FOREVER BLESSED!

Time with Jesus - Sunday, 02 September 2012

Hi all,

What is it like to be loved by God? A while ago someone asked that question. He said he asked Jesus. By way of reply, Jesus spread His arms as wide as they would go. Then He died. It doesn’t take a lot of effort to understand the picture. Today’s meditation looks at this.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Sunday, 02 September 2012			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	FOREVER BLESSED!
Much to the surprise of the younger generation, I haven’t always been an old man. Hard as that may be for some to believe, it’s true. In fact 50 odd years ago I too struggled with the older generation who wouldn’t go along with new, young ideas. The wheel has gone full circle. Now I’m one of the “oldies” who resist youthful change. In spite of this, there is one thing which hasn’t changed and will never change. The Love of the Lord for the creatures He has made. Don’t ask me why this is true. There is nothing I can see in me or anyone else that is remotely loveable. When I think of His perfection and my imperfection, I wonder why He bothers. King David was right when he wrote: 2 The LORD looks down from heaven on the entire human race; He looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God.  3 But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not a single one! Psalms 14:2-3 NLT If I was God I’m sure I would just obliterate everything and start again. Of course that’s part of my problem. I’m not all wise and have all knowledge. Sadly that phase passed away with my 21st birthday! One of the hymns I loved to sing as a young man is in the 1936 Methodist Hymn Book. It went like this: I am so glad that our Father in Heaven; / Tells of His love in the Book He has given; / Wonderful things in the Bible I see; / This is the dearest, that Jesus loves me.  Then the chorus was; I am so glad that Jesus loves me; Jesus love me; Jesus loves me; / I am so glad that Jesus loves me, Jesus loves even me. It’s easily memorised and easy to sing. In Sunday school the boys sang the tune and the girls sang descant. Back then, as now, I struggle with the thought that Jesus loves me. I believe it intellectually. I know it the same way. But truly believing it is a horse of a different colour. If there was anything loveable in us, there would be no problem. But I’m sorry, there isn’t. As David wrote, “Not one of us is good”. Having said that, and aware of my shortcomings, as I’ve grown older the concept of God’s love for His people has become more evident. Two things have led me to this. The first is His grace active in Phyllida’s and my life. Frankly it’s been miraculous. The second has been my reading of Song of Solomon. Here we read of the love of the king for a girl who was a nobody. It is a love that is deeply and intimately passionate! People have suggested that Song of Songs has no business being in the Bible. It’s too explicit. On the other hand the Jews refer to this book as the “Holy of Holy” of Jewish writ. So is it a case of “Pays your money and takes your choice?” No! It is a picture of the love of Jesus Christ for His bride of which you and I are part. This is the King of Kings loving you and loving me! It’s emotional, intimate and passionate. In today’s meditation the poem begins with questions about God’s rest and our rest. From there I’ve traced this progressively through a series of questions to the “Holy of Holies” in our relationship with Him. Much of it is written in the first person. That’s because I’ve got to the place in life where, in spite of everything, I long to give myself to Him emotionally, intimately and passionately. The pattern is taken from Song of Solomon. Come, share our passion! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, Psalms 23:2 TNIV 20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt. 21 There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked." Isaiah 57:20-21 ESV 28 Then Jesus said, "Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 NLT 7 Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes. Psalms 37:7 NASB 10 For all who have entered into God's rest have rested from their labours, just as God did after creating the world. Hebrews 4:10 NLT 9 So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God's grace, not from rules about food, which don't help those who follow them. Hebrews 13:9 NLT 14 Then we will no longer be little children, tossed and carried about by all kinds of teachings that change like the wind. We will no longer be influenced by people who use cunning and clever strategies to lead us astray. 15 Instead, as we lovingly speak the truth, we will grow up completely in our relationship to Christ, who is the head. Ephesians 4:14-15 GW 3 Like the finest apple tree in the orchard is my lover among other young men. I sit in his delightful shade and taste his delicious fruit. 4 He escorts me to the banquet hall; it's obvious how much he loves me. Song of Solomon 2:3-4 NLT	Why is it that we have to rest? Is it because we’re tired? Perhaps we’ve had more than enough and need to be inspired? Perhaps we’re feeling lazy and want to lay about? If that’s your motivation, the outcome is in doubt! So why is it God rested when creation was all done? Do you think He’d had enough and now He wanted fun? The Lord is never tired. He can’t run out of “vim”! Throughout the endless ages, there’s been no tiring Him. The Lord has need of nothing. He’s constantly the same. In everything He’s perfect with no desire for fame. You surely cannot “fit” Him in any kind of mould. His justice, power and mercy, by man should be extolled! Of course He is eternal and we are merely clay. And far above our thinking is how He’ll be always. He has no hidden weaknesses except perhaps His love. He loves us to infinity, beyond the stars above. So much, He sent His only Son to earth so He could die For then we could return to Him. Please do not ask me why. In Him we have our being. In Him we move and live. The air we breathe, the food we eat; to us He chose to give. But He will not control us. He wants us to be free, To worship Him and serve him and love Him passionately. And yet there are the occasions when He is in control. He makes me lie in pastures green as Shepherd of my soul! He grants His peace to those of us who honour and obey. But wicked men are tossed around, in muck and mire and clay. Whenever I feel weary, To Him I always go. I take His yoke upon me. It’s comfortably slow! He tells me to be patient; in Him I take my rest. And when I’m at my weakest, He tells me I am blessed. He’s tells me to be honest; admit it when I’m wrong. I sit in His delightful shade; His arms round me are strong. The Lord God is my Lover, my Master, Lord and King. And I, a lowly bond-slave, I wear His wedding ring. He takes me to the Banquet Hall, where everyone can see, The depth of our commitment; how much my Lord loves me! And I will dwell forever, in joy and peace and rest. The “bride” of the Almighty, I am forever blessed. Jim Strickland – Written 2nd September 2012

