THE SCIENTIFIC TEST

Time with Jesus - Monday, 12 March 2012

Hi all,

Scripture makes it very clear that we are not to put God to the test. It’s no good my saying I can walk off a roof and not fall because I’m a Christian. I will fall on my nose; rightly so! The test has more to do with my big mouth than a call on God. Even Jesus would not put His Father to a foolish test. The message is very clear. But there is one area in which God invites us to put Him to the test. We find it in Mal 3:10.

10 "Bring the entire tenth to the storerooms in my temple. Then there will be plenty of food. Put me to the test," says the LORD. "Then you will see that I will throw open the windows of heaven. I will pour out so many blessings that you will not have enough room for them. Mal 3:10 NIrV

16 "You shall not put the LORD your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah. Deut 6:16 ESV 7 Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" Mat 4:7 ESV

Now you and I are aware that today’s Scriptures have nothing to do with money. However, there is an important principle here. In Malachi, God invites the people to test Him. I have heard it stated that He refers to a “scientific test”. Consequently, on occasions we are permitted to, “put God to the test”.

Now science states categorically, that proof is required in order to establish that something is true. For example, the entire world believed it was flat until science came along and proved otherwise. The scientific principle is that you start with an unproved hypothesis. Then, by repeated test and experiment, prove your theory. The theory is then usually checked by others. Finally, the theory is proved correct and is universally accepted. The procedure is 1) hypothesis 2) test 3) proven theory.

Today I would like to invite the world to test the hypothesis that God exists and is real. All I’m asking them to do is what every scientist does. Accept the hypothesis that God is real and go about establishing whether or not it is true.

All that’s needed is to pursue the Lord as though He is true. Don’t begin by believing. Begin with the assumption that you expect your experiments to prove successful. Hebrews states, ⁶ And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him. Heb 11:6 NLT

My point is this. Conduct your own scientific experiment with the Lord. Believe He exists. Then test the truth of this statement. In Malachi, God stated that if they test Him with their money, He would “open the windows of heaven” and pour out such a blessing that they could not contain.

Now I am not God. However He has said I am one of His many authorised representatives. So, on His behalf, I’d like to invite you to take part in this small scientific exercise. God has already said, ⁸ Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see-- how good GOD is. Blessed are you who run to him. Psalm 34:8 MSG Here is His personal invitation for you to carry out this little scientific test. Go for it. He will answer you in ways you never thought possible

Today’s meditation is an imagined dialog between an unbeliever (In red) and a believer. (In blue) Go ahead. Taste and see! You won’t be disappointed.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

The scientific Test

Do you believe in Jesus? I’m here to ask you why?     What is it that convinces You? Perhaps it is a lie? Please tell me where you saw Him? I’d like to go there too. An optical illusion, I’m sorry, will not do! You tell me He has saved you. From what have you been saved? Was it a true conversion or a nice way to behave? Don’t beat about the bushes. Relate the truth to me. How is it you’re a follower of someone you can’t see? Don’t give me your opinions. Religious platitudes, Are not what I’m in need of. Be honest and be rude. I find it fascinating. You say, “In God I trust” But science says conclusively your dreams are only dust. So what is it your trusting in? How can you say for sure, That Jesus Christ is still alive and that His life is pure? (Answer) I thank you for the questions. So now please hear me out.         The One Whom I believe in is here without a doubt. Of course I cannot see Him. It doesn’t work that way. But He is just as much alive as He was yesterday. You challenge me with science. But science tells us how. It cannot tell us where or why. It’s just a holy cow, The people need to slaughter. You cannot reason God. Perhaps you find that difficult, remote, or even odd. You have to first believe in Him. Believe that he exists. Perhaps you think it’s rubbish, but friend I must insist. For if you can’t accept it, I’m sorry friend to say, You really cannot know Him in an ordinary way. We say that faith is needed to prove that He is there. That’s when He starts to visit you and talks to you in prayer. This truth is the first hurdle that you must overcome. And if you don’t believe it, It’s rather sad, old son. For He is a rewarder of those who seek to find. And if you are not looking, I’m sorry, you’ll stay blind. It’s really sad to tell you, no other way will do. And if you do it truthfully, you’ll find He’ll come to you. The Lord rewards a person, who diligently seeks. To come in any other way, brings tears to both your cheeks. I’m sorry to inform you, that if you do not try, You’ll end up on the road to hell the moment that you die. So let’s be scientific and put it to the test. Say that you believe Him. He’ll see to it your blessed! And you’ll be on a journey into the Master’s heart, And have your questions answered, in every little part! Jim Strickland – Written 12th March 2012

