FINISHING THE RACE

Time with Jesus - Saturday, 16 June 2012

Hi all,

How do we cope with being a Christian in the 20^th/21^st century? It really depends on your commitment and willingness to carry on. It also depends on what we regard as “success”. I think our ideas and Jesus’ ideas are not the same. How we get on is the subject of today’s meditation

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Saturday, 16 June 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
©	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					©
	INTRODUCTION		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	FINISHING THE RACE
Stick-ability. One of the most difficult things we face as Christians and as people is to keep on keeping on. Many of us are excellent starters. But then it becomes boring and we stop. Perhaps the best example of this is going to the gym. We go and sign up for a fixed period. Usually two or three years. Then we go along for the first time. It’s new and exciting. It’s a bit like the first bloom of love. Wonderful. We’ll do this forever. After a couple of weeks, the gilt starts to wear off the gingerbread and our enthusiasm wanes. After about three months, it gets a bit tedious. All that keeps us going is the fact that we’ve paid up front for two or three years. It cost us a lot of money and we don’t want to lose it. Then we don’t attend as often as we should. Then finally we get to the stage where it’s too much of a schlep. Perhaps we’ve paid lots of money. But the investment is forgotten and we pull out. Of course there are those who carry on to the bitter end. There are also those who have made a commitment and the gym becomes a regular lifestyle. Which type are you? Things are not a lot different in Christianity. Jesus’ parable of the sower puts it in perspective. Today, things are little different. I remember the joy that overflowed in my heart when the Lord found me. Things somehow looked different. They were! But suddenly I found that many of my former habits and beliefs had to be put aside. This was not a problem at first. Then after a few months, friends wanted me to do some of the things I felt were incompatible with being a Christian. It was a struggle to say “No!” Sadly, I lost many of these friends. At the time I thought it was what the Lord wanted me to do. On reflection I think it was more a question putting on a Christian face for Christian people. I’m sorry now that I lost those friends. Within six months I only had Christian friends. It sounds very noble and right. But my former friends were no longer impacted for Jesus. I’d isolated myself from “ungodly influence” and was regarded as a freak. There was a movie on the circuit in those days called “Elmer Gantry”. I have it on DVD. It was the story of an unsavoury “evangelist” who had one purpose in mind. He wanted to corrupt the Salvation Army Lady Officer who was the heroine. How he did this and the way he “duped” people into giving their lives to Jesus, I found very disturbing. It still happens. Some men will do almost anything to corrupt a faithful and devoted young woman who wants nothing more than to serve Jesus. Why I mention this is that one morning I came to work and found that my wooden toolbox had been painted. Someone wrote “Elmer Gantry” in paint on my toolbox. It reflected his opinion of my Christian witness. It is 50 years since that happened. Hopefully I’ve learned one or two things in the interim. Even so, I recognise how unloving and objectionable I was back then. Perhaps the only thing I can comment usefully on from those days of objectionable arrogance, is that many men have made commitments to Jesus since then. Many of them are no longer even pretending to follow Jesus. My problem is I cannot quit. I’ve tried to do it, but the pain of being without Him is worse than the pain of following Him. So now, all these years later for Phyllida and me there is no longer an alternative. He is our reason for living. Even so, Come Lord Jesus! