DISCIPLESHIP

What is a disciple? The Church should really know. But no one has been doing it since Oh so long ago. We look at one another and scratch our heads in shame. We know it’s His commandment. But who can play that game? “Go and make disciples” is what the Master said. Teach them what I’ve taught you; it is their daily bread. Those who’ve listened to you, and then have been baptised, Will be a generation that cannot be surprised. But making a disciple is not a simple task. It doesn’t happen quickly for it strips away the mask. It makes you vulnerable so other folk can see, That it takes time and effort and huge maturity. It’s not an instant product that happens overnight. It’s giving a commitment to keep within your sight The purpose you are seeking. It will not be diverted. It carries on for many years from when you were converted. Remember that a new born babe needs absolute attention. You cannot point it to the fridge; it doesn’t get a pension. You have to change it’s diapers each time that it is soiled. It has to have a discipline to stop it being spoiled. It needs to know it’s parents and do the things they say. It has to learn what it must do as day succeeds to day. You cannot simply take it and lay it on its bed. You have to give it nourishment to go where you are led. It has to learn the house rules. It has to sleep at night. You have to give it clothing and have to dress it right. This cannot be accomplished in a weekly dose of “church”. You cannot make it sit in rows. It has to learn to search For everything that’s needed. You have to teach it where To go to get it’s sustenance, you have to teach it prayer. It is a life time effort. It’s “mom and dad” must be, Available until it’s reached its full maturity. It needs an education. It needs to go to school. It needs to know when it must learn and when to play the fool. Your children are disciples. They do what you have taught. You give them independence at work and play and sport. You teach it to be like you. You have to reproduce, Your character within them; you cannot turn them loose, And hope that all will be OK when they are on their own. Because your chief objective is to see them fully grown They have to look a lot like you. In some way’s they’re your double. And understand instinctively to keep away from trouble. How long will this work take you? In fact it never ends. Because they have to do the same with all whom Father sends. Jim Strickland – written Sunday, 10 July 2011

THE CLOTHES OF THE HIGH PRIEST

A picture to see Satan, Lord what is it we seek?

A glorious bright angel with a temperament that’s weak?

A piece of shattered garbage? A hateful bit of trash?

An energising spirit with whom everyone will clash?

There is a sort of picture in Zechariah chapter three.

To illustrate the character of whom we want to see.

A man in filthy clothing. A turban that is stained.

Unable to do anything for he had been profaned

An angel was before the Lord upon that special day.

Pointing out the evil of the High Priest in a way

That wasn’t complimentary. It may have been obscene.

But one thing that was certain. His garments were unclean.

There was no way to wash them. There also was no time

To cleanse this man called Joshua and take away His crime.

And that is just what happened. The High Priest’s clothes were changed.

He put on a new turban, no more was He estranged.

The devil couldn’t point to any sin upon the man

Who had become the new High priest as part of God’s new plan.

The devil’s voice was silenced; accusations were behind.

The voices of the universe in no way could they find

Another way to criticise, this God appointed priest.

This gives a little foretaste of how sin would be released.

The high priest was a sinner. The same as you and me.

His vestments were all spotted by the blood of Calvary.

His lifestyle didn’t justify the spotlessness required

To be the sort of Saviour, a Holy God desired.

But this was not a problem. They changed his spotted clothes.

They clothed him with God’s righteousness and made of him a rose

Then standing right before them was a sinner who was cleansed.

His garments of unrighteousness had met their final ends.

So here there is a picture of Jesus, you and me.

He gives us the clothing of His perfect purity.

What He does with those we wore, it matters not a bit,

Because His perfect righteous becomes a perfect fit.

It’s God Who says whose Holy. It’s not on what is seen.

He takes a filthy garment and makes it “squeaky clean”.

We know that it was spotted by the journey of this life.

But Father makes it possible to live as Jesus’ wife.

Not because we’re worthy. That never will be true.

But by the precious garment that He gives to me and you.

Jim  Strickland – written Saturday, 09 July 2011

ACCEPT IT OR REFUSE

One hundred thousand million rand is what some folk would pay,

To buy for them the righteousness they long for every day.

The cost is astronomical. But some would call it cheap,

If by this cash transaction God’s righteousness they’d reap.

Perhaps some could afford it, but I’m not one of those.

They’d swim in baths of perfume to smell just like a rose.

If all the road to Cape Town was paved with broken glass,

Some people would crawl all the way if that would be a pass.

What do we do with hidden sin that haunts us day and night?

We’ve sinned against the Lord Most High and cannot get things right.

We’ve sinned against the Father. What is there we can do?

So I deserve Your Judgement for what is done to You.

I know that I’m a rebel. Sin is my favourite fruit.

I long to keep on doing it. It makes me feel so cute.

So I admit this morning, I’m in a dreadful place.

