MY FATHER’S BUSINESS

Time with Jesus - Friday, 31 August 2012

Hi all,

The story of Joseph, Mary and Jesus going to the temple in Jerusalem has puzzled people for many years. For today’s meditation, I’ve put the entire story into perspective and explained the circumstances surrounding this. Jesus the boy went to Jerusalem for His Bar Mitzvah where He would officially change from boyhood into manhood. It’s a fascinating story.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Friday, 31 August 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	MY FATHER’S BUSINESS
Apart from His birth in Bethlehem, we know almost nothing about Jesus as a child and growing up. The one incident we know was the trip to Jerusalem He took with Mary and Joseph. The occasion was, in all probability, for His Bar Mitzvah. After this ceremony a boy was considered a man. The man would automatically become a part of his father’s business. I can think of no other reason why they would all have gone from Nazareth to Jerusalem. Which means Jesus was ±12 years old and was about to become a man! It was a long journey of about 150km; about 3 or 4 days on foot. In those days, the custom was for the women and children to leave first. They would get to the place where they would spend the night. There, the women would pitch the tents and get everything ready for the evening meal. The men would arrive in time for supper with them all. Until His Bar Mitzvah, Jesus would have been regarded as a child and would have travelled with the women.  After His Bar mitzvah the same thing would be repeated on the return to Nazareth. Mary must have left with the women and children, leaving Jesus to return with Joseph. When it was time for the men to leave, Joseph would assume that, since Jesus was not there, He must have been with Mary! It would be late in the day before they realised He was not with either of them! They would have to go back to Jerusalem to find Him. But where would they look? When in Jerusalem, they hunted everywhere without success. Finally, they went to the temple. There they found Jesus! He was talking to the priests. The Priests would not chat with a child, so they were talking to Him as a man. In their discussions with Jesus, they were astonished at His knowledge. It would have been normal back then for every young boy to memorise the Torah! (Genesis to end of Deuteronomy) So Jesus must have known far more than that to astonish the priests. But Jesus had more or less “written” all of it before coming to earth. So it’s not surprising He had all the answers to their questions. The apostle Peter put it this way: 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:21 TNIV The amazing part of all of this was that His parents couldn’t find Him. After all, He was about His Father’s business! Since His real Father was God, where else should they have been looking for Him? Note, Jesus stated God was His Father at this young age! I’ve often wondered at what age He knew for certain who He was. Did He know it when He was born? You tell me! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			13 Before he left, he called together ten of his servants and divided among them ten pounds of silver, saying, 'Invest this for me while I am gone.' Luke 19:13 NLT 34 "The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return. Mark 13:34 NLT 15 He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another and one bag of silver to the last--dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip. Matthew 25:15 NLT 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. John 9:4 TNIV 49 Jesus said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you realize that I had to be in my Father's house?" Luke 2:49 GW 21 This is the kind of life you've been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step. 1 Peter 2:21 MSG 2 Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favourable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. 2 Timothy 4:2 NLT 13 But each person's work will be shown for what it is. On judgment day it will be brought to light. It will be put through fire. The fire will test how good everyone's work is. 1 Corinthians 3:13 NIrV 58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. 1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT	For every Jewish boy, before gets to be a man, There is a ceremony, which long ago began. They call it the Bar Mitzvah, where he reads from the law. He is the child no longer, he used to be before. This very special date and in a very special place, The youngster had to go and look his manhood in the face. We know when Jesus did it; we know the place He went. The temple in Jerusalem. We’ve heard of the event. They went up for this purpose. The women went ahead, To set up camp and pitch the tents and make the daily bread. Jesus went with Mary, for He was still a kid. The men arrived much later, as usually they did. There within the Temple He did what was desired. It was His “rite of passage” as Jewish law required. From this day on in history, He wasn’t just a lad, But working as “partner”, in the business of His Dad! All this was very normal, until they left for home. His mother with the women and children on their own. The menfolk followed later. Eventually they met. “Where’s Jesus?” Mary asked him. “Did you perhaps forget, That He would travel with the men; I thought He was with you? We’ll have to go and look for Him. It’s all that we can do.” They set off very early and went back to the town. Even if they had to turn the whole place upside down, They had to keep on looking and searching with their eyes. Then in the Temple precincts, they got a big surprise. There was Jesus talking, with many gathered priests, About the Jewish Torah and of their many feasts. He seemed to be so young to know so much about the Law. They wondered how He got it and what He got it for. Then Joseph said to Jesus, “Tell me please my son, Why you didn’t come with us? We’ve both been on the run. Both of us were worried. We thought you’d come to harm. But Jesus looked at both of them and with a voice so calm, He said, “Did you forget that I have now become a man? I must look and see the way His “business” has been ran. Surely this is what My Father’s wanting now of Me. For in My Father’s business is where I have to be.” Jim Strickland Written 31st August 2012

WHAT “MANNA” OF MAN?

