THE CROSS OF CHRIST

Time with Jesus - Wednesday, 23 January 2013

Hi all,

The Cross of Jesus Christ. What does it mean to you? Is it just a rather nice piece of jewellery or a symbol of a cruel, agonising death demonstrated by a very demanding lifestyle? When I look at it I tremble. He did that for me? Why? He didn’t get much of a bargain; a worn out old man who has devoted a lifetime trying to live the way He did. I know I can’t, but I can’t leave Him. The prospects of the cross scare me spit-less. The prospects of living without Him are infinitely worse. Furthermore His love draws me to him like a pin is drawn to a magnet. Even so, Come Lord Jesus.

Blessings,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Wednesday, 23 January 2013			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	The Cross of Christ
From a Christian perspective, the cross is the most important symbol we will ever know. The crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ is the central point in all of time and space. It is as though creation itself hinges around this event. Nothing is more important anywhere or at any time in history. God knew all about it before the foundation of this world was laid. This method of execution coincided with the time Jesus came to dwell among us. It’s almost as though all history leads up to and away from the crucifixion. Thank God it does! I can think of no other method of execution more fitting for sinful men like you and me. The pain and degradation of hanging stark naked somewhere between heaven and earth nailed to a cross seems about right for a monster of iniquity! It’s appropriate for those of us who have been openly and deliberately defiant of God’s love. Symbolically, the cross can be seen to represent the cancellation of the letter “I”. It can be seen as stretching from heaven to earth and inclusive of all who have lived, are living and will live on this planet. It is a symbol of death. We have so distorted the crucifixion, that men and women wear the symbol on a chain around their necks as jewellery! Of course the cross has been under attack by Satan and his gang since Jesus was crucified. They know it is a powerful symbol. So they deliberately seek to devalue it by trying to turn it into a toy. In the main, they have succeeded. But not only has the cross been “devalued”. Satan’s attack has focused on the crucifixion as a whole. They have done their best to “demystify” it. They have persuaded millions of men and women that the cross is not important. Christ’s injunction to “take up your cross and follow me” has been spiritualised to the point where it has become meaningless. Instead of making unconditional demands on the lives of Christians, it has been changed into a sort of optional extra. Repentance is no longer necessary. All we have to do is receive Jesus. His grace will cover anything and everything we do/did from the moment we are saved! It will carry us all the way into the portals of heaven itself. Sadly, Christians have swallowed this hook, line and sinker. The result is that many live a more debauched lifestyle than the one they lived before coming to Jesus. “God knows and understands!” is the cry from deluded millions. His grace will cover it all! Sadly, it won’t! That’s “Cheap Grace”. There is no such thing! To take up your cross in Jesus’ day was to pick up your means of execution. You were on a one way path to an agonising and public death. You could not reason with the cross. It would do its work on you as it had done on countless thousands. When it was finished, you would be dead. Taking up your cross today still means the same as it did in Jesus’ day. We cannot cover it with velvet padding. We cannot protect ourselves from public shame and nakedness. We can only submit to all its associated terrors and wait for the instance when