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. Revelation 3:11 NLT 21 She thought, "If I only touch his clothes, I'll get well." Matthew 9:21 GW 2 Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached Him and knelt before Him. "Lord," the man said, "if You are willing, You can heal me and make me clean." 3 Jesus reached out and touched him. "I am willing," He said. "Be healed!" And instantly the leprosy disappeared. Matthew 8:2-3 NLT 20 He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20 ESV 35 So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Hebrews 10:35 NLT 12 My dear friends, you have always obeyed God. You obeyed while I was with you. And you have obeyed even more while I am not with you. So continue to work out your own salvation. Do it with fear and trembling. 13 God is working in you. He wants your plans and your acts to be in keeping with his good purpose. Philippians 2:12-13 NIrV 28 The earth does it all without his help: first a green stem of grass, then a bud, then the ripened grain. Mark 4:28 MSG 3 Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth." Hosea 6:3 ESV 12 From the time of John the Baptizer until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful people have been seizing it. Matthew 11:12 GW 24 Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 1 Corinthians 9:24 NLT 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. 8 And now the prize awaits me--the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of His return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to His appearing. 2 Timothy 4:7-8 NLT	We talk of Christian giants and of faithful men of old. I’m sure they won’t agree with you; such comments leave them cold. We speak of William Wigglesworth and all that he achieved: But if he heard us speak like that, I’m sure he would feel grieved. We think he was “successful”; that he was greatly blessed. But if we go and ask him, I’m sure he’d have confessed; He only did his duty as His Master’s “worthless slave” “Well done My faithful servant!” is all he’d really craved. I think that D L Moody and Spurgeon would agree, That when their race was over, “The master came for me! It was no great achievement” is what they both would say. “The only thing I ever did was Jesus all the way!” We see the self-same attitude to Timothy from Paul. Some would say, “successful” But he’d say, “Not at all!” “Perhaps my best achievement was finishing the race. In spite of all the problems I was required to face! Just one thing kept me going; to run to win the prize. And see the loving-kindness expressed in Jesus eyes! I am no Christian giant. I don’t deserve a thing. I laboured for my Master. To Him, my praise I bring.” I’m sure no matter who you ask they’ll answer just the same. That everything they ever did was done in Jesus name. The woman got her healing through the tassels on His shawl. Then Jesus told her firmly, her faith had done it all. She knew that He could do it and she stretched forth her hand. Her bleeding stopped and she was healed by His inward command. He cleansed the man with leprosy; He raised men from the dead. He was the one who did it, just as His Father said. So let us all be honest. It isn’t me or you. It’s all the work the Father said that Jesus was to do. There are no Christian giants. There’s only you and me To do what He has told us, and be what we should be. We’re called to serve His purpose; to listen to His voice And do what He’s commanded, like it’s our only choice. We’re called to go the distance. To finish with a flair. To know, whatever happens, Christ Jesus will be there. To face up to our challenges and never ever quit. For those who do not finish, are certainly unfit, To go into His Kingdom. The Righteous crown we’ll wear, Only at the finish line. We’ve got to “hang in there”. So do not slip or stumble and put the race aside For if you do, you’ll surely find, you’ve been disqualified. Jim Strickland  Written 16th June 2012