Time with Jesus - Thursday, 30 August 2012

Hi all,

Today we have a look at “Manna”. I like the word. Apparently in Hebrew it means “what is it”. An excellent description of what really we don’t know! I’ve been fascinated to read that it always tasted exactly what you would like to taste; a sort of multi-flavour food all in one. I can’t vouch for this but I like the idea. It has a “Divine” touch that people would not state if they hadn’t experienced it personally!

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Thursday, 30 August 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	WHAT “MANNA” OF MAN?
It was 1957. I was in boarding school and the time had come for the youngsters to be confirmed in the Anglican Church; a bus ride from the school. It seemed a good idea to me at the time. It meant that once per week I could leave the school grounds legitimately and take the bus to the Church. There we would go through a Catechism of some sort in order to better understand what Holy Communion was all about. It’s now 2012 and I still don’t pretend to know everything about it. But it was fun. It seems to me that way back in 1957, the Lord was beginning to stir up things in my heart which would lead to what is taking place in Phyllida’s and my life today. I loved those classes. The final lesson was taken by the Bishop of Grahamstown. Why it had to be him, to this day I have no idea. Then, a couple of weeks later, I was confirmed into the Anglican Church. I can’t say that I was particularly excited by this. But from then on I would get up early on Sunday mornings and walk to the nearest Anglican Church to take communion. In some respects this was the highlight of the week. For some reason there was a feeling of being cleansed at these services. If I was to take a guess I would say that in some way I still don’t understand, these were occasions when I felt close to Jesus. Don’t ask me how or why. It was an impression. No more; no less. It was a sensation I would not experience again until October 1960 in England when I gave my life to Jesus. I remember some of the words from the Anglican Prayer Book which spoke something along the following lines: - “Feed on Him in your heart by faith”. Quickly I was able to associate the communion with Jesus as the bread of life! “Even now, all these years later I remember the expression, “The body of Christ, broken for you. Take and eat.” The words may not be the exact words from the prayer book. But they we exciting and life-giving. From then on and all through our “Charismatic” years, these words have rung in Phyllida’s and my heart. She made her commitment to Jesus in 1951. When we read the Old Testament about the Israelites eating “Manna” in the wilderness, it resonated with our experience. How do you “fall in love” with a person you don’t know and certainly don’t understand? Neither of us knew. But it happened to both of us, For Phyllida it was at a CSSM camp in Ceres. For me it was in Newcastle on Tyne in England. Since then we have followed Him to the best of our ability. Not always willingly or steadfastly. But He is our “manna”. The bread of heaven who came to earth for our salvation. Thank You Lord! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			15 When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, "It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat. 16 This is what the LORD has commanded: 'Gather of it, each one of you, as much as he can eat. You shall each take an omer; according to the number of the persons that each of you has in his tent.'" 17 And the people of Israel did so. They gathered some more, some less. 18 But when they measured it with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat. 19 And Moses said to them, "Let no one leave any of it over till the morning." 20 But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them. 21 Morning by morning they gathered it, each as much as he could eat; but when the sun grew hot, it melted. Exodus 16:15-21 ESV 16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. 1 Timothy 3:16 ESV 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." John 6:33 ESV 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 ----- 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh." John 6:49-51 ESV 54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. John 6:54-55 ESV 31 "So don't worry. Don't say, 'What will we eat?' Or, 'What will we drink?' Or, 'What will we wear?' 32 People who are ungodly run after all of those things. Your Father who is in heaven knows that you need them. 33 "But put God's kingdom first. Do what he wants you to do. Then all of those things will also be given to you. Matthew 6:31-33 NIrV	The people called it “Manna” and it was “heaven’s bread”. The food the Israelites all ate, while they were being led; Round and round the wilderness, by Moses and the Lord. For forty years they ate it and some of them were bored. Although Jewish historians, said that it tasted grand, They all had to collect it, each day as God had planned. They say that it would taste like whatever was desired. Boiled, or baked, cooked or raw, they shouldn’t have got tired. Whatever flavour that they liked was given them each day. I know it all sounds very strange, but that is what they say. They had to eat it quickly. It perished overnight. They said that it got full of worms; they couldn’t chew nor bite, Except upon the Sabbath. Then it would not go bad. And they would have to eat up all the “Manna” which they had. It’s very clear that this was something, only God can do. And if you didn’t like it. “I’m sorry friend for you”. They tell us that they lived on it, for almost 40 years. And only when in Canaan, the manna disappears. That’s more or less the end of it, as far as we all know. There is no further evidence of this nutritious “snow”. And that’s how it continued for fifteen hundred years. And then the Bible tells us that Jesus Christ appears. He didn’t look like manna. He looked like flesh and blood. A similar creation, to that made out of mud. He didn’t have a flavour; not one that you could eat. But when it came to “heaven’s bread”, He sure had manna beat. No, He would live forever. He was our promised food. You couldn’t have Him boiled, or baked, or fried, or even stewed. But even so, He told us, He is the bread of life. What kind of person could that be? Not even someone’s wife, Could ever be our Saviour! But first He had to die. He couldn’t be our living bread; and here’s the reason why. You cannot eat His body until His Spirit’s gone! He had to first be crucified, for us to feast upon. He is the “Bread of Heaven”, on which we can depend. He’s not some sort of “manna” that must come to an end. So when we take communion, a Christian can know, Forever He will feed us, no matter where we go. Jim Strickland – Written 30th August 2012

A PICTURE OF GOD!

