Time with Jesus - Tuesday, 02 October 2012
Hi all,
Today’s meditation looks at the topic of boasting.
There is also a connection between forgiveness, judgement and boasting that is
not obvious until the ramifications are thought through.
Blessings,
Jim
& Phyllida Strickland
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – Tuesday, 02 October 2012
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
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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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BOAST
IN THE LORD
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In God’s eyes, there is a very small difference between forgiveness
and judgement. Both are available for Him to pronounce. Judgement is the
outcome of forgiveness one way or the other. Jesus’ parable of the
unforgiving servant (Matt 18:23-35)
illustrates this beautifully. The master had a servant who owed him 10 000 talents. 24 When he began to settle, one was brought to him who
owed him ten thousand talents. Matthew 18:24 ESV. According to Adam Clarke,
this was equal to the revenue of the entire British Commonwealth. It could be
even more because, as I understand, the Greek term used means an amount so
large it cannot be calculated. This makes good sense. It was so large it
couldn’t be repaid in a lifetime. Not even in several consecutive life-times
could the average man repay such a debt. When the servant couldn’t pay, the
Master forgave him the debt. This same servant had loaned a few Rand to a
fellow-servant. When that man couldn’t pay, he had him arrested and thrown
into prison. We all know the outcome.
One of the points of this parable was to highlight how important it is
for us to be forgiving towards each other. My debt and your debt to God for a
lifetime of sin is incalculable. The expression, “ten thousand talents”
indicates the enormity of the amount. The few Rand owed to us by others is
negligible.
Now here’s the nub of the parable. If we don’t forgive others for the
few odd sins they have committed against us, we are in big trouble. God will
require payment in full for our sin. Eternity itself would not be enough time
to discharge our debt to Him. The connection between judgement and
forgiveness is, therefore, something we determine. If we have forgiven
others, He will forgive us. If we haven’t forgiven them, His judgement on us
is certain and we will be condemned. In other words, your measure of
forgiveness of others is the measure He will use on you! Now that’s scary!
Particularly when I sit in judgement on someone else. If I declare him
guilty, how much more will God find me guilty? If I forgive and release him,
God will do the same with me. That’s what it means to use my measure on me.
It really isn’t worth it. For the sake of your own future in God’s Kingdom, be
generous and forgive others – quickly!
What has this got to do with boasting? Everything. When you boast
about your own achievements you are setting yourself above your brothers and
sisters. By saying, “I wouldn’t do that”, and declaring them guilty, you are
implying they owe you something. Perhaps they do. But that’s not the issue.
If you think you are superior, you declare them inferior. If you do that, God
will declare you inferior. So much so that there will be no room in His
Kingdom for you!
Jim
& Phyllida Strickland
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7 For what gives you the right to make such a judgment?
What do you have that God hasn't given you? And if everything you have
is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?
1 Corinthians 4:7 NLT
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his
grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of
them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.
1 Corinthians 15:10 ESV
18 He brought us to life
using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures.
James 1:18 MSG
16 Compassion doesn't
originate in our bleeding hearts or moral sweat, but in God's mercy.
Romans 9:16 MSG
27 So who can brag? No one!
Are people saved by obeying the law? Not at all! They are saved because of
their faith.
Romans 3:27 NIrV
30 And because of him you
are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and
sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is
written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in
the Lord."
1 Corinthians 1:30-31 ESV
1 You were living in your
sins and lawless ways. But in fact you were dead. 2 You used to live as sinners when you followed the ways
of this world. You served the one who rules over the spiritual forces of
evil. He is the spirit who is now at work in those who don't obey God.
3 At one time we all lived among them.
We tried to satisfy what our sinful nature wanted to do. We followed its longings
and thoughts. God was angry with us and everyone else because of the kind of
people we were.
Ephesians 2:1-3 NIrV
11 And such were some of
you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name
of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6:11 ESV
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There’s nothing that you have or are, that doesn’t come from God.
Consequently, judgement is something rather odd!
Whatever He has given you, was given as a gift.
Do you think your purposes you really ought to sift?
How can you make comments about what others do?
The self-same standard you have set, the Lord will use on you.
Instead, be most forgiving, you need to empathise;
Or you will find the Master will cut you down to size.
The Lord had mercy on you and poured on you His grace.
You surely didn’t earn it. In fact your rightful place,
Is in the very pit of hell. That’s where you ought to be.
But Jesus in His mercy, had pity upon thee.
Your “modus operandi” must be to strengthen those,
Whom Jesus as their Saviour, to others will disclose.
Christians are all brothers or sisters on their way
To be with Christ their Saviour on each and every day.
So you must never judge them. Perhaps you’ll see them sin.
Then give the Holy Spirit space for Him to enter in.
Remember how He saved you. He used God’s Holy Word,
That’s when you responded to what was seen and heard.
Of course you are not perfect. But Jesus wants to show,
The depth of His forgiveness to all whom He does know!
You’ve been made His creature; a jewel in His crown.
This is not the time for you to want to let Him down.
Remember His compassion did not originate,
From bleeding hearts or moral sweat. But in your sinful state!
That’s when His awesome mercy, was poured upon all men.
In ways which are so staggering, they’re far beyond our ken!
His mercy is the leveller which treats us all the same.
None of us was worthy, Not one of us can claim,
That we could be superior to any of the rest.
It’s only by His righteousness that we can pass the test.
So put away all bragging. Not one of us can boast.
The only one significant is Jesus’ Holy Ghost!
In Christ there is redemption and we are sanctified.
There’s nothing in our favour; there is no place for pride.
And when it comes to boasting, boast only in the Lord.
For He alone is worthy to be worshipped and adored.
Jim Strickland – Written 2nd October 2012
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