we too, like our Lord and Saviour can say, “It is finished. Into Your hands I commit my spirit!” This is the purpose of the cross. God help me! I’m scared of how I will react when the inevitable happens and my time has come to be nailed on mine. But if they could do it to my Saviour and Lord, can I expect any less? What do you think? Jim & Phyllida Strickland			11 Dear brothers and sisters, if I were still preaching that you must be circumcised--as some say I do--why am I still being persecuted? If I were no longer preaching salvation through the cross of Christ, no one would be offended. Gal 5:11 NLT 24 Then Jesus spoke to his disciples. He said, "If anyone wants to follow me, he must say no to himself. He must pick up his cross and follow me. Mat 16:24 NIrV 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. James 4:4 ESV 22 Strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. Acts 14:22 ESV 33 God warned them of this in the Scriptures when He said, "I am placing a stone in Jerusalem that makes people stumble, a rock that makes them fall. But anyone who trusts in Him will never be disgraced." Rom 9:33 NLT 7 So the honour is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone," (Psalm 118:22) 8 and "A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence 1 Peter 2:7-8 ESV 14 As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world's interest in me has also died. Galatians 6:14 NLT 20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20 NLT  24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there. Gal 5:24 NLT 12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; 2 Tim 2:12 ESV	A tragic thing has happened in the past one hundred years. The cross of Christ’s been modified to satisfy our peers. It’s now been velvet covered, so people don’t get hurt. They tell me it’s been sanitised, to take away the dirt. The blood has been excluded; it has been washed away. We mustn’t bother people who feel squeamish every day! It’s not a thing to carry. So put it on a truck. Put one on a necklace, so it can bring you luck! Never talk about it; it just might give offence, To the religious people who are sitting on the fence. It’s only fundamentalists who really care at all. So do not let it bother you. Their thinking’s far too small. You see, we know much better. The Lord is now our friend! And we have got a ticket on which we can depend. We got it many years ago, by visiting a tent. The preacher said please take it. There’s no need to repent. And while you have this ticket, you can enter heaven’s doors. The cross you’ll have to carry is from lollipops and straws. Now as I look around me, I see this everywhere. The church is entertainment! It now is free from care. Jesus came to sanctify, what used to be obscene. Just believe He’s saved you, and He will wash you clean. But there’s a major problem, when we think along these lines. It’s really not the gospel which Jesus Christ defines. In His day, taking up the cross, meant certain crucifixion. You would know for certain and without contradiction; That you were on a journey to an agonising end. There wasn’t an alternative; on that you could depend. You knew your life was over and you would soon be dead. No matter what the people all around you thought or said. There was no opportunity to bid your friends goodbye. Unless they wished to walk with you and watch you as you died. The cross made no allowances. There wasn’t an appeal, That you could make with anyone and shortly it would deal, With you in your entirety. It wouldn’t shrink or bend. But hold you there in agony till life came to an end. This is the cross Christ spoke of. So let us all obey. Take up your cross and follow Him. There is no other way. Jim Strickland  Written 23rd January 2012 This poem and introduction were inspired by the writings of  Dr A W Tozer