ME AND YOU TOO?

Time with Jesus - Sunday, 11 March 2012

Hi all,

What do we really know about God? Not very much! It’s a bit like asking fish what they think about water? They can’t answer because they have no voice. Even if they could speak, what could they tell us about the substance in which they live? In a way, it’s much like that with our knowledge of God. We know that in Him we live and move and have our being. (Acts 17:28) But what do we really know about Him?

We know He is unknowable! It seems a contradiction. He dwells in a different dimension to us. It is timeless and changeless. We have no idea what this is like. The little we do know is what He has chosen to reveal.

But we know Jesus. At least we think we do. We have the account of His life recorded in the four Gospels. They show us something of His nature. He is revealed as very human. At the same time we are informed that He is God! As investigators we are inclined to say, “Which bit is man and which bit is God? Left eye, right eye; left ear, right ear. That seems logical. But logic is not always correct. We are taught that He was 100% man and 100% God. That sound’s like 200%. But it isn’t. In the early Church, this topic was discussed extensively. It was settled at the First Council of Nicaea  in 325 AD and adopted at the First Council of Constantinople in 381AD. Anglicans among us will remember the Nicene Creed from their prayer book.

Why is it important? Well, He had to be 100% man or He could not die for us. He had to be 100% God for His death to be efficacious for all of us. So we end up with this paradox.

To be 100% human meant that He was emotionally and physically just like us. I’m inclined to say 100% similar to us mentally, but think this is skating on thin ice.

The only person, who could take back from Satan what Adam had given him, had to be human. At least as human as Adam had been. He also had to be completely sinless. Jesus complied in every way. He was as human as you and me and as divine as His Father. Satan thought he could defeat Him. But no one can beat God.

Our meditation today looks at His humanity. It takes a glance at His Divinity. It concludes by asking who was responsible for the crucifixion. The answer I give is not my original idea. I read it in a book many years ago. I’m not sure of the author’s name. Never mind. The conclusion is as real today as it was when I first read it.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Me and You Too?

Jesus’ humanity, is quite astonishing. We know He is the Son of God; that He made everything. We know He formed the mountains on which He came to preach. Before He barbecued the fish, he also made the beach! The earth and all upon it are here by His design. So how can someone human, be someone who’s Divine? I wish I had an answer. I only know it’s true. The one, who had created life, came here for me and you. He made the very minerals from which they forged the nails. He made the trees which made His cross. My comprehension fails! How could someone exalted, above the very sky, Come to earth to be with us and for us all to die? But He was also human. He came here as a man. Nothing of the Trinity was seen in His great plan. He came here as a nobody. Our God in overalls. He learned to suffer, felt our pain and heard our God-ward calls. We know He had emotions. We even saw Him weep. And He could get exhausted. So much, He needed sleep. The prophets told us of Him. They said He’d be despised. Rejected by His people. His Godhood was disguised! He learned by what He suffered, the same as you and I. He even let them whip Him, before they watched Him die. They mocked and spat upon Him. They pulled His beard out too. He prayed, “Father forgive them. They know not what they do!” They nailed a sign above His head. It said “King of the Jews”. But He was so much more than that. They didn’t get the news; The one that they had crucified and hanged upon that tree, Was truthfully the Son of God Who died for you and me! And as I think about it, it makes me cringe and wilt. I shake my head, acknowledging for me His blood was spilt. Because I know for certain, that I drove home those nails. I know for sure, I turned the lock that kept Him in their jail. The whip I used to flog Him was held within my hand. And every detail of the deed was done at my command. Could such a thing be possible that I should take the blame? I may as well have done it. For Him it was the same. To murder God Almighty, was no collective act. I must have been involved somewhere! I know that as a fact. For all the dreadful things I’d done. The murderer was me. And yet in spite of all of it, He said He’d set me free! That is the greatest miracle that I have ever seen The very one who did it all, by Him has been washed clean. So now what can I give Him? My heart and mind and soul; The very life inside of me is under His control! And there are many others who toiled with me that day. Perhaps you too are one of them?  My friend, what do you say? Jim Strickland – Written 11th March 2012

