Jimericks - Discipline

Time with Jesus - Thursday, 22 November 2012

Hi all,

Today’s Scriptures focus on discipline, and its application. Discipline is always difficult to observe. Generally speaking women find this more difficult to apply than men. I think this is due to the soft and gentle nature usually found in women rather the cold logic of most men. The poems are written in Limerick style except that the first and second line don’t rhyme. For convenience I’ve called them Jimericks so that In future I won’t have to explain.

Blessings,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Thursday, 22 November 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	Jimericks - Discipline
All over the world, particularly the Western World, Satan is attacking the family. He hates any form of family life. It reminds him of the Unity within the Trinity. It’s a love relationship and all love is a contradiction of everything he represents. We know the Father loves The Son; The Son Loves the Spirit; The Spirit loves the Father. And so on it goes, in a never ending circle of infinitely perfect love and understanding from eternity to eternity. To you and me, it’s incomprehensible. But it’s probably the most beautiful thing eternity has known. Before his fall, Lucifer was considered to be the most beautiful “thing” in creation. After his fall he became Satan, the grand adversary of man; the devil or prince of darkness; the adversary; the enemy; the accuser. So great is his hatred for God and His children, it exceeds anything we could imagine. It would be “perfect” hatred apart from the fact that a created being cannot be perfect, not even in hatred! It doesn’t exist. His attack on the family focusses primarily on the male gender. Fatherhood and all fathers to him are anathema; he hates women, but not quite as much. He knows God appointed the man as the head of the family. So if he can destroy or weaken this Divine order, he will do so. We still see this in the 21st century. The one parent family has become common. As a general rule, children remain with their mother. So by attacking husbands, he achieves his purposes; families dissolve. I had a good father. By no means was he perfect. But he set a good example and I was always able to look up to him and respect him. I’d like to think that I am at least as good as he was. History will decide! As a general but not inflexible rule, fathers should take care of discipline within the family. I know this statement is offensive some ladies. All the same, it’s better for all concerned. My example or this comes from God’s Word. Jesus is seldom seen as a disciplinarian. He wasn’t soft on sin but there was a gentleness about the way He dealt with sinners that I would love to emulate. The story in John 8 of the woman taken in “the very act of adultery” illustrates this. According to the Law of Moses she should have been stoned to death. So should the man concerned, but he was somehow “missing”! It was a “perfect trap” for Him. Whichever side He took they would “have” Him. His answer could only have come from the heart of God. 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" 11 She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more." John 8:10-11 ESV Such wise gentle compassion! She had been caught. His Father’s law said “stone her”. That would be the correct discipline. Jesus had compassion. She had suffered enough! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			7 "For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease. Job 14:7 ESV	If you chop a tree down, it may not be its end. It might revive, And hence survive. In fact, it just might mend.		It’s roots may still continue, unless you rip them out. How well they do, Depends on you. Do you want them to sprout?
			3 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; Isaiah 42:3 TNIV	The Lord is very gentle. He does not want to harm. A reed that’s bruised, Cannot be used, To signal an alarm.		So He is very tender. A wick He won’t snuff out. Instead He blows, Until it glows, And fire comes about!
			3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Psalms 23:3 ESV	The Shepherd loves His people, And so He has a goal. To feed His flock, And always block, That which could harm their soul.		Upon the paths of righteousness, is how He always leads. His Name is True For me and you, In all His mighty deeds!
			10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 2 Corinthians 7:10 NIV	Sorrow brings repentance when God is in control. But you can bet, Mankind’s regret, Can never make you whole.		But genuine contrition is needed to repent. He won’t condone An empty groan, Unless it’s truly meant.
			11 We don't enjoy being disciplined. It always seems to cause more pain than joy. But later on, those who learn from that discipline have peace that comes from doing what is right. Hebrews 12:11 GW	Discipline’s unpleasant. It always gives us pain. It stings a bit. But don’t “knock” it. Without it, there’s no gain!		But later, on reflection, we see what we have learned. We find His peace, Has been released, And for our good it’s turned.
			67 I used to wander off until You disciplined me; but now I closely follow Your word. Psalm 119:67 NLT	When we’re being wayward, we wander far away. Then we’re restored, By Christ the Lord, With Him we wish to stay.		And so He gives us something on which we can rely. We have His word. When seen and heard, We needn’t go awry.
			13 "Now we are being punished because of our wickedness and our great guilt. But we have actually been punished far less than we deserve, for You, our God, have allowed some of us to survive as a remnant. Ezra 9:13 NLT	Oh God we’ve sinned against you in many different ways. They’re piled up high, They reach the sky. We don’t deserve Your praise.		And now we’re being punished, But it is far less, Than what is right, Within Your sight. A remnant you will bless.
			8 Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light. 9 I will be patient as the LORD punishes me, for I have sinned against Him. But after that, He will take up my case and give me justice for all I have suffered from my enemies. The LORD will bring me into the light, and I will see His righteousness. Micah 7:8-9 NLT	My enemies, stop gloating. I’ve fallen, but I’ll rise. It may be dark, But God’s the spark, That comes before my eyes.		And though I’m being punished, I will wait patiently I’ll be restored, By Christ my Lord. That’s when He’ll deal with thee!
				Jim Strickland  Written 22nd November 2012

JIMMETS - THE VOID & JESUS’ PRAYER

Time with Jesus - Wed. 21 November 2012

Hi all,

Today we have 2 Jimmets to look at. The void looks at the space in our hearts that only Jesus can fill. Before we come to Him it’s an empty ache. The second Jimmet is about the Lord’s High Priestly prayer. If it were possible to summarise His prayer with one word, (it’s not) that word would be “unity”.