TODAY’S SCRIPTURES IN VERSE

Time with Jesus - Tuesday, 22 January 2013

Hi all,

Today’s meditation is all twelve Scriptures expressed in verse. It was easier than trying to find a thread to write about. My “favourite” today comes from Psalm 63:5-6. You satisfy my longing, with the richest, finest fare. / When lying on my bed at night, I’m sure that You are there! The idea of “day-dreaming” all night about the Lord appeals to me.

Blessings,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Tuesday, 22 January 2013			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	Today’s Scriptures in Verse
There are a couple of things from childhood that really stand out. One was picture books which “stood up” when the book was opened. Then there was “connect the dots”. It was great fun. At first, the page looked like a serious case of chickenpox with spots all over. The main difference was that by connecting the dots with a pencil, a picture emerged. It wasn’t much of a picture. Picasso can sleep comfortably in his grave! I’m not seeking to depose the artist in any way. Apart from some of his “modern art” stuff. One thing in its favour. It looks a mess regardless which way you hold it. There’s a lesson somewhere in that! The connection with today’s meditation, is that there are 12 Scriptures to connect up in poetry (doggerel for those who prefer). Trying to find a thread is as difficult as it was last year. It’s easier to try and put each verse into poetry. So that’s what I’ve done. There are twelve Scripture references. I’ve tied them all up in glorious Microsoft colour. I’ve put a number in green in the verses column. The verses are identified with the same number in green in the rhyme and metre column. It’s a challenge to express each verse of Scripture this way. The Scripture contains far more than I can put into verse and rhyme. This means that in some instances, the verses don’t do justice to the Scripture content. Note that the metre for the verses is not the same. There is a change as from No 6. This may be a bit confusing. Also, in order to make sense of Matt 9:22 I’ve added information, not mentioned in the Scripture quoted, but can be found in the Scriptures themselves. I’m always thrilled when I read about this miracle that Jesus performed, when the woman touched His clothes. Exactly where the point of contact was, is not clear. But I have a sort of suspicion that it was His tallit. For Christians who are unfamiliar with this “garment”, it’s a bit like a large square shawl, with tassels round the periphery. It’s worn round the neck and, on occasions, in prayer over the head. John Hagee calls it a “portable one man tabernacle”. It’s actually a Jewish prayer shawl and it’s beautiful. Phyllida and I both have one. Sadly there are not many occasions for us to wear them. We suspect that the woman came and touched one of these tassels. We don’t know which one. We also don’t know the significance of each tassel. We know that two of them represented God. So in a way, touching one of the tassels on Jesus’ tallit, would be to contact Jesus and His Father directly. Charismatics have done a great job of getting rid of ritualism in dress and worship. Sadly, on occasions, it seems we have thrown out the baby with the bath water. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			19 I was very worried. But your comfort brought joy to my heart. Psalm 94:19 NIrV (1)	I said my foot was slipping.  (1)   I thought that I would fall. I was also worried but,   He answered when I called. No matter where I go to; (2)   When my heart is full of fear. The Lord God is my Master;   Like a rock Who’s ever near! I chirped like a swallow. (3)   And cooed, like a dove. I looked to the heaven,   In search of Your Love. I suffered severely,   My hope was all gone. But you gave the power,   To keep going on. Give Jesus you burdens. (4)   He’ll carry your load. You won’t come to ruin.   With Him on your road. It’s hard to believe it, (5)    You’ve made me the king. And unlike my father,    I don’t know a thing. Lord, how can I do it?   I’m only a child. My duties are many,   On me, they are piled. King David could do it.   He trusted in You. But I’ll never manage;   Please! What must I do? If you’re needing wisdom, (6)   Then speak to Jesus first. He always gives it freely,   And slakes the deepest thirst.		To everyone who’s perishing, (7)   The Gospel stinks of death. For those who’ve found salvation,   There’s life in every breath. There’s nothing good within me. (8)   My flesh is like a grave. I want to do the right thing.   But I cannot behave. My grace is quite sufficient; (9)   My power is for the weak. And so I boast in weaknesses,   And for the Lord I seek. For that’s when I’m made perfect,   And Christ is at His best; And on His humble servant,   His Spirit comes to rest. Your sins have been forgiven; (10)   That’s what the man was told. Your faith has been rewarded;   So stand up and be bold. The woman came to Jesus; (11)   And touched His tasselled clothes. He felt the virtue leave Him.   Correctly, He supposed, That someone received healing;   But which one in the mob? And so He asked the question,   Who touched me? Then a sob, Came from the ailing woman.   My Master it was me. Take heart He said, My daughter,   Your faith has set you free. You satisfy my longing, (12)   With The richest, finest fare. When lying on my bed at night,   I’m sure that You are there!
			2 From the ends of the earth, I cry to You for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety Psalm 61:2 NLT  (2)
			14 I chirped like swallows and cranes. I cooed like doves. My eyes were tired from looking up to heaven. I've suffered miserably, O Lord! Please help me! Isaiah 38:14 GW  (3)
			22 Pile your troubles on God’s shoulders-- he'll carry your load, he'll help you out. He'll never let good people topple into ruin. Psalm  55:22 MSG  (4)
			7 "LORD my God, you have now made me king. You have put me in the place of my father David. But I'm only a little child. I don't know how to carry out my duties. 1 Kings 3:7 NIrV  (5)
			5 If any of you need wisdom, ask God for it. He will give it to you. God gives freely to everyone. He doesn't find fault. James 1:5 NIrV  (6)
			16 To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this? 2 Cor 2:16 NLT  (7)
			18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. Rom 7:18 ESV  (8)
			9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Cor 12:9 ESV  (9)
			2 Some men brought to him a paralysed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven. Mat 9:2 TNIV  (10)
			22 Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment. Mat 9:22 TNIV  (11)
			5 You satisfy my soul with the richest foods. My mouth will sing your praise with joyful lips. 6 As I lie on my bed, I remember you. Through the long hours of the night, I think about you. Psalm 63:5-6 GW  (12)
				Jim Strickland – Written 22nd January 2012