THE OLD CROSS OR THE NEW

Time with Jesus - Saturday, 01 September 2012

Hi all,

The old cross and the new require a bit of thought. Our meditation today looks at “Cross-less Christianity” It is the figment of the imagination of those who propagate it. The Christian lifestyle has very little to do with comfort and worldly success. To win is to die. To become the greatest is to become the least. It is the life of a bond-slave who will gladly embrace crucifixion and death at the whim of his master/owner.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Saturday, 01 September 2012			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 OLD CROSS OR THE NEW
For many years, Phyllida and I have been convinced that the Word of God – the Bible - is inerrant. No mistakes in it whatsoever. Of course this applies to the original version in the original language. It may be that over the centuries; scribes have made errors in copying. Although scrupulous attention was paid to detail, errors of transcription may have taken place. Furthermore, the original has been translated into a variety of languages. So what we read in the English version of our choice may not be 100% accurate. One only has to compare translations with each other to realise that there are differences. For us to establish now what was written in the original is difficult. Textual critics do not agree. We do know that the King James Version was compiled by exceptionally highly qualified Scholars based on the received text, sometimes called the Byzantine text, of which there are some 1800 ancient documents extant which roughly correspond with each other. Translations that have been made since 1920 or thereabouts have made use of older manuscripts which some regard as corrupt. (I’m one of them). My approach to these devotionals has been to look at the KJV; then find a translation which best reflects the KJV in more understandable English. The reason I make this point is because it is essential we understand what the author intended us to understand; not something filtered through the minds of many of today’s preachers. I have found that many preachers today preach a “feel good” and “prosperity” gospel that is not in harmony with Jesus’ teaching. Luke tells us; 23 Then Jesus said to the crowd, "If any of you wants to be My follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow Me. Luke 9:23 NLT. This Scripture makes it very clear. To follow Jesus means to put aside your own selfish desires. Then to pick up the cross on which you will be crucified and go to your own Calvary. You are supposed to do this every day until it actually happens. I can find no evidence of Mercedes Benz, big fancy luxurious homes in the best part of town with millions in your bank account. I find the complete opposite. Historically, the genuine Christian lifestyle for some 1900 years after Jesus was crucified, was to lay aside your own life and obey Him even unto death. The early Christians did this. Satan tried everything he could do to smash the fledgling church. He failed because people would rather be tortured to death than deny Jesus. They perished in their thousands; crucified; fed to the lions; covered with pitch and used to light the gardens of the Caesar. Read Foxes Book of Martyrs. It gives the details of the suffering and death of Christians up to the middle of the 1650’s. At one time it was regarded as a “must read”. Only the Bible was more widely read. Over the last hundred years or so, the “flavour” of Christianity has changed. The cross has been velvet padded. We have seen the influx of “cross-less Christianity” An attitude that says, “Come to Jesus” He will bless you and give you all you need to enjoy life here. A sort of heaven on earth in which you can do anything you wish, confident His grace is more than enough. Sadly, that’s a lie. To follow Him we still have to die to ourselves. Then, each day, take up our cross and make our way to our place of execution. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			23 Then He said to the crowd, "If any of you wants to be My follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross daily, and follow Me. Luke 9:23 NLT 8 We serve God whether people honour us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. 