Blessings,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Wednesday, 21 November 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	JIMMETS - THE VOID & JESUS’ PRAYER
There are not many occasions when men have heard the audible voice of God the Father. One occasion was at the time of Jesus’ baptism. It was an extraordinary occasion told vividly by Matthew. John didn’t want to do it. He felt that Jesus should baptise him. But Jesus insisted. He was very aware of Biblical types and shadows. He was also very aware of what the future held for Him. He would die on the cross for humanity. 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.2 Cor. 5:21 NLT He would die a sinner’s death. He also knew that through baptism a sinner would be returned to life, a new person. Baptism in the New Testament was a death to sin and a resurrection to new life. It follows that for Him to be restored to life by His Father and the Holy Spirit, He needed to be baptised. He lived a sinless life and as such had no need to be baptised. But the one who was made sin for us, needed baptism to be resurrected. So He started His ministry with baptism. He was fulfilling all righteousness. He now had the “right” to be raised from the dead! So perhaps we can say His baptism was a preparation for His death on the cross. Before He died a sinner’s death, He had already made provision for His cleansing in the waters of baptism and subsequent resurrection! Brilliant! Planned in advance by His Father, anticipating what would happen three and a half years later. Satan couldn’t say He had no “right” to be resurrected. It happened before He began His ministry. The Father rightly said, “This is My Beloved Son with Whom I am well pleased!” The Father could say this of His Son and the one raised from the dead! Before we committed our lives to Jesus Christ, there was something inside us that was searching for God. It has been described as a “God sized” space only He can fill. Augustine of Hippo in his famous “Confessions” wrote "You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in You." The Jimmet, “The Void” speaks of this. One of the few prayers of Jesus we have is written in John 17. This for me is really “The Lord’s Prayer”. I believe this took place in the Courtyard of the temple. I say this because it is sometimes called the “High Priestly Prayer” of Jesus. Within the precincts of the temple would be the “appropriate” place for our great High Priest to pray for His followers throughout the generations. His discourse about the vine, (John 15) suggests He was at the very gates of the temple. From here He would go on the Gethsemane. What better place for Him to pray? The courtyard of His Father’s house. The temple in which the High Priest would pray! It makes sense to me that He would step into the courtyard. His prayer is recorded for us in John 17. Poignant and unforgettable! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, Colossians 1:13 TNIV 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." Matthew 3:17 ESV 1 "Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations. Isaiah 42:1 NASB 18 No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. John 1:18 TNIV 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:9-10 ESV 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 1 John 4:16 ESV 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me. I did this so that they are united in the same way we are. 23 I am in them, and you are in me. So they are completely united. In this way the world knows that you have sent me and that you have loved them in the same way you have loved me. John 17:22-23 GW 1 What marvellous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it--we're called children of God! That's who we really are. But that’s also why the world doesn’t recognize us or takes us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he's up to. 1 John 3:1 MSG	The Void There was a time when I was in the dark, Far away from God and from His Son. But deep down within me was a spark Planted there when first I was begun. What it was, I really didn’t know. Something like a vacuum we can’t fill. A hole that ever bigger seemed to grow An emptiness which I remember still! I did my very best to fill that void, With the “trappings” this world could provide. All this made me more and more annoyed. Nothing changed the emptiness inside. Then I gave the Lord my heart and soul. He has filled that gap and made me whole. Jim Strickland  21 Nov 2012 Jesus’ Prayer The prayer of Jesus Christ our Sovereign Lord Written for us in John seventeen; Reading it, we should be overawed; By the prospects Jesus had foreseen. Kneeling in the Temple’s outer court, Our High Priest was pouring out His love. In a way it was the last report, He would give His Father High above. What a prayer! That all of us would be, One with Him in Spirit soul and mind, One with Him in perfect unity, One in purpose; One with all mankind! One with Father; One with Christ His Son; One in all intentions; truly one! Jim Strickland  21 Nov 2012

COVENANT

Time with Jesus - Tuesday, 20 November 2012

Hi all,

While reading today’s Scripture, I was reminded of the covenant cut by God in front of Abraham’s eyes in Genesis 15. I was also reminded of the Covenant Jesus cut for our salvation. So I felt that this meditation should focus on covenant. To some extent, touching on covenant is a bit like trying to pour the Atlantic Ocean into a thimble.

