THE CROSS OF CHRIST

Time with Jesus - Monday, 23 January 2012

Today’s Scriptures focus on Jesus Christ and the cross.

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 round 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” and 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?

Today’s meditation looks at this in a little more detail.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland.

The Cross of Christ

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 our cross and follow Him. There is no other way. Jim Strickland – Written Monday 23rd January 2012

VERSES IN RHYME

Time with Jesus - Sunday, 22 January 2012

Hi all,

For me it was rather difficult to find a common thread in today’s Scriptures. The closest I could get to is the comfort we find in the Lord in our walk with Him as Christians. But somehow the topic didn’t seem to “gel”. I noticed that there were twelve Scripture references and thought it would be different if I could express the general content of each verse in rhyme and metre.

To tie the Scripture with the erases, I’ve put a number in green in the verses column. I’ve identified the verses with the same number in green in the rhyme and metre column. It’s not easy 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.

The other reason for doing it this way was by way of a change.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland.

Verses in Rhyme

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.   My flesh is like a grave. I want to do the right thing.   But I cannot behave.  (8) 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;   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!
Jim Strickland – Written 22nd January 2012

INSANITY

Time with Jesus - Saturday, 21 January 2012

Hi all,

Most of us fail to remember that the Bible was not originally written in English. Those who, like me, have an ardour for the Authorised (King James) version with its archaic wording, like to refer to it with a passion that is usually only experienced by a honeymoon couple. For those of us who were born prior to the 1960’s, the only version available was the “King Jimmy” as it was affectionately called. For those fast diminishing few, the Scriptures we remember best are from the KJV.

That old archaic language brought to us words that didn’t mean what we thought. For example I could never quite get a handle on the word “charity” in 1^st Corinthians 13. In the UK we were surrounded by charitable organisations such as Oxfam. So what it meant was decidedly unclear. It became even foggier when people spoke of making donations to charity. It was at times like that, I felt like changing my name to “Charity” so I could receive such donations legitimately.

Then in the 1960’s along came a few new translations. The first I came across was the JB Phillips translation of the New Testament. It was and still is, magnificent. Suddenly the mysteries of seventeenth century English became a bit clearer. Since then a plethora of translations and paraphrase versions of the Bible have swamped us. Some are excellent. Others are highly questionable. Which is which? To quote my late father; he would say, “If I told you that you’d be as clever as me.” In better words, find out for yourself.

Even today, some words have no clear meaning. The word “hate” is such a word. So when it says God hated someone, it left me feeling uncomfortable. For me, love has always been the opposite of hate. So it was difficult to relate a loving God with a hating God. It struck me as somewhat incongruent. There was obviously something I’d missed. So after puzzling through things I got hold of a copy of Strong’s Hebrew and Greek dictionary. Lo and behold, all was revealed. Well, sort of! Not knowing Hebrew or Greek meant and still means, I’m stuck with that which Dr. James Strong in his Dictionary states. Nevertheless, when combined with Vines Complete Expository Dictionary of New Testament and Old Testament Words, I’ve got more or less the best available understanding available to a septuagenarian.

For today’s meditation, I’ve consulted these two sources and come up with a “neat” meaning and understanding of the word “hate” contained in e-sword. So I’ve weaved them into a devotional I’ve called “Insanity”. The meaning and understanding are in the poem. Happy reading!

Jim & Phyllida Strickland.

Insanity

We know about the love of God. So, where does “hate” fit in? The love of God is righteous, but hate may not mean sin. The concept we are used to, is hate in its extreme. The very opposite of love, that’s dirty and unclean. But there are shades of meaning we seldom see today. The origin in Hebrew is a word pronounced “Saw-Nay”. The spelling seen in English, about which we complain, Is not too difficult to see and looks like the word “sane”. So if our love is sanity, then hatred has to be, Some form of mad insanity that keeps on driving me. The other simpler meaning; “unloved” describes it best. Is all about a person who somehow failed the test. The Lord said He loved Jacob;” it’s Esau whom I hate”. – (Rom 9:13) Esau sold his birthright, for some stew upon a plate. The Lord saw this as hateful; what Esau did was wrong. But he was not abandoned. God’s love was far too strong. So Esau wasn’t hated the way we seem to think. In God he had no interest. So God just let him sink, Into a vague obscurity and establish Edom-land. It’s sad that Isaac’s first born son was not at God’s right hand. So when we read, “God hated” We really aught to pause, And see the situation. Perhaps it’s just like yours? Perhaps you’ve lost your birthright, to fix an appetite? Have you let the Son of God just vanish out of site? Have you left for Edom through a choice which you have made? Has He commanded something and you have disobeyed? Then now’s the time to change your ways and come back to the fold. Perhaps you’re still a youngster? Perhaps you’re growing old? Perhaps you’ve just lost contact, by running on ahead? Perhaps you think it’s something you’ve done or you have said? Do not keep on running. The Lord will let you go, If you insist upon a path that you should never know. My brother or my sister, please do not be insane. The Lord desires to love you. So let His “hatred” wane! Bow your knee to Jesus and say you want to be, Established in His Kingdom for all eternity. Tell Him that you love Him, with all your heart and soul. The moment you’ve repented, Our Lord will make you whole. Jim Strickland – Written Saturday 1st January 2012.

