THE GREATEST LOVE

Time with Jesus - Sunday, 10 March 2013

Jim & Phyllida in Jerulsalem

Hi all,

Today we focus on the greatest love this world has ever seen or known. We see the Son of God, perfect and sinless in every way, giving His life for lost humanity. He literally gave His life for you and me. I’ve heard fathers say they would lay down their lives for their wife and family. It sounds very good and there are men who have died protecting members of their family. No doubt most husbands would say the same thing. It would be easy for me to say that I would do likewise. What would I do if it came down to that! Frankly, I don’t know. There is something that God has placed within each of us that “demands” self-preservation. So forgive me if I “pass” that question.

This reminds me of a story about a young couple who were madly in love. They made a whole host of the usual promises of fidelity to each other; all very nice and noble. Then he said to her that he would die for her. “Please don’t” she said. “I’d far rather you lived for me”! Mmmmm! I’m inclined to think Jesus would say the same!

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland 

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Sunday, 10 March 2013			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 Greatest Love
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. In spite of Him knowing all this before He began creating, He concluded that it was worthwhile. 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, nor 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, whatever that means. We normally associate pleasure with “having fun” or “enjoyment”. 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! Certainly, to some extent we are Frankenstein’s monster. Why was it made? Probably because it was part of the story in Mary Shelley's mind. But we are not the product of any human mind; not even the product of a warped and twisted mind. We are the product of a mind that is indescribably good and great; more advanced and ahead of anything we can image. A mind that knows everything. God’s mind is so great that He knows in detail, exactly what will happen. He also knows the infinite variations of every possible alternative scenario we could conceive at any point in time. This giant intellect; this mind, fully aware of every alternate possibility, decided that creating us was worth it! In some unimaginable way, God made a decision, that in spite of all the combined horrors of past and future human history, creating us was a good thing to do. If I thought and said that, I would be locked up as a raving lunatic. But in the light of the knowledge of God, what other alternative is there? Which means were are compelled to the conclusion, that in the final analysis, God’s decision will be totally vindicated! Thank You Lord that You can see beyond what we are, to what we can and will ultimately be. Thank You that You love the unlovely. Thank You that You love every one of us. It seems beyond belief. But deep within Your loving heart, You knew that in the end, everything would work out correctly. No doubt, in the courts of heaven and history, we will all 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. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			16 "My beloved is mine, and I am his; He pastures his flock among the lilies. SoS 2:16 NASB 20 And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I'll be there." Mat 18:20 MSG 23 Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love him. We will come to him and make our home with him. John 14:23 NIrV 10 If you keep my commands, you'll remain intimately at home in my love. That's what I've done--kept my Father's commands and made myself at home in his love. John 15:10 MSG 16 Awake, north wind, and come, south wind! Blow on my garden that its fragrance may spread abroad. Let my beloved come into his garden and taste its choice fruits. SoS 4:16 TNIV 1 [Groom] My bride, my sister, I will come to my garden. I will gather my myrrh with my spice. I will eat my honeycomb with my honey. I will drink my wine with my milk. Eat, my friends! Drink and become intoxicated with expressions of love! SoS 5:1 GW 22 But what happens when we live God's way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard--things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, 23 not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Gal 5:22-23 MSG 8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15:8 TNIV 1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. John 15:1-2 TNIV 11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation--the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ--for this will bring much glory and praise to God. Philip 1:11 NLT	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 - Saturday, 09 March 2013

Jim & Phyllida Strickland - Trevi Fountain Rome

Hi all,

For the vast majority of us, the Kingdom of God is a paradox. For example, we are told, that there is nothing we can do, no work we can undertake, no lineage that we can look to, that gives us entrance into God’s Kingdom. Even if you give yourself to working for; and looking after, the sick and dying, with the loving determination of Mother Theresa; that we are not assured access into His Kingdom. We are told that we are saved by grace through faith. Faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ, is the only way. There is no way we can earn a place with Him.

Now this is a paradox. We find that we are not saved by good works, but for good works. But salvation is a process and not a once off “thing” we get and have until the end of eternity; if there is such a time and place. This being the case, what must we do after, we have committed our lives to Jesus? How do we comply with the regulations and requirements for entrance and residence in the Kingdom? Strangely enough, it’s by working out our salvation. ¹² My dear friends, you have always obeyed God. You obeyed while I was with you. And you have obeyed even more while I am not with you. So continue to work out your own salvation. Do it with fear and trembling. Philip 2:12 NIrV In other words, we demonstrate our love for Jesus Christ by “working” for Him and His glory! How do we put all this together, in a way that is meaningful as a Christian?

The answer is, to look at our own motives. If we are working just to prove how clever we are, for the world to see and admire, we have a problem. In Matthew 6:1-6 Jesus says “you have had your reward”. If we are working secretly and quietly for the glory of Jesus, we are told: ³ But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: ⁴ That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. Mat 6:3-4 KJV

The bottom line is this. If you “show off” before men for their approval, that’s all the reward you will ever get; but if you “show off” secretly where only God can see it, then He will reward you openly.

Today’s meditation is the sounds of the redeemed.

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland 

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Saturday, 09 March 2013			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 Sounds of the Redeemed
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, who 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. Jim & Phyllida Strickland			3 This great choir sang a wonderful new song in front of the throne of God and before the four living beings and the twenty-four elders. No one could learn this song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth. Rev 14:3 NLT 20 By His death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. Heb. 10:20 NLT 4 But--"When God our Saviour revealed His kindness and love, 5 He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. 6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Tit 3:4-6 NLT 8 God saved you through faith as an act of kindness. You had nothing to do with it. Being saved is a gift from God. 9 It's not the result of anything you've done, so no one can brag about it. Eph 2:8-9 GW 1 Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! Psalm 115:1 ESV 5 May grace and peace come to you from Jesus Christ. What Jesus gives witness to can always be trusted. He was the first to rise from the dead. He rules over