Time with Jesus - Tuesday, 02 April 2013
Hi all,
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| I don't know the Word |
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| The Judge Unjust or Just? |
For some reason, those who call themselves charismatics, have some kind of
inner revulsion for any kind of exegesis. We have been brought up on a diet of,
“The Word says……!” It’s a wonderful way to be. After all, that’s exactly what
is written in the Bible. Understanding what is said is slightly more
complicated. Arriving at a well thought out conclusion has little appeal. After
all, careful thought requires a) a certain amount of work – something the
average Charismatic is allergic to. b) Thinking things through – a definite
“No-no”. He may draw a different conclusion from the flavour of the day. So we
tend to potter along within prescribed boundaries, beyond which we will not
venture, on pain of excommunication from other like-minded Charismatics.
This reluctance to work things out in our minds often means we miss
important statements in the Word. More than that; we come up with unscriptural
conclusions, based on a misunderstanding of what is there for all to see.
Jesus’ parable of the unjust judge in Luke 18, is an excellent example of what
is meant. The parable concludes with 8 I
tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the
earth? Luke 18:8 KJV
I’ve listened to a number of preachers torturing this verse of Scripture
and coming up with the biggest load of rubbish imaginable. Why? They don’t
bother with exegesis to understand what Jesus meant. For convenience, the
following is a quotation from Luke 18 1-8 from the Message.
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| Jim & Phyllida |
1 Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for
them to pray consistently and never quit. 2 He said, "There was once a judge in some city who
never gave God a thought and cared nothing for people. 3 A widow in that city kept after him: 'My rights are
being violated. Protect me!' 4
"He never gave her the time of day. But after this went on and on he said
to himself, 'I care nothing what God thinks, even less what people think. 5 But be cause this widow won't quit badgering me, I'd
better do something and see that she gets justice--otherwise I'm going to end
up beaten black and blue by her pounding.'" 6 Then the Master said, "Do you hear what that judge,
corrupt as he is, is saying? 7 So what makes you think God won't step in and work
justice for his chosen people, who continue to cry out for help? Won't he stick
up for them? 8 I assure you,
he will. He will not drag his feet. But how much of that kind of persistent
faith will the Son of Man find on the earth when he returns?" Luke 18:1-8 MSG
You don’t need a PhD from a seminary to realise that the purpose of the
parable was to teach the necessity of connecting verse 1 with verse 8. Jesus
was commending the widow for being persistent. She wouldn’t give up in spite of
the unjust judge’s determination to ignore her. Regardless what took place; she
kept on hammering on his door, until she found justice. It follows that Jesus’
question commented on the persistence; the faithfulness to prayer and following
Him; that the widow demonstrated. Perhaps what we should be asking is, whether
or not His people today will be as persistent as she was? As I take a look
round Western Christianity, it seems it was a valid question!
Shalom,
Jim
& Phyllida Strickland
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – Tuesday, 02 April 2013
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
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©
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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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What Will He Find?
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Jesus told the people many parables. Most are easy to understand. Some
make us scratch our heads wondering what He meant. Much of the mystery
associated herewith, is our tendency to chop up His statements, so that they
mean something different to what He intended. A case in point is the parable
of the unjust judge and the persistent widow in Luke’s gospel 8 I tell you, He will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will He find
on the earth who have faith?" Luke
18:8 NLT
A number of us have been brought up during a time of the “faith”
movement. We have been led to understand that “faith” is a noun. Something
like an egg, a car or a baseball. Faith is a noun. But it’s more like a verb
than a noun. It’s an action word. It’s not static. It’s a way of life. Now
let’s look at the way the KJV translates Habakkuk 2:4. It states, 4
Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not
upright in him: but the just shall live by
his faith. Hab 2:4 KJV. A different rendition, the New Living
Translations puts it this way. 4 "Look
at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But
the righteous will live by their faithfulness to
God. Hab 2:4 NLT
In the NLT the word, “faith” has been translated as “faithfulness”. In
Habakkuk we see that the operative word is faithfulness to God. The meaning
of any passage of Scripture must be derived in terms of its context. Habakkuk
thought that the Babylonians would completely wipe out the Jewish people in
Judah. God’s answer to Habakkuk was that those who were faithful to Him would
survive. The truth of this statement can be read in Hab. 3. His song
celebrates the fact that no matter what happens when the Babylonians invade,
those who are being faithful to God would be preserved by God. History
confirms that this is what took place.