2 Corinthians 6:8 NLT 12 Those who try to live a godly life because they believe in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 2 Timothy 3:12 GW 11 Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. Galatians 5:11 TNIV 10 Obviously, I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant. Galatians 1:10 NLT 14 Suppose people make fun of you because you believe in Christ. Then you are blessed, because God's Spirit rests on you. He is the Spirit of glory. 15 Suppose you suffer. Then it shouldn't be because you are a murderer or a thief. It shouldn't be because you do evil things. It shouldn't be because you poke your nose into other people's business. 16 But suppose you suffer for being a Christian. Then don't be ashamed. Instead, praise God because you are known by that name. 1 Peter 4:14-16 NIrV 29 There's far more to this life than trusting in Christ. There's also suffering for him. And the suffering is as much a gift as the trusting. Philippians 1:29 MSG 14 Either way, Christ's love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. 15 He died for everyone so that those who receive His new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 NLT 12 If we endure hardship, we will reign with Him. If we deny Him, He will deny us. 2 Timothy 2:12 NLT	The strangest thing has happened in the past one hundred years. Something so deplorable, we all should be in tears. It seems the very nature of the cross is not the same, As that which Christians looked at, back then when Jesus came. An instrument of torture, of agony and pain. The instant that you picked it up, you set out to be slain. No more opportunity to tell the folk “good bye” It was a one way journey to the place where you would die. The cross was unforgiving and made no compromise When you were nailed upon it and lifted to the skies Your life on earth was over. This was your final act; And death in monstrous agony would soon become a fact. It may be that you’d linger on perhaps for several days. But death by suffocation and exhaustion were the ways, You would be defeated and your candle be snuffed out. The cross was going to murder you. Of that there was no doubt. The victim picked his cross up and took it to the place, Where all of the above was something which he had to face. How long that it would take him before he would arrive, Was all the time available for him to be alive. Everybody knew this and Jesus showed the way. That is what His followers expected every day. They were on a journey, the cross upon their back. Without the opportunity of finding time to pack. They all knew the outcome; that they would surely die. But every day they picked theirs up it didn’t matter why. You couldn’t be His follower, unless you had agreed, To pick your cross up daily and go where He would lead. But this longer happens. A velvet padded cross, Speaks about prosperity, where you won’t suffer loss. The cross has been downgraded. It’s comfortable and clean. Grace has been interpreted in ways God didn’t mean. Living will be painless and God will pay your bills. Off you go and live it up; enjoy as many thrills You’ll find along the journey. The fact is, you’ve been saved. Therefore it doesn’t matter how badly you’ve behaved! But that is not the gospel and Christians are tricked. They follow in a lifestyle which Jesus never picked. Sadly they’re deluded. The cross has never changed. If you think sin’s acceptable, you’re mentally deranged. And all that you believe in, will crumble and will fall. Instead, pick up the old cross and make Him Lord of all. Jim Strickland – Written 1st September 2012

MY FATHER’S BUSINESS

Time with Jesus - Friday, 31 August 2012

Hi all,

The story of Joseph, Mary and Jesus going to the temple in Jerusalem has puzzled people for many years. For today’s meditation, I’ve put the entire story into perspective and explained the circumstances surrounding this. Jesus the boy went to Jerusalem for His Bar Mitzvah where He would officially change from boyhood into manhood. It’s a fascinating story.