THE GREATEST LOVE

Time with Jesus - Saturday, 10 March 2012

Hi all,

Many years ago I was told that the Bible is the greatest love story the world has ever known. I wasn't quite sure what was meant by this. Then I started to read it. I found that, if anything, the claim is an understatement!

The Bible is the story of God creating a people who, because of sin, refused to believe in Him. Most had no interest in Him and His claims. In spite of Him knowing all this before He began creating. He concluded that it was worth while. I’m prompted to say, “God alone knows why?” It’s about as clear to me as hieroglyphics to a blind man. But the more I “got into” the Bible the clearer it became.

At first it was astonishing to realise that God had no reason to create anything. He was and is complete. No needs! No urgent or unfinished business. Creating us, would not add to, or assist Him in any way. Furthermore, not creating us would also not change anything. We learn that He did it for His own good pleasure.

I must admit that this being done for His pleasure was puzzling? What possible pleasure can there be in creating men and women like us? Knowing what He knew, I don’t think I would have bothered. Of course, I’m not God so am in no position to comment meaningfully. Looking at the way we are now, creation for His own good pleasure seems to me to be totally masochistic. The human race seems to be unlovable and a contradiction to the very concept of love. It makes no sense to create something that will behave completely the opposite of what we are. To us it’s a bit like making a dog that we know is going to bite us!

Thank You Lord that You are not like that! Thank You that You can see beyond what we are, to what we can and will be in the fullness of time. Thank You that You love the unlovely. Thank You that You love every one of us. It seems beyond belief. But we must conclude that deep within Your loving heart, You knew that in the end, everything would work out correctly. No doubt ultimately, in the courts of heaven and history, we will come to the conclusion that You were right. Forgive us for doubting this. Forgive me for doubting that the entire story is the greatest love story the world has ever known.

Today’s meditation looks at this honestly.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

The Greatest Love

The Bible is a story about the greatest love, That ever has been written by Father God above. On every page it glistens with the story of His care, For everyone who’s every lived. It doesn’t matter where. It tells us that the Trinity decided to create, People and a Kingdom that knew nothing about hate! Each step He went about it, is told simplistically. Anyone who reads it can grasp it instantly. It tells us of a garden, of animals and plants; Of many different species of insects and of ants. He made them male and female and told them, “Multiply, Fill the earth with everything on earth and in the sky”. Then He made His masterpiece; a man to run it all. A woman was handcrafted, from his rib so very small. The two were told to multiply; begin to fill the place. That they were the progenitors, of all the human race. The Bible then continues and tells us of the fall. And indicates that Satan came in and spoiled it all. The love that God intended was distorted by this act. And sin came in to spoil it; and death became a fact. But God had known about it when He started to create. He knew the very instant. He knew the time and date. But since love has it’s centre, in the middle of His heart, The fall of man could never tear his love for us apart. The problem is, a Holy God can’t tolerate our sin. This was a major problem. But solvable by Him. He sent His Son to pay the price His Holiness demanded! So we were free to love Him and do what He commanded. We see this sort of love displayed throughout God’s Holy Word. It seems quite unbelievable and utterly absurd. This love is supernatural it looks at how we’ve been, And knows about our wickedness and that we are unclean. But He was not mistaken when He created man. Long before He made us, He came up with His plan.