REAL LOVE

Time with Jesus - Friday, 20 January 2012

Hi all,

In the Book of Deuteronomy, God indicates that “Israel” belongs to Him and “Jacob” is His special possession. In the context in which this is written, Jacob and Israel are the same. It’s a classic piece of Hebrew writing in which the same thing is stated twice. We could perhaps say that God is expressing His love for His people. Special possession is an interesting statement. The best illustration I’ve heard is to say that Israel is my “pocket money”. The entire world belongs to Him. In a sense, if the entire world was expressed in terms of an income, it was all His.

We understand this best when we say that you and I earn a wage; So much per week or month. Whatever! We have certain commitments that must be paid. For instance, we have to buy food, clothes, family needs, rentals etc. So although all the money is ours, we are compelled to spend it in a particular way. But every one of us likes to have something to spend on whatever he/she wants. We call it our pocket money. For you and me, it’s special. It’s mine for me to spend as I want. No strings attached, it’s mine. As children, most of us received something from our parents to spend somewhere. For me that was my pocket money.

Now think of it on a Divine Scale. God loves us all. We are all His people. Every man and woman on this earth is His. We are all His possession. But, like us, God has a special possession. Favourite in the sense that the pleasure we get with our pocket money is how He sees His people. His people are His pocket money!

The implications of this are staggering. Suddenly the Song of Songs starts to make sense. God is the King. In the book, He is the groom. Then He begins to describe His love for you and me; we are His bride; His special possession. He shares His passion with and for us. We respond in the way a bride responds to her groom. It’s breathtaking! You are His special possession. You are His pocket money. You are His beloved.

How can such a love be described? It’s supernatural; It’s that unique love of God that gives itself away. The Greek word somewhat Anglicised is “agape’” What’s it like? Some years, ago I was listening to one of our better known SA speakers. He asked much the same question. How much does God love us? By way of answer he spread out his arms as far as he could.  He added that it’s exactly, what Jesus did – then Jesus died. He can go no further, because there is nothing any further. That’s agape’! No limits and no end.

Today’s meditation looks at the Love of God.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland.

Real Love

There’s little understanding of the love of God Most High, For guilt-infested sinners, the like of you and I. We don’t know why He bothers. Why should He even look, At people who don’t care for Him, or what is in His Book. It seems we’ve been inoculated, so we cannot tell, If we are bound for heaven, or have been condemned to hell. We know it’s done by Satan. We know about his hate. Any person that is born – they have to share his fate. And so he does his very best, in order to ensure, That not a person in the world could any way be pure. But thank God, Jesus knows it. He knows of Satan’s trap. And just because He loves us, He died to fill the gap, That Father had erected the instant of the fall. And He came here to close it. He died to save us all. We mostly find His love for us is more than we have seen. It stretches to eternity, where we have never been. This world is full of “eros” which usually is lust. Do the things you want to do! There’s no one you can trust. So if your “love” is glandular then grab it double quick. The value of virginity, That makes me feel so sick. Mankind are only animals, so you can copulate With anyone or everyone. Who needs a marriage mate? We find it all around is. This is normality? If that is now your attitude, it’s crass stupidity. The fact is, you don’t understand what Christ has really done. He didn’t die upon the cross to stop you having fun. He died because He loved you. There was no trace of lust. He didn’t have to do it for the children of the dust. He didn’t love for my sake, but because it had to be. He didn’t get emotional and concentrate on me. He saw a dying people, who had been led astray. A lost and mad humanity who didn’t have a way, To come and meet His Father. Compassion then arose, And filled Him with a longing to go and rescue those, Who truly would receive Him and love Him for His sake. A love that gives itself away and cannot bear to take! A love that says, “Whoever, no matter where you’ve been, I’ll freely give My life away so that you can be clean. No matter what they do to Me, my focus is on you. My love for you is limitless. I’ll do what I must do. If you will just believe me, I’ll teach you how to love. Then you can also give your life for God who reigns above”. Jim Strickland – Written Friday 20th January 2012.