Blessings,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Tuesday, 20 November 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	COVENANT
For as long as I can remember the Bible was divided into two parts. The Old and New Testament. Then I started hearing people talk about the Old and New Covenant. What it was and what the difference was between a Testament and a Covenant was unknown. In those days we would use words without really knowing what we meant. It made us look good as a child and that was far more important than anything else. I had a sort of vague understanding that it was something like a legal contract but more binding. It also had something to do with marriage! It was only when I went to Bible School that I started to get an understanding of the term. I found that it was an unbreakable agreement or contract made between people or families, which was forever binding through the centuries! The meaning became clear when I looked at marriage. Here two unrelated people were joined to start a new family. From being unrelated, marriage changed the couple into being each other’s next of kin. Then I learned men also entered into covenant with other men for mutual support. Like David made a covenant with Jonathan. Apart from marriage, Westerners have little understanding about covenant. On the other hand the indigenous people of Africa, South America and the Far East seem to understand it better than we do. Its origins go back to antiquity. Abraham was familiar with cutting (making) covenant. Little boys sometimes make a commitment to each other by pricking their fingers and rubbing the bleeding areas together while swearing they will be lifelong friends. They say they are now “blood brothers”. Usually it lasts at least until Mom calls them for supper! The boys were correct in one respect. A covenant demands the shedding of blood, hence the expression, “Blood Covenant”. There is not space here to go into the details of the meaning and ritual of “cutting covenant”. Abraham was familiar with it! We see it set out in what happened when Abraham asked God how he would know God would give him the land. What God did, provided proof beyond a shadow of a doubt. The animals were killed and laid out in the way they were. Next, God recited the terms of this “binding agreement”. Then God “walked” between the dead “walls of blood”. Abraham knew that a covenant was unbreakable. So when The Lord carried out the covenant ritual, it was Abraham’s guarantee that God would give him the land. Two thousand years later, on mount Calvary, Jesus cut covenant. This was the New Covenant made by God for the salvation of humanity. There on that mountain, the Son of God cut covenant with the Son of Man. They were the same person. Then He shed His blood and died. It is His guarantee that all who come to Him will be saved! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			15 For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity--the man Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:5 NLT 4 Israel, listen to me. The LORD is our God. The LORD is the one and only God. Deuteronomy 6:4 NIrV 20 Now a mediator is helpful if more than one party must reach an agreement. But God, who is one, did not use a mediator when He gave His promise to Abraham. Galatians 3:20 NLT 6 We have sinned, just as our people of long ago did. We too have done what is evil and wrong. 7 When our people were in Egypt, they forgot about the LORD's miracles. They didn't remember his many kind acts. At the Red Sea they refused to obey him. Psalms 106:6-7 NIrV 23 So He declared He would destroy them. But Moses, His chosen one, stepped between the LORD and the people. He begged Him to turn from His anger and not destroy them. Psalms 106:23 NLT 1 And so, dear brothers and sisters who belong to God and are partners with those called to heaven, think carefully about this Jesus whom we declare to be God's messenger and High Priest. 2 For He was faithful to God, who appointed him, just as Moses served faithfully when he was entrusted with God's entire house. Hebrews 3:1-2 NLT 6 But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for He is the One who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises. Hebrews 8:6 NLT 11 And they shall not teach, each one his neighbour and each one his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. 12 For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more." Hebrews 8:11-12 ESV	We have a mediator but He did it on His own. He didn’t need assistance and He was all alone. It was a brand new covenant which Jesus came to cut. Had He been unsuccessful, no if, or and, or but, The people He created, forever would be lost. That’s why He came and did it, despite the frightful cost. We saw it first with Abraham in Genesis fifteen. We read and then we wonder, what is this strange routine? God said he’d have children; that he would own the land. “How can I know I’ll get it? In ways I understand?” Abraham requested. The Sovereign Lord agreed; And there He cut a covenant in action and in deed. Bring Me a three year heifer, a female goat and ram. A turtle dove and pigeon said God, the Great I am. Kill and split the animals in half and let them lay, Side by side together and placed in such a way, That men can walk between them, declaring upon oath, That they will love each other like husbands pledge their troth. “If I should ever break it, do this to me and more. This is our firm commitment enforceable by law”. Then as the sun was setting and night began to fall, The promises of covenant the Lord began to call. Then a smoking fire-pot depicting God Most High; And a flaming torch portraying Him Who cannot die, Walked between the carcasses, confirming this will be. I, the Lord, have done this, it will last eternally. Abraham could only watch, for He was in a dream. A terrifying darkness underscored the theme. And by this special ritual, a covenant Divine, Was made by the Almighty until the end of time. There was no mediator. A creature wouldn’t do. God Himself was swearing He would be ever true. No further proof was needed; it was His guarantee That what He had just stated, forevermore would be. Then upon Mount Calvary, the Saviour did the same. But Jesus was the sacrifice. He would take all the blame. And as His precious blood ran down and trickled to the ground. Forgiveness for all sinners in Him now could be found! Jim Strickland  Written 20th November 2012