So we can all come to Him and thank Him for His love. Praise His Name forever; that Father God above, Put a plan in action so we can be redeemed. A plan which is far better, than human minds have dreamed. Don’t ask me why He did it. I cannot even guess. But Father in His awesome love decided He would bless. A people undeserving of love of any kind, Could live with Him forever! Such love just blows my mind! Jim Strickland – Written 10th March 2012

THE SOUNDS OF THE REDEEMED

Time with Jesus - Friday, 09 March 2012

Hi all,

There are times when we must admit that we should be standing on our heads. The world we live in appears to be completely the opposite of what God’s Word informs us about the Kingdom of God. The way to the top in the world is up. To get on in the world we have to more or less fight our way until eventually we arrive at the top of the muck heap. We then find that it is still a muck heap and the cost in time, effort and getting past others leads to mental strain and burn out. Furthermore, staying at the top requires industrial and political “clout” which “takes the gilt off the ginger-bread”!

This is not the way to the top in the Kingdom of God. In fact there is already someone at the top. He is God. So don’t bother. But we are told that if we want to be great in the Kingdom of God, we must be the servant of all. Now I don’t know anyone in this world who is answerable to his servant. It doesn’t work that way. But the Bible teaches that if I want to be “better than you” (the statement is incongruent with Scripture) I must be your servant. The Politicians have got it right. The UK is led by the Prime Minister. He/She is supposed to be everyone’s servant. Perhaps someone will inform Mr Cameron in the UK of this rather unpalatable requirement.

In South Africa, at least we are honest. We have a President; the top man in a huge bureaucracy which seems intent on self survival! In the Kingdom of God, the secret is to die to self! Essentially, I’m told that the way up is down. That’s what Jesus did. He laid His life down for all of us. In this life we get a chance to try it. No man or woman has ever completely succeeded; although I’m told that the late Mother Teresa came close.

The one thing we are all taught in this life is that we get rewarded for effort; the more the work, the greater the reward. So in the end we can all sing Frank Sinatra’s favourite doctrine. “I did it my way!” Our libraries are stacked with books telling us how to do it.

The Kingdom of God is the opposite. Not one of us will be admitted on the basis of what we have done. Admission is based on what Jesus did. Sure we have a part to play. That part is faith in His finished work on Calvary! I’m not sure any of us understand this. It goes against everything we’ve learned from infancy. But we are talking about God’s Kingdom. So the best we can do is say, “Lord, if that’s what you want, whom may I serve today?”

Today’s meditation speaks of the song of the redeemed. It’s written slightly differently, but with the same style as yesterday. It’s another attempt at my trying to explain the inexplicable.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

The Sounds of the Redeemed

The choir was singing a wonderful song. The four living beings, they too sang along. The twenty four elders did more than just croon. The hundred and forty four thousand in tune! All praising the Saviour, who opened the way, So all the redeemed could enter and stay. They sang in amazement; for nothing at all Had made any worthy to answer His call. His mercy alone washed their sins far away. He was the reason they’d entered to stay. Life through the Spirit of mercy and grace, Shown by the Saviour to all in that place, Had made it possible, through faith alone. “Sinners” could come to His wonderful throne. Mercy had given them all they would need. So they rejoiced in God’s marvellous deed. All had been given a life that was new. Trusting the Master was all they need do! How can this possibly make any sense? Jesus alone had made full recompense. No one could brag of the things they had done. All had been given by Jesus, God’s Son. So they gave glory for the steadfast love; Streaming to them from the Father above. He had been faithful in every way, So they could come to the Father to stay. Cleansed from all sin by Him shedding His blood. Pouring on men in a glorious flood. They give Him glory, for He set us free! All kings and priests by His death on the tree! From every nation and from every tribe; Every language that we can describe; People all standing in front of His throne, Praising His Name for the love He has shown! Dressed in white linen with palms in their hands Saved by our God through the blood of the lamb. Shouting aloud and all praising His name. “Thank You Lord Jesus that you really came. Jim Strickland  Written 9th March 2012