Time with Jesus - Wednesday, 29 August 2012

Hi all,

There are stars, superstars and then there is Jesus. He is our morning star. When all the others have faded and vanished from the sky, He will still shine as brightly as ever. Today’s meditation looks at “pictures” of God and concludes that no other god is any good. Jesus Christ alone should be worshipped and adored. He is God!

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Wednesday, 29 August 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	A PICTURE OF GOD!
One of the cutest little stories I’ve come across is about the young girl and her drawings. She was very busy working on her latest picture. Her teacher asked her, “What are you drawing?” “A picture of God” the little girl replied. “But nobody knows what God looks like” said the teacher. The little girl replied, “They will when I’ve finished”. One of our greatest problems is the fact that we don’t know what God looks like! We are inclined to ask why? The simple reason is because it has been forbidden by God. 2 "I am the LORD your God, -- 3 "Never have any other god. 4 Never make your own carved idols or statues that represent any creature in the sky, on the earth, or in the water. 5 Never worship them or serve them, Exodus 20:2-5 GW. People ask why this is so important from God’s point of view? There are a number of reasons. The first is because we should not even ask this question. God only forbids our doing things which would harm other people and our relationship with Him. He has said, “Don’t do it!” That should be sufficient reason for us. The next reason is related to the little girl in our story above. We don’t know what He looks like. How do we describe someone we know very little about? (ask any politician) It would be a complete guess. Worse than that. It would be inadequate as a description of God. How does one describe a Being Who is infinite but displays a number of human characteristics? It’s a bit like playing Russian Roulette with all the barrels loaded. No matter how we envision Him, it would be wrong. Worse than that. It would be a picture of a false god. Yes He has described some of His “qualities”. But these are incomplete. When we remember that everything He is, He is infinitely. How do we draw or describe a picture of infinite love? Another point is, because it is unnecessary. In reply to Philip’s request that Jesus show them the Father, Jesus replied, 9 "I have been with all of you for a long time. Don't you know me yet, Philip? The person who has seen Me has seen the Father. So how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? John 14:9 GW In spite of all the above, there is a way to get a glimpse of the Father. Look at Jesus dying on the cross. In response to the question, “How much does the Father love us”, we can say, “Enough to send His Son to die for us”. Another way is to see his hands stretched out and pointing, as it were, to infinity. How do we describe this? It’s utterly impossible. But the picture of Jesus Christ and His redeeming love displayed on the cross is a beautiful description of God. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for You alone, O LORD, will keep me safe. Psalms 4:8 NLT 4 He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armour and protection. 5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Psalms 91:4-5 NLT 37 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Matthew 23:37 TNIV 3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. 4 Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. Psalms 121:3-5 ESV 4 I long to live in your holy tent forever. There I find safety in the shadow of your wings. Selah Psalms 61:4 NIrV 12 It's a fact: darkness isn't dark to you; night and day, darkness and light, they're all the same to you. Psalms 139:12 MSG 32 If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? Romans 8:32 MSG 22 Whether it is Paul, Apollos, Cephas, the world, life or death, present or future things, everything belongs to you. 23 You belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God. 1 Corinthians 3:22-23 GW 2 "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation." Isaiah 12:2 ESV	We wonder what God looks like. We really do not know. And trying to imagine Him is not the way to go. He sees that as idolatry. An idol in the mind Is just as much an idol, as the any we can find. Don’t think that in this century they simply don’t exist. Take a look around you and read my little list! Chelsea, Leeds and Sunderland and Manchester’s two clubs. The Yankees and the Phillies and the Chicago Cubs The Kiwi’s and the Proteas, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Fighting with a cricket bat to do the best they can And then there’s the Olympics which always draws a crowd. Men worship at these temples, which all are not allowed. Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar, a Brand new SUV. People gather round them and quickly bow the knee. Federer and Henman and both the Williams gals, All the sporting superstars and their related pals. Then there’s Hashim Amla, Tendulka and Shane Warne. And don’t forget Prince William and others royal born. Prince Harry and his picture which made the centre fold; And all those modern paintings the galleries want sold. And then there’s Pavarotti, the Beatles and Tom Jones. Josh Groban, Celtic Women and then the Rolling Stones. They have got their following who worship night and day. Don’t say they are not idols, they’re catog’rised that way! You see the massive temples, their many fans applaud. Loftus Versveld, Wimbledon, The Wanderers and Lords. The Super Bowl, The GABBA; wherever folk pack in, To sing their team’s achievements, not knowing it’s a sin! But they will have to answer to the Lord God High above. About these foreign idols, that all the people love. If only they would realise and somehow come to grips, With Jesus Christ the Superstar puts all them in eclipse. Then when their teams have fallen to the bottom of the pile. Perhaps they then will see how much that Satan will beguile. But then it will be far too late. Their last chance will be gone. And in the grip of Satan, they’ll have to carry on. Jim Strickland – Written 29th August, 2012