In the light of this, let’s have another look at Jesus’ parable. What
was it all about? Jesus was referring to the widow’s persistence. She kept on
“hammering on the door of the unjust judge” until she obtained justice. She
was being faithful to what she believed; the parable is all about her
persistence; her faithfulness to what she believed. So how should we read
Luke 18:8? In the KJV, Jesus asks, “But when the
Son of Man returns, how many will He find on the earth who have faith?
Faithfulness to Him and His Father is what Jesus is looking for. It’s
not some nebulous noun that makes no sense. Rather He is talking about a way
of life; of men and women being faithful to the Living God. Will He find it?
It’s up to you and me! Today’s meditation asks the question, what will Jesus
expect to find when He returns.
Jim & Phyllida
Strickland
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7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry
to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you,
he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when
the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"
Luke 18:7-8 ESV
11 He came to his own
people, but they didn't want him. 12 But whoever did want
him, who believed he was who he claimed and would do what he said, He made to
be their true selves, their child-of-God selves. 13 These are the
God-begotten, not blood-begotten, not flesh-begotten, not sex-begotten.
John 1:11-13 MSG
1 Now the Holy Spirit
tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true
faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from
demons. 2 These people are hypocrites and liars, and their
consciences are dead.
1 Tim 4:1-2 NLT
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. 3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen
to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will
look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.
4 They will reject the truth and chase
after myths.
2 Tim 4:2-4 NLT
32 "No one knows when
that day or hour will come. Even the angels in heaven and the Son don't know.
Only the Father knows. 33 Be
careful! Watch! You don't know the exact time.
Mark 13:32-33 GW
35 "Be ready for action, and have your lamps burning.
36 Be like servants waiting to open the door at their master's
knock when he returns from a wedding. 37 Blessed
are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. I can
guarantee this truth: He will change his clothes, make them sit down at the
table, and serve them.
Luke 12:35-37 GW
13 At the same time we can expect what we hope for-the appearance of the glory of our great God and
Saviour, Jesus Christ
Tit 2:13GW
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When Jesus Christ comes back again, what is it He expects?
Do you think He’ll shake His head and ask what happens next?
What will He be looking for when He surveys the earth?
A mass of false Messiah’s, or folk with second birth?
Religion based fanatics who murder folk at will?
Determined that to spread their faith, they are compelled to kill?
Perhaps He’ll find a people enthused for God Most High,
And hundreds of His followers who are prepared to die,
If that is what is needed? What “faith” will be expressed?
Will people be excited or will they be distressed?
What “faith” will He be looking for? Will He find men of prayer,
Or many, many millions who simply do not care,
About their daily lifestyle? Do you think they’ll be glad,
Or will this world continue to be a world gone mad?
Will He find faith upon the earth? But what does this “faith” mean?
What is His definition? A world that’s squeaky clean?
A people who had come to Him when they were just a lad,
And from that very moment had kept on being bad?
That’s not the understanding of what His words imply;
But living as His follower until the day they die.
A better word is faithfulness. A “faith” that carries on,
Regardless of the circumstance or where the world has gone.
The word means stick-ability. It’s never turning round,
To see if there’s a better way that someone else has found.
It means that they will carry on regardless of the odds;
And not go off a-whoring in lust for foreign gods.
It isn’t being perfect. He knows that cannot be.
Because with our sin nature, from sin we’re never free.
It still remains a choice we make. It’s what we always do.
The only way to beat it is have Jesus within you.
I’m sure that’s what He’s seeking. It’s what He wants to find.
Not what people think is right; correct in their own mind!
That’s no good for the Saviour; We must obey His Word.
That’s the definition of what should have occurred.
But is He going to find it? What is it He will see?
I hope it is obedience in folk like you and me.
Because friend, if He doesn’t, what is it He will do?
I’m sure it will be horrible for those who are untrue.
Jim Strickland
Written
2nd April 2012.
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