Time with Jesus -16 Dec 2013
Hi all,
Over the past several days, South Africa has been saying
farewell to one of Africa’s greatest sons. Some would go further and speak of
this world’s greatest sons.
He was brought up in the Methodist tradition,
although he was reluctant to state this. It is always difficult for the leader
of any nation to express leanings toward any religion. Taking “religious sides”
while in a public office is difficult because of the need to be seen as impartial.
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela [18 July 1918 to 5 December
2013 (aged 95)] has been compared with the likes of Ghandi, Churchill, George
Washington and other giants of history. Personally, I have no fight with this
type of acknowledgment. He stated on a number of occasions that he was not God
and didn’t want to be remembered that way. At the same time, thinking back over
the past 40-50 years, it is fitting to acknowledge that, in a unique way, he
has succeeded in doing what most of us thought was impossible.
It is my firm belief that God raises up certain men and
women at certain times to achieve great things. Things that He knew in advance
would take place. Men like George Washington who led America to freedom; Ghandi
who led India to Independence;
Churchill who led Britain to victory against the
Nazi’s; this, in spite of the darkest of dark days. Days when most of the rest
of the world were convinced that Hitler would soon overwhelm them.
Why is it most of us find it hard to believe that the
hand of God leads men all over the world regardless of their religion? e.g. Many
years before he was born, the prophet Isaiah spoke of a man God would raise up
for a specific purpose. He would be the Persian King. 
Cyrus the Great would
allow many of the Jews to return to Judea in order to rebuild Jerusalem and
their temple. Isaiah prophesied, 22 When
I say of Cyrus, 'He is My shepherd,' he will certainly do as I say. He will command,
'Rebuild Jerusalem'; he will say, 'Restore the Temple.'" Isaiah 44:28 NLT Isaiah wrote this hundreds of
years before the fall of Jerusalem in 586AD. 
Men and women today, even Christian men and women, often
forget that God is omniscient. He knows and has always known every detail about
everything that will happen at any second of the past, present and future. Exactly
how He does this, in the light of the many associated ramifications, is beyond
our understanding. Yet we know He does this.
It follows He knew that America would need a leader to
defeat the British and establish one of the most powerful nations on earth. So,
in the courts of His infinite knowledge, He made sure that a man was born who
would do exactly what was needed. Thus on February 22, 1732, in Westmoreland,
Virginia, British America, George Washington was born. He died December 14,
1799 (aged 67) at Mount Vernon, Virginia, U.S. (Courtesy Google)
Much the same can be said of Mahatma Ghandi and Winston
Churchill. They were exactly where they were needed at exactly the right time
in history.Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was likewise born at the right
time and in the right place. He was raised up by God to lead the Black people
of South Africa to freedom.
He was also raised up by God to bring about
reconciliation between all the people of South Africa. Few men in South Africa
have commanded as much respect from the people of this land as this man. In
fact, few men in the World have commanded international respect the way he did.
Thus it was that on 5th December 2013, he departed this life.
You and I have been greatly privileged by God to see
extraordinary things in this world because of science and technology. We have
also been privileged to live in the same era as this man who so impressed the
international community.
As a Christian, I thank the Lord for this singular
honour. No, Mandela was not God. He was not perfect. However, some of the
things he said and did in this life, are inspirational and might well have been
taken from Scripture. Why not? If God could achieve His purposes through Nebuchadnezzar,
why not through Mandela?
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| Mandela- Captain of RSA Francois Pienaar - Captain of Springboks Rugby World Cup 1995 |
Jesus told a parable in Luke 19 to illustrate what was
expected from the likes of you and I. 12 He
said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for
himself a kingdom, and to return. 13
And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto
them,
Occupy till I come. Luke 19:12-13 KJV An alternate version translates
this phrase “Put this money to work until I come back.”
A third translation is, “Operate with this until I
return.”
Throughout his long life Mandela certainly did. It was only old
age and increasing frailty which slowed him down. A life invested in South
Africa for South Africans. I salute you sir! I pray the Lord will be merciful
to him.
Shalom
Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – 16 Dec 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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OCCUPY
TILL I COME
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Some
years ago, I read a story about a man who had been all over the world on a
ship. He’d been unable to disembark. He had no means of identification. No
birth certificate, no ID book and no passport. How he managed to get on the
ship was not explained. At every port he visited, the authorities had refused
to admit him. He was what we could best describe as a non-person. What
happened to any family members, who might have identified him, was not
stated. Nothing was mentioned about his life aboard the ship. Presumably the
captain or owners must have given him work of some sort so that he could eat
and drink. It was a sorry tale with little prospects of anything changing.
