how parents will leave no stone unturned, in the quest to find a lost child. The murder of April Jones last year illustrates this in a special way. The parents, friends and police from all over UK came together to find this 5 year old little girl. Her killer has been jailed for life.
Fear of being lost or abandoned
is very real in the mind of many children. For me, living in a house directly
opposite an orphanage, did not help matters. Many times, I was scared of being
left alone. This continued up to the point of going to boarding school in 1956.
Why? If I had an answer, it would be an eye-opener for me, even now. There was
no “reason” for it happening. But it did!
Thinking back on those days in
the mid 1950’s, I’m reminded of the quest of so many to “find” the Lord. Sadly,
such men and women will look anywhere and everywhere and never find Him. It’s
not that He’s hidden. Our problem is that we look for Him in so many different
places.
The Elijah incident in the cave on the mountain (probably Mt Sinai) is a case in point. Elijah looked everywhere to find God. Finally, he heard a still small voice and knew it was God speaking to him. It was a strange experience for Elijah. He had already been party to a fire falling on Mt Carmel and the destruction of the prophets of Baal. Then he ran away from Jezebel! He’d experienced the miraculous at the brook, where God had fed him using the ravens. In spite of this he looked just about everywhere to hear the voice of God. He eventually heard His still small voice. Not where he expected. Don’t be surprised. Nearly all of this applies to you and me as well. We almost always hear Him in the still quietness of our own heart.
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| Elijah Listening |
The Elijah incident in the cave on the mountain (probably Mt Sinai) is a case in point. Elijah looked everywhere to find God. Finally, he heard a still small voice and knew it was God speaking to him. It was a strange experience for Elijah. He had already been party to a fire falling on Mt Carmel and the destruction of the prophets of Baal. Then he ran away from Jezebel! He’d experienced the miraculous at the brook, where God had fed him using the ravens. In spite of this he looked just about everywhere to hear the voice of God. He eventually heard His still small voice. Not where he expected. Don’t be surprised. Nearly all of this applies to you and me as well. We almost always hear Him in the still quietness of our own heart.
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| In the Quietness of our own Heart |
There is a way we all hear from
God; through His Word. I’m not talking about a daily dip into the Bible. I’m
talking about a regular Bible reading program. It is highly unlikely that
anyone will hear anything until they have put such a program in place. This
gets the ear in tune with His ways and His leading. Another tip is to surround
yourself with the music you find conducive to “meditation”, focussing on Jesus.
For Phyllida and me, it is quiet and soft instrumental worship music. That is
because it’s our lifestyle. It may be different for you. Find out the style you
find best for worshipping Jesus. Then keep it going in the background.
Finally remember Jesus’ words to
the people in Matthew. 13 "You can
enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for
the many who choose that way. 14
But the gateway to life is very narrow and
the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it. Mat 7:13-14 NLT
Be careful with anything which looks too simple and popular and undemanding. Look for the “narrow gate and the way”. If you look for it you will find it. If it looks too easy, be careful. It will never be complicated, but it will be visible. Seek and find. Your eternal future depends on entering through this gate.
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| The Wide and Narrow Gates |
Be careful with anything which looks too simple and popular and undemanding. Look for the “narrow gate and the way”. If you look for it you will find it. If it looks too easy, be careful. It will never be complicated, but it will be visible. Seek and find. Your eternal future depends on entering through this gate.
Shalom,
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – Thursday, 06 June 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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IN
SPITE OF TEARS
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One
of the most successful travel agents of all times was Thomas Cook. In the
days before Flight Centre, Cosmos Tours and Trafalgar Tours, one company lent
its name to travel to distant places. If you made a circuitous journey to
diverse places the expression was that you were on or had been on a “Cook’s
Tour”. He was the “father” of all travel agents.
What
few people know is that he was a committed Christian. He was a member of and
promoted the temperance movement. The very first “Cooks Tour” was to take 540
temperance campaigners from Leicester to Loughborough; in England.