My sin is like a mountain and Lord, I need your grace.

We wonder what will happen and what the Lord will do.

Perhaps He will forget it? That never will be true.

There’s not one sin committed that God will overlook.

He has them all recorded in His Great Record Book.

Each one will have a consequence. Each one exacts a price.

Some one has to pay the bill and it will not look nice.

To God this was a “problem” He loved His people dear.

He wanted them to be with Him, but couldn’t let them near.

His “problem” was insoluble, At leat that’s what it seemed.

For Him it wasn’t difficult. “I’ll pay the bill” He schemed.

The debt was astronomical; The cost would make us weep.

But in the Lord’s economy, some people think it’s cheap!

And thus it was decided. He sent His Son down here.

To pay the total cost of sin. And made it very clear,

That those who come to Jesus, His Precious Son and Heir,

Would all receive forgiveness and be without a care.

The “Deal” would be so simple, That anyone could do,

Exactly what was needed to make God’s “dream” come true.

Men think it’s far too easy. They didn‘t pay a cent.

They get it as a gift of Grace, a “deal” that’s heaven sent.

They can’t believe the Father will ever be this “good”.

They surely have to play a part. At least they think they should.

And so we have salvation; a product of His grace.

Not one of us could do it. It’s more than we can face.

So this is now the Gospel. The very finest news.

He’s done all that is needed. Accept it or refuse!

Jim Strickland – written Friday, 08 July 2011

MELCHIZEDEK

The leading of God’s Spirit need not be always fun.

At times it can be horrible, if God’s will must be done.

Just take a look at Jesus. I bet He wasn’t thrilled,

To go out to the wilderness where all would be fulfilled.

I’m glad that it was Jesus because He got it right.

If it was me the Lord had sent – then day would still be night.

But Jesus was exceptional. He wasn’t just a man.

He was the Lord incarnate. To carry out God’s plan.

For forty days and forty nights He struggled in the heat.

He only had one purpose, the devil must be beat.

And when at last He faced him, the outcome was assured.

And all of Satan’s promptings were absolutely cured.

Throughout His lengthy sojourn, our Saviour was tried.

But every trick that Satan pulled was spotted and denied.

He didn’t find it easy. But still He persevered.

He had to live a sin free life. The way that Satan feared.

We know that He succeeded; that He was crucified.

But even in His agony, His God was not denied.

Beyond imagination is what the Lord went through.

Far more than any other man could possibly do.

His Father had a purpose. To make a new High Priest.

Not a son of Levi, but a line that never ceased.

He had no fancy clothing. In fact you’d never know,

That He was designated to make God’s Kingdom grow.

This wasn’t just some Mickey Mouse who could attract a crowd.

He didn’t ‘come to be a King; such things were not allowed.

He came as any other man. No fanfare and no fuss.

He lived a life in all respects the same as one of us.

But He was God in overalls. Unnoticed and unseen;

Concealed within a body, like yours and mine have been.

He suffered the temptations that you and I have faced

But with the one distinction that all of us have chased.

Not once in all His lifetime did He ever fall in sin;

A glorious conclusion to the problems we are in.

This is our Melchizedek, a Priest and King of old.

Who came and spoke to Abraham of things that are untold.

A Priest who had no forebears and was utterly unknown,

Who sat upon an unknown seat and on an unknown throne.

This was the type of High Priest Whom Jesus came to be.

Who’d live and reign with Father God for all eternity.

Jim Strickland – written Thursday, 07 July 2011

THE LANGUAGE OF THE TONGUE

There has to be a microphone that’s just above your head.

The words you say are listened to and taken down as said.

In some ways it would help you if you were deaf and mute.

Then nothing that you said could be contested in dispute.

Recorded is your snoring, although it sounds so bored.

And when you shout out in your sleep it’s noted by the Lord.

It’s noted when you’re happy. It’s noted when you’re sad.

All the good things that you say, along with all the bad.

It’s noticed when you’re blessing and also when you curse.

It’s all recorded in your book, each chapter and each verse.

I’m not sure if this bothers you. It surely bothers me.

The words I use of others are not complimentary,

At least on some occasions; and many times I lie.

The only reason that it’s done – please do not ask me why?

I think it makes impressions on folk I meet and see.

They have to get the right idea when they look at me.

So I’m evangelastic. I stretch the truth so tight

That people think I’m marvellous and always get things right.

I do not use foul language. I keep my comments clean.

But in the quiet of my house when I think I’m not seen

The coarsest of vulgarities keep flowing from my tongue.

I sing those ancient ballads that never should be sung.

I learned them as a young man. They’re etched into my mind.

I wish I could forget them, but they are not that kind.

So that is my confession. That’s what folk never see.

I think there’s lots of men out there who also are like me.