There
is a vague similarity with this wandering man and the life of a Christian on
planet earth. Sure we have passports which enable us to travel round and see various
places. But we are not really at home wherever we go. In a way our status is
similar to the old Chorus: This world is not my
home I’m just a passing through. / My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond
the blue. / The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door. / And I can’t feel
at home in this world anymore!
This
is part of the greater problem Christians face. We are in the world but not
of the world. There is a clear distinction. When we have had glimpses of the
glory of God and the splendours of His Kingdom, the things of this world
become somewhat tasteless. In his letter to the Philippians Paul wrote: 23
I'm torn between two desires: I long to go and be
with Christ, which would be far better for me. Philippians 1:23 NLT It’s easy to identify with this and look
forward to leaving this world and being with Jesus. But that would do nothing
for the Kingdom of God. If every Christian suddenly vanished from the face of
the earth, who would be left to take to Gospel to the Nations? Current
“rapture of the church” theory espouses this thinking. Christians can “escape the tribulation”. Personally,
I don’t think they are right. In which case they are in for a very rude
awakening. I’d love to think I’m wrong!
What
we should do as Christians, is live as though He is coming back tomorrow. One
of the best pieces of advice I’ve heard is that we should live as though He
is coming back tomorrow and prepare to serve Him here indefinitely. Andrew
Murray in a book written about a hundred years ago put it this way. He said
that if his daily task was to plant a tree. Even if he knew Jesus was coming
back tomorrow, he would start the day by planting a tree! Jesus, in the
parable of the King and three servants used the phrase: 13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten
pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I
come. Luke
19:13 KJV Occupy till I come. It’s what He wants!
Jim &
Phyllida
Strickland
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19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of
God's household,
Ephesians 2:19 NIV
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They say I’m a South African; and I was born a Brit.
But somehow these Nationalities just do not seem to fit.
It’s stated in my Passport’s and so it must be right.
And with these two Authorities, I do not wish to fight.
But sadly, with these passports, there’s little one can do.
Except visit some countries who really don’t want you.
They only want your dollars; They’ll settle for your pounds.
But if you are a nuisance, you’ll soon be homeward bound.
It’s called the tourist industry. “Please
come and see our land.
But when you’ve spent your money you have to understand
The quicker you get ready, and you have gone away,
Another foreign tourist will visit us next day.”
I’ve got another passport which Jesus Christ supplied. Ephesians 2:19 NIV
He’s given me a heart of flesh and hidden deep inside,
This Diplomatic Passport, is all I’ll ever need,
To get me into heaven. It’s recognised indeed!
I’ve got the right of access, to the city of my God. Hebrews 12:22-23 NLT
To tramp the Holy City, in the steps my Lord has trod.
I’m sorry, I can’t show it. It’s hidden from your view.
But when I’ve started doing the things He told me to,
You’ll see things in abundance as clear as any bell,
The fruit I’d be displaying, if I was bound for Hell.
The fact is I am righteous! It’s like an overcoat.
My Master gave it to me when I gave Him my “vote”.
He said that I may wear it. It fits me like a glove.
And it will by my covering, while walking in His love.
He’s also given promises that still must come to pass.
So I am truly confident and just as bold as brass;
When I confess that someday, the Lord will give to me,
Everything He’s promised back to antiquity! Hebrews 11:13 NLT
His diplomatic passport will never once expire.
Not while Christ my Saviour is the One Whom I desire.
No one else can steal it while it’s in my chest.
While I serve the Master, I know that I’ll be blessed.
I’ve still got one ambition, one purpose and one goal.
To fight against the passions which war against my soul. 1 Peter 2:11 ESV
From darkness I’ve been rescued and this I know for sure.
Jesus will assist me to keep my lifestyle pure! Colossians 1:13 NLT
Jim Strickland
Written
16th
December 2012
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22 No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the
city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of
angels in a joyful gathering. 23 You
have come to the assembly of God's firstborn children, whose names are written
in heaven. You have come to God Himself, who is the judge over all things.
You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in heaven who have now
been made perfect.
Hebrews 12:22-23 NLT
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13 All these people died still believing
what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they
saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were
foreigners and nomads here on earth.
Hebrews 11:13 NLT
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20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the
Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our
Saviour. 21 He will take our
weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like His own, using
the same power with which He will bring everything under His control.
Philippians 3:20-21 NLT
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13 For He has rescued us from the kingdom of
darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son,
Colossians 1:13 NLT
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11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and
exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your
soul.
1 Peter 2:11 ESV
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