ASK THE FATHER IN MY NAME

Time with Jesus - Friday, 15 June 2012

Hi all,

Today we take a look at meanings. What did Jesus mean when He said, ²³ At that time you won't need to ask Me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and He will grant your request because you use My name. John 16:23 NLT This is today’s meditation.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Friday, 15 June 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
©	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					©
	INTRODUCTION		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	ASK THE FATHER IN MY NAME
I’m sure I’ve mentioned before that Jesus found me in 1960. I didn’t find Him. I was the one who was lost. He knew exactly where I was and He found me. What it does mean, is that I’ve been in and around Christianity for just about 52 years. That does not necessarily mean that I’ve got 52 years of experience. There is a subtle difference between repetition and experience. For example, a teacher may have taught grade 4 for forty years. She may have 40 years teaching experience. It is also possible that she has one year’s experience repeated forty times. The same is true in Christianity. Many have not progressed any further than Grade one. They may have gone round and round in circles like the Israelites in the wilderness and learned virtually nothing. Of course our lecture and pew system does almost nothing to get men and women busy serving the Lord. How can they? It’s easier to be entertained than active. One thing I have observed over the past 50 years is that generally speaking, prayer seldom seems to assist. This is not intended as a criticism. It appears to be one of the facts of Christianity. Statistically only 3% of prayers for healing are answered. Incidentally, I’m not excluding my own prayers in this. Why is this? I don’t have a complete answer. But it seems that many Christians approach God rather like a slot machine. You know what I mean. We pray to the Father in Jesus Name. Then nothing happens. This is incongruent with Jesus’ words in John 16. Now we all know that God is timeless. What Jesus said to the 11 disciples back there at the gates of the temple, is as applicable now as it was when Jesus spoke them. So, what’s the problem? Why doesn’t it work out like that? I can’t accept that the problem lies with God. It lies with us. Thirty years ago I was taught that the difficulty was lack of faith on our behalf. We needed to develop our “faith” muscle rather like a body-builder develops his muscles. At first I accepted that. But on reflection it would mean that healing depends on you and me rather than on the grace of God. I’m not denying the need for us to have faith in God. But to say that it depends on our attaining the right amount to trigger the grace of God! That’s nonsense. I’d like to suggest that in Christianity over the past 30 years, the emphasis has moved away from God to an emphasis on you and me. Praying to the Father in Jesus’ Name has become a religious “mantra” Something to “tack on” at the end of our prayer in an effort to get the Lord to give us what we have asked for. This attitude will have as much effect on the Lord as the Tibetan prayer wheels which get blown round in the wind. The “results” over the past few years confirms this. Occasionally the “slot machine” spits out a bonanza. God help us get back to genuine Christianity; putting Jesus and not ourselves, first in everything. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will. Romans 8:27 NLT 23 At that time you won't need to ask Me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and He will grant your request because you use My name. 24 You haven't done this before. Ask, using My name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy. John 16:23-24 NLT 18 Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, Ephesians 6:18 ESV 14 There is one thing we can be sure of when we come to God in prayer. If we ask anything in keeping with what he wants, he hears us. 15 If we know that God hears what we ask for, we know that we have it. 1 John 5:14-15 NIrV 3 God's will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 NLT 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. 1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 ESV 16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Give thanks no matter what happens. God wants you to thank him because you believe in Christ Jesus. 19 Don't put out the Holy Spirit's fire. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 NIrV	There’s something that is missing when we ask in Jesus Name. The Trinity is constant, eternally the same. So praying to the Father and asking Him for “things”, Doesn’t mean a motor car, nor yet a pair of wings. We know that prayer is needed; along with faith I’m told. And that we should be confident, or even very bold. So why is it the answer, is very seldom seen? There must be something missing; or what did Jesus mean? The passage speaks of questions. They didn’t understand, That He would soon be absent. The Leader of their band, Was going to the Father, for just a little while. Then He would come back to them and bring them back their smile. So they were asking questions and saying “Please explain” What’s this about Your going, then coming back again? He said they would be mourning and the world be full of glee. The world would think it’s finished and they’d seen the last of Me. But for the Lord’s disciples, that grief would turn around. They would be rejoicing at precisely what they found. They could ask the Father and go to Him direct. If they asked in Jesus name, they’d not be incorrect He also indicated, that the Spirit from on High, He’d send as His “replacement”. And that they could rely, On what the Spirit stated; the truth is what He’d bring. And this describes the context of “Ask for anything!” The problem with our thinking in two thousand and twelve, Is that we think it’s anything to squander on ourselves. I can’t see a connection with a mansion by the sea, And what the Lord was meaning going to Gethsemane. We think that it is baubles and a pocket full of gold. Of aeroplanes and bank account and dreams of wealth untold. That wasn’t Jesus’ thinking as they reached the temple gates, And helps our understanding of what the Bible states. The Spirit will not help us, to satisfy our lusts. Nor will He comply with, the list of all our “musts”. To use the Name of Jesus as an “Open sesame”, Is bordering on witchcraft, not Christianity. So let us ask for wisdom; the Father will comply. And then the things we ask for, won’t be a stream run dry. Jim Strickland  Written 15th June 2012