In some regards they’re better off. They’ve never known the Lord.

And so their conversation is permanently flawed.

But some of us know better. Their tongue has been controlled.

They know that ever words they speak are apples made of gold.

Their choicest words are brought forth upon a silver tray.

I wish that I could do it. Then I’d not go astray.

But I am in good company. The bulk of those who read

This very brief confession, will know they also need,

To take their tongues to somewhere to make them white as snow.

The problem is that just like me they don’t know where to go.

So Father God this morning set a guard before my lips.

The sort that will control my tongue from accidental slips.

I know that You can do it. I know You get things right.

I know You always speak the truth in clear and purest light.

And that is what I need today with many men out there.

There is no other way to give us speech beyond compare.

Jim Strickland – written Wednesday, 06 July 2011

LOVE FOR GOD

He says what He is doing; He does what He has said.

He is the God of miracles Who raised Christ from the dead.

He’s utterly reliable. He doesn’t change His mind;

Unless somebody asks Him to, for that is when we find,

That though the future’s certain, and nothing can be changed,

He listens to His people, even when estranged.

He answers when we ask Him; It’s not because He must.

But since He loves His people and all He does is just.

He rules over the weather and tells the wind, “Be still!”

He’s done it in the past for us, and in the future will!

His love for us is infinite. His righteousness as well.

It’s nowhere His intention to send anyone to Hell.

That doesn’t bring Him pleasure. It makes Him rather sad.

He wants to be our Father and hear us call Him “Dad”!

He knew what we were facing. He knew we had no “out”.

And so His love for you and me, far beyond all doubt,

Prompted Him to find a way whereby we could return;

And be with Him in all the ways not one of us could earn.

This was His outstretched mercy. This was His gift of grace.

This was the only way for us to stand before His face.

And while we were still rebels, ignoring Him in hate,

His endless love reached out to us and changed our certain fate.

He didn’t have to do it. He could have washed His hands,

And left us for eternity chained up in Satan’s bands.

But He had made His people. Why should the Devil win?

So He sent His blessed Son to smash the power of sin.

He knew that we had perished; of use to Him no more.

But He designed recycling and evened up that score.

So how can we repay Him for all that He has done?

There really isn’t any way. It cost Him His dear Son.

A price that’s so much higher than all mankind could pay.

The only way that could be found to be with Him one day.

He wants us all to love Him. But how can we be sure,

The love we really have for Him is genuine and pure?

He gave the answer to us. A way to check things out.

If we can’t love each other, then surely there’s no doubt,

That we don’t love Him either. It’s love for other folk,

That demonstrates our love for Him or shows it’s all a joke.

The truth is, that’s the bottom line. It always works that way.

It’s never what we say we do; but doing what we say!

Jim Strickland – written Tuesday, 05 July 2011

COMPASSION

The qualities of Jesus. Which one would you prefer?

If you had any one of them, which one of them would spur

You on to being like Him, and doing what He did,

To everyone He came across and did as He was bid?

For me it’s His compassion that stands out like a mile.

It’s something you cannot “turn on” and use for just a while.

It happens deep inside you each time that you behold,

Any situation where compassion will unfold.

A typical example was His disciple John.

We’re told he was His favourite and that may not be wrong.

There was a special trio of Peter, John and James

The Master took them with Him, is what the Bible claims.

They were official witnesses to all that He did do.

So that the truth of everything was clear for all to view.

But when it came to choices, the person He called on,

It seems in every instance, the one He chose was John.

Of course he was the youngest and the custom of the day,

Was reclining in a circle in a very special way.

It never was haphazard. The oldest on His right,

And then in their birth order with everyone in sight

The youngest one was honoured and sat on His left side.

Where He could lean upon the Lord and listen to his Guide.

He’d listen to His heartbeat; He’d feel His joy or pain.

And when something was needed, it’s John who would explain

The nuances in Jesus’ voice to those who couldn’t hear.

For Jesus would repeat Himself and whisper in John’s ear.

So John saw His compassion in ways that other folk

Could never understand Him. He was that sort of bloke.

And Jesus was unrivalled in getting to the core

Of all He was requested, because of what He saw.

He comforted the mothers whose children had just died.

He laughed with other’s laughter and cried with those who cried.

He blessed the little children the twelve had sent away.

He laid His hands upon them. He blessed them all that day.

He fed a hungry people with food that multiplied.

The crowd was astronomical but all were satisfied.

He loved the twelve disciples although they often failed.

He didn’t leave them orphans when to a cross was nailed.

He told them he was coming back; They didn’t understand.

And after He ascended, His Spirit came as planned.

This was His great compassion. This was his love made clear.

This was the way He did things for people far and near.

This was His love in action, compassion put on view;

To everyone around Him; to folk like me and you.

Jim Strickland – written Monday, 04 July 2011