HOLY TO THE LORD

The garments of the High Priest told us more than we could know. Designed by God Almighty, their purpose was to show, The holiness of someone Who one day would appear. His beautiful exterior made positively clear. The highlight was the headdress He wore upon His head. “Holy to the Lord” is what the Israelites all read. Jesus didn’t need it. Not there and in His time. Some guessed He had a halo but that was not His sign. For nowhere in the Bible is such a headdress seen. Except perhaps by those who were a self appointed queen. This all spoke of His Holiness. For He was Sanctified. Unique, an indication of God’s pure and holy bride. Which tells us that the High Priest could never be “unclean” Sin should never be in Him; a thing no “man” has been. Sanctified completely revealed on Scripture’s page For no one could be glorified without this special stage. But it could be imputed to those who drew in near. And this imputed Holiness, to was God very clear, He Himself was glorified when people praised His name. A thing we feel impossible for any man to claim. Does this describe God’s holiness? This fundamental law? That our imperfect bodies, to God implies far more, Than we could ever understand? It shows God can impute, His Holiness to anyone and no man can refute, The fact that He may do this. God’s righteousness can be, A matter of believing Him and His integrity. So if the Master gives it, why is it we complain, When folk the likes of Abraham will trust God’s Holy Name? We need to understand the fact that He makes all the rules. And if we want to challenge Him, it’s we who are the fools. We know that it is difficult. We think it isn’t fair. But we were given righteousness when weren’t even there! He says that we can have it if in Jesus we believe. He says our sins are washed away! That’s not what we perceive. And so the sign of Holiness that’s fastened to our head, Is something we will only see the moment we are dead. So let us start believing we’re holy to our King! What could be more important than this amazing thing? Jim Strickland – written Friday, 26 August 2011

PERCEPTIONS

 What is our perception of the people whom we see?

Some of them look wonderful; a bit like you and me?!

Others aren’t so pretty and then we wonder why?

And ask for the opinion of God who reigns on high.

Of course we needn’t bother. We know what He will say.

We only get approval from Him when we obey.

But since we’re seldom listening, the only thing we hear,

Is what we know is not the thing He whispered in our ear!

If this is confusing, then you have got it right.

We’re busy second guessing what‘s pleasing in God’s sight!

The first thing to appreciate is what comprises sin.

Is it a reflection of the mood that we are in?

Is it something that we do to aggravate the Lord?

Or something much more sinister that God will not applaud?

The answer is quite simple; It’s clear as clear can be.

You don’t need rocket science or eschatology.

You only need the Word of God to see as plain as day,

Exactly what is needed, no matter what we say.

The easy to check this out is looking in God’s law.

He wrote it out on Sinai and it’s without a flaw.

He Gave us 10 Commandments that He insists we keep,

Without a word of protest though the content makes us weep.

He’s said we all must keep them. They’re still in force today.

You must not circumnavigate these laws in any way.

Not one of them is optional. Each one is a command.”

And if we break just one of them, we know we will be damned.

We don’t have to agree with them; such thoughts aren’t worth a fig.

But if you ever break one, your problem’s very big.

The Lord will not be pleased with you and you will have to die,

Unless you have an advocate on whom you can rely.

His fees are not expensive. His package comes for free.

But that is not the end of it, for those like you and me.

The truly burning question confronting all of us,

Is wherein lies our future? And should we make a fuss;

If we’re consigned to heaven, or cast into flames?

That’s when we’ll need the certainty of Jesus And His names.

That’s when all our perceptions, whatever they may be,

Will disappear completely in Christ’s reality.

Jim Strickland – written Thursday, 25 August 2011

ANTHROPOMORPHISM

 Anthropomorphism scientists say,

Is looking at God in a man kind of way.

We know He’s alive in a spiritual plane;

We know that our efforts to see Him are vain.

We know He is greater than all that we see,

So what do we say to describe Deity?

We really can’t do it. It’s hard to conceive,

Of our great Creator in ways we’ll believe.

And so we speak of Him as though He’s a man,

Until we meet Jesus Who changes our plan,

So some of the things that we said about God,

Were based on what’s seen on the ground we have trod.

But Jesus was different and people have seen,

The way that God looks and the way He has been.

But God is a Spirit and doesn’t have form,

For in His dimension we know that’s the norm.

And so we use terms all around us each day;

As found demonstrated in man’s sort of way.

But speaking of Jesus turns things right around.

The things which He did in all people are found.

So He is aware of our hurt and our pain.

Because He went through it, our souls to reclaim.

He suffered as we do and went through the things,

That Satan inflicts and the trouble he brings.

The Lord was no different, He had to go through

The things that His people find they have to do.

He knows about grief; about sickness and hurt.

He knows what it’s like to be dragged through the dirt.

He knows about death and it caused Him to weep.

He told them His friend was not dead but asleep.

But all that He said went far over their head.

They couldn’t believe Him, convinced he was dead.

No wonder He wept at the people He saw,

They didn’t believe Him; that cut to His core.

And now He has faced all the test and the trials

That Satan throws at them to warp and defile.

But Jesus is now on the side of His men.

And they’ll defeat Satan again and again.

For Jesus protects us like we are His eye,

And nothing from Satan will ever get by.

For He truly loves us and treats us like gold

And we will be with Him as eon’s unfold.

Jim Strickland – written Wednesday, 24 August 2011

LOVE YOUR LIFE AWAY

The great fact of the Kingdom is you cannot love alone. There has to be a someone; a person who is known. For some, it is an object. A house, a car, a sport. But usually the people it seems, must all resort, To focusing on others. A husband or a wife. A member of the family for whom you’ll give your life. It tends to be the children. The ones they had by birth. For most of us see children as the greatest gift on earth. But not in isolation. You cannot love that way. There has to be a someone to whom you’ll turn and say That you are very special. I’d give my life for you. No matter what you ask of me, indeed that’s what I’ll do. This all sounds very abstract. It seems a bit of fuss. And yet our Lord and Saviour did all of this for us. He told us that He loved us, and then He showed the way; That we should be expecting from other folk today. In fact He went one better. His love can have no end. We’re drawn with everlasting love to Jesus Christ our friend. His love is our Salvation. Without Him we are through. Its love that keeps us keeping on because His love is true. It leads us on to holiness; the Christian’s great desire. That fills our lives with something that His Holiness requires. We cannot be indifferent. We cannot be mundane. It has to be the very best or we would go insane. We have to give Him everything. The things that we control. Our homes, our cars, our furniture, our bodies, minds and soul. We cannot give Him any less. We give our love away; And everything we ever give comes back to us some day. He is no fool who gives away that which He cannot keep: Exchange it for what can’t be lost. The deal seams very cheap. Thus said the late Jim Elliot before he gave his life. He left behind his family; he even left his wife. For he was on a mission to take God’s Holy Word, To those in South America, the ones who’d never heard, God’s message of salvation. He died there at their hands; Be he had loved so very much he took the Lord’s commands And gave them to the “Auca”. It was not done in vain. The ones who went to follow him were able to explain, The Gospel to these people; And as they each believed They gave their lives to Jesus and salvation they received. And so he loved completely His life he laid aside, He loved these savage Indians so much he went and died. Jim Strickland – written Tuesday, 23 August 2011

CHRISTIAN LIFESTYLE

It’s very much a paradox the way that Christians think. We know the way that we should be, but do not see the link, Between the way that we behave and what we aught to do. We think all men are equal. Of course that is quite true. Then fall into the error of how we think of others. It aught to be identical with all the nations’ brothers. But this can never happen. We are not all the same. We may look very similar, but that is just in name. It doesn’t make allowances for things that make us tick. And unbelievers look at us and say that we are sick. I don’t think we can blame them, for it’s what they observe. We Christians are “genuine” until we have to serve. At least that’s what they’re thinking and they are seldom wrong, Because of all the things we do to string the world along. The two are inconsistent and do not make good sense. They say, “If you’re a Christian, then what is your defence? The things that you are doing are not in Jesus’ style! If you keep doing what you do, you’ve missed it by a mile! That isn’t love for brother. It seems much more like hate. And if you carry on this way, then you’re a reprobate.” Stand up for Jesus’ character and do the things you should. That is the definition of truly doing good. You cannot be a Christian and follow Satan’s ways. You have to live a life-style the way the Bible says. Adultery is something we shouldn’t see in you. You can’t be a whore-monger and to the Lord be true. You cannot worship idols, not even motor cars. And do not seek the future by staring at the stars. By faithful to your husband. Be faithful to your wife. Do not try and emulate the seamy side of life. Discipline your children the way God’s told you to. And do unto your neighbour what he should do to you! It isn’t complicated. A child can get it right. Only do the things you know are pleasing in God’s sight. That way it doesn’t matter. The people will all see, The things you know that Jesus would do continually. For if you take this action and if you do it right. They’ll see you are a Christian from morning until night. Jim Strickland – written Monday, 22 August 2011

I’M HIS AND HE IS MINE

I gave my life to Jesus and thought I’d lost it all; My dreams and my ambitions, my plans both large and small. I gave them to My Master. Henceforth He’d call the shots. But I had made a big mistake. I sort of lost the plot. Oh yes He was my Master. That point was very clear. But I would make decisions as days gave way to years. It was the way He wanted it. A robot was no use. To think that I would just sit back was really most obtuse. I had to do the following. He’d only point the way. And it was me who had to do the things He said each day. Of course I was a Christian. I’m His and He is mine. But when it comes to action, I’ve got to keep in line. He will not do the things for me that I’m supposed to do. The life that’s lived from day to do is lived by me or you. And this is right and proper. It is my life to live. If I am not responsible, what is there to forgive? Of course He is the Master and He is in control. But He is just the pilot and it is still my soul. This is the greatest comfort. The ultimate design. This is the way it has to be; locked in with Christ Divine. There’s nothing more exciting and He’s made life a blast! And I am thrilled that as a youth I nailed onto the mast, The colours of my future. In Jesus I can boast. He’s washed away my wrinkles and He has made the most, Of everything before me. My future is secure, Because the very Lord of Life has made my black heart pure! I wear His robe of righteousness. I’m decked out as His bride. There’s nothing more that I desire. I’m filled with Him inside! Who else is there in heaven that any could desire? And even when I’m feeling weak, He strengthens me with fire. The fire of His Spirit. The One who makes Him real. The Holy One who fills us all with power, love and zeal. Does this mean there’s no trouble? That never could be true. But He is my inheritance. I stick to Him like glue! The world may have its master and worship other things; But when I think of what He’s done, my spirit man just sings! For He is all Who matters. Suffice for you and me. He is my cup of blessing and ever more will be. Jim Strickland – written Sunday, 21 August 2011