Mary and Martha

Time with Jesus - Thursday, 14 June 2012

Hi all,

The story of Mary, Martha and Jesus is featured today. I’ve tried to make it relevant for the 21^st century including the pressure placed on working men and women in South Africa.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Thursday, 14 June 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
©	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					©
	INTRODUCTION		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	Mary and Martha
In January 1974, I returned to South Africa with my family. Altogether I’d been out of the country for fourteen years. Getting into RSA in those days was rather complicated. The application forms were horrendous. Apartheid was in full swing and the authorities wanted to make absolutely sure that I wasn’t bringing undesirable elements here. Of course, in those days, anything Non-European was undesirable. South Africa had left the Commonwealth and many of the laws were draconian. They wanted to know everything about everything. Presumably all this was examined by the security people. It took about six months to process. Then we got the green light to travel from Heathrow to Jan Smuts airport, as it was called in those days. The plane landed at Nairobi and most of the passengers were allowed to stretch their legs in the transit lounge. Those who had South African passports were not allowed to get off the aeroplane. So my first view of Africa at ground level was of Kenya, through the aeroplane windows. The South Africa I had left and the one I returned to was different. Although apartheid was well and truly entrenched, the flavour of society, as a whole, appeared more prosperous than in the 1950’s. The Rand was very strong. The exchange rate was R1.8 to the £. Twenty years later it was nearer R10 to the £. The pace of things was much slower than it is today. I was taken on by what was called the Electricity Supply Commission; abbreviated ESC. The comment was that it represented Easy, Slow and Comfortable. Certainly the pace was much slower than today. My working hours, were from 08h00 to 17h00. There was no question of working after hours, unless it was for a specific task. This meant that there was time in the evenings for family life. This changed rapidly as sanctions began to bite into the life of working men and women. By the middle of the 1980’s, a twelve hour working day had become normal. Today people are under such pressure, that there is hardly any time for family life. I’m reminded of a “hit song” of the 1950’s called “16 Tons”. Each verse included the phrase, “I owe my soul to the company store”. It seems as though there is no longer any choice. When Jesus visited the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus, Mary had time to sit down and listen to Jesus as He taught the people. Today all three have become so busy working for the “Company Store” that there is no time to spare. I suppose if Jesus visited any South African home today, He would be hard pressed to find anyone there at all. He may well rebuke us for not finding time for Him or His ecclesia. But if we don’t work the sort of hours industry demands today, we will be dismissed and the job given to someone willing to put up with the hours and conditions. In South Africa with unemployment being a major problem, few people are willing to take the risk of being put out of work. There are also many deeply committed Christians in our country. People who want to have a close personal relationship with Jesus Christ. In view of this we need to revisit our concept of what we see as “Church”. We have to make time to sit at His feet in a way that is meaningful. The early church managed it at a time when the great majority of the Christians were impoverished slaves. We haven’t quite got there yet. But we all need to take a close look at our priorities and find a way whereby every aspect of life can reflect the greatness of Jesus. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			41 The Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha! You worry and fuss about a lot of things. 42 There's only one thing you need. Mary has made the right choice, and that one thing will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:41-42 GW 24 "Think about the ravens. They don't plant or gather crops. They don't have any storerooms at all. But God feeds them. You are worth much more than birds! Luke 12:24 NIrV 27 "Think about how the lilies grow. They don't work or make clothing. But here is what I tell you. Not even Solomon in all of his glory was dressed like one of those flowers. Luke 12:27 NIrV 29 "Don't spend time thinking about what you will eat or drink. Don't worry about it. 30 People who are ungodly run after all of those things. Your Father knows that you need them. Luke 12:29-30 NIrV 8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. 9 But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. 1 Timothy 6:8-10 NLT 19 but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. Mark 4:19 NLT 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Hebrews 12:1 NLT	Tom, Dick and Harry, Felicity and Joan. “We are always tired”, is their collective moan. “They seem to be so busy; they’re running round all day. They never seem to have the time, to meditate or pray. “I’ll do it when I’m finished. There’s still so much to do. It would be very helpful to share the work with you. I’ve got to spread the table and position all the knives. The guests are so important. Perhaps they’ll bring their wives? These curtains must be taken down, then quickly washed and dried. I hear they like potatoes; whole or mashed or fried? I’d better telephone them. But what about the tea? The water’s nearly boiling. Please see to it for me. The towels in the bathroom; the sheets upon the bed; The paper for the toilet; They have to be well fed; The napkins for the table; This cloth is getting old; What about the cutlery? The silver or the gold? What about the seating? There could be ten or more. Should I put the coat rack, right next to the front door? What if it is raining and everything gets wet? What about the airport? My brother may forget. It may be he is rather late. Perhaps a traffic jam?” My daughter, pause and listen, your every need, I AM! Does it really matter if it’s wet or if it’s dry? If there is an error, you do not have to cry. Look at your priorities. I think you’ve got them wrong. If you run around like this, you’ll hasten death along. Change your way of thinking. Look at the birds that fly. You know My Father feeds them; on that they all rely. Now think about the lilies that grow out in the field. They’re better dressed than anything a “fashion mag” might yield. And as for food and clothing. There’s always been enough. I challenge you to look around and call the devil’s bluff. You don’t need pots of money. Man’s wealth can be a snare. I want you free from worry. Don’t think I do not care! Don’t let your frantic actions kill you while you’re young. There’s so much more in front of you; So much still to be done. Slacken off a little and strip off every weight. The witnesses are watching. Walk with me through your gate. Jim Strickland – Written 14th June 2012.