Blessings

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Friday, 31 August 2012			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	MY FATHER’S BUSINESS
Apart from His birth in Bethlehem, we know almost nothing about Jesus as a child and growing up. The one incident we know was the trip to Jerusalem He took with Mary and Joseph. The occasion was, in all probability, for His Bar Mitzvah. After this ceremony a boy was considered a man. The man would automatically become a part of his father’s business. I can think of no other reason why they would all have gone from Nazareth to Jerusalem. Which means Jesus was ±12 years old and was about to become a man! It was a long journey of about 150km; about 3 or 4 days on foot. In those days, the custom was for the women and children to leave first. They would get to the place where they would spend the night. There, the women would pitch the tents and get everything ready for the evening meal. The men would arrive in time for supper with them all. Until His Bar Mitzvah, Jesus would have been regarded as a child and would have travelled with the women.  After His Bar mitzvah the same thing would be repeated on the return to Nazareth. Mary must have left with the women and children, leaving Jesus to return with Joseph. When it was time for the men to leave, Joseph would assume that, since Jesus was not there, He must have been with Mary! It would be late in the day before they realised He was not with either of them! They would have to go back to Jerusalem to find Him. But where would they look? When in Jerusalem, they hunted everywhere without success. Finally, they went to the temple. There they found Jesus! He was talking to the priests. The Priests would not chat with a child, so they were talking to Him as a man. In their discussions with Jesus, they were astonished at His knowledge. It would have been normal back then for every young boy to memorise the Torah! (Genesis to end of Deuteronomy) So Jesus must have known far more than that to astonish the priests. But Jesus had more or less “written” all of it before coming to earth. So it’s not surprising He had all the answers to their questions. The apostle Peter put it this way: 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:21 TNIV The amazing part of all of this was that His parents couldn’t find Him. After all, He was about His Father’s business! Since His real Father was God, where else should they have been looking for Him? Note, Jesus stated God was His Father at this young age! I’ve often wondered at what age He knew for certain who He was. Did He know it when He was born? You tell me! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			13 Before he left, he called together ten of his servants and divided among them ten pounds of silver, saying, 'Invest this for me while I am gone.' Luke 19:13 NLT 34 "The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return. Mark 13:34 NLT 15 He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another and one bag of silver to the last--dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip. Matthew 25:15 NLT 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. John 9:4 TNIV 49 Jesus said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you realize that I had to be in my Father's house?" Luke 2:49 GW 21 This is the kind of life you've been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step. 1 Peter 2:21 MSG 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. 2 Timothy 4:2 NLT 13 But each person's work will be shown for what it is. On judgment day it will be brought to light. It will be put through fire. The fire will test how good everyone's work is. 1 Corinthians 3:13 NIrV 58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. 1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT	For every Jewish boy, before gets to be a man, There is a ceremony, which long ago began. They call it the Bar Mitzvah, where he reads from the law. He is the child no longer, he used to be before. This very special date and in a very special place, The youngster had to go and look his manhood in the face. We know when Jesus did it; we know the place He went. The temple in Jerusalem. We’ve heard of the event. They went up for this purpose. The women went ahead, To set up camp and pitch the tents and make the daily bread. Jesus went with Mary, for He was still a kid. The men arrived much later, as usually they did. There within the Temple He did what was desired. It was His “rite of passage” as Jewish law required. From this day on in history, He wasn’t just a lad, But working as “partner”, in the business of His Dad! All this was very normal, until they left for home. His mother with the women and children on their own. The menfolk followed later. Eventually they met. “Where’s Jesus?” Mary asked him. “Did you perhaps forget, That He would travel with the men; I thought He was with you? We’ll have to go and look for Him. It’s all that we can do.” They set off very early and went back to the town. Even if they had to turn the whole place upside down, They had to keep on looking and searching with their eyes. Then in the Temple precincts, they got a big surprise. There was Jesus talking, with many gathered priests, About the Jewish Torah and of their many feasts. He seemed to be so young to know so much about the Law. They wondered how He got it and what He got it for. Then Joseph said to Jesus, “Tell me please my son, Why you didn’t come with us? We’ve both been on the run. Both of us were worried. We thought you’d come to harm. But Jesus looked at both of them and with a voice so calm, He said, “Did you forget that I have now become a man? I must look and see the way His “business” has been ran. Surely this is what My Father’s wanting now of Me. For in My Father’s business is where I have to be.” Jim Strickland Written 31st August 2012