In
one respect, Jesus Christ was a Travel Agent. His plan was for people to go
from the “City of Destruction” to the “Celestial City”. John Bunyan described
such a journey in his book “Pilgrim’s Progress”, published in the 17th
century. Many of the scenarios described in this allegorical book, are scenes
and the sayings of Jesus. If you have the patience to put up with the
somewhat archaic English, it’s well worth reading. I remember it being read
to us at school in 1951. (I was 9)
Jesus came to live among us for one particular
reason; to reopen the way for man and God to be reconciled. It was necessary
for Him to deal with sin. In this sense He came to make it possible for men
and women to escape Satan’s prison and journey to be with Him. Many of the
things He said dealt with this Journey. Perhaps one of the best known statements
made by Jesus to Thomas and quoted in John’s Gospel states: 6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and
the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 ESV It would be incorrect to describe
this as a travelogue! But Jesus was explaining to His disciples where He was
going and how His disciples and others could get there!
Perhaps the best known “travel directions” are in
Matthew’s Gospel. 13 "Enter by
the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to
destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads
to life, and those who find it are few”. Matthew
7:13-14 ESV This is a warning to all of us. The Christian life is not
a “cake walk”. It takes time; the way is difficult; there are no short-cuts.
To me, 21st century “cross-less” Christianity does little more
than direct men and women onto the wide and easy gate that leads to
destruction. My limited ±50 year journey toward the “Celestial City” has been
through the narrow gate onto the narrow road. Only God knows how I found it.
At times, the journey has been difficult enough to prompt me to want to quit.
That’s when Jesus has put His arms around me and helped me wipe away the
tears. There is no other way.
Jim & Phyllida
Strickland
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Jesus has opened a new and living way for
us to go through the curtain. (The curtain is his own body.)
Hebrews 10:20 GW
16 So Cain left the LORD's presence and settled in the
land of Nod, east of Eden.
Genesis 4:16 NLT
2 But your sins have separated you from your God. They
have caused him to turn his face away from you. So he won't listen to
you.
Isaiah 59:2 NIrV
14 Try
your best to live in peace with everyone. Try to be holy. Without holiness no one will see the Lord.
Hebrews 12:14 NIrV
6
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the
truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6 ESV
10 and
which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death and
brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
2 Timothy 1:10 ESV
8 By
these regulations the Holy Spirit revealed that
the entrance to the Most Holy Place was not freely open as long as the
Tabernacle and the system it represented were still in use.
Hebrews 9:8 NLT
14 For Christ Himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews
and Gentiles into one people when, in His own body on the cross, He broke
down the wall of hostility that separated us.
Ephesians 2:14 NLT
50 Then
Jesus shouted out again, and He released His spirit. 51 At that
moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple
was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split
apart, 52 and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women
who had died were raised from the dead.
Matthew 27:50-52 NLT
14
"For the gate is small and the way is narrow
that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Matthew 7:14 NASB
11 You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy
of Your presence and the pleasures of living with You forever.
Psalms 16:11 NLT
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Many spend all of their days, looking for the Lord.
They spend their every penny and all they can afford,
Hunting for the Master where He will never be.
I wish I could persuade them to take a tip from me.
If they’re looking for him within the land of Nod.
They’ll find their quest is useless; it’s not where they’ll find God.
Cain had left His presence so he could get away.
From being with the Master on each and every day!
There is a way to find Him. He’s just beyond the veil.
He is the only way to God, all other methods fail.
They must make a decision to turn away from sin.
Repentance is foundational for them to enter in.
Then ask Him, “Where’s the entrance”? It is the narrow way.
He’ll point you to the narrow gate. Just turn to Him and pray.
The way most people walk on, is easy and it’s wide.
Many Christian people have been swept up with the tide.
They think that it is easy; That they can surely cope.
But they will find salvation was just a distant hope.
The troubles Jesus went through; on you they will descend
It is an uphill battle; on that you can depend.
But Jesus and His Spirit will surely lead and guide.
As long as you are teachable and put your will aside.
Seek the Tabernacle and all it represents.
There is now a difference. The inner veil is rent.
Jesus gave us entrance to the Most Holy Place,
Where we can meet the Father and Jesus face to face!
His body had been broken. The cross had done its worst.
Jesus sacrificed His life, so we would not be cursed.
And all that still is needed is to let Him take your hand,
And lead you on the narrow way into the Promised Land.
Do not be discouraged. The way is hard and tough.
Just concentrate upon Him; your soul may shout, “Enough!”
I really can’t continue. I can’t take any more.
And then you get the vision of the one Whom you adore.
Suddenly it’s worth it. You’re strengthened for the fight.
You won’t care what has happened or how dark is the night.
With loving arms around you and eyes filled with your tears.
You’ll know that you will serve Him for the balance of your years.
Jim Strickland
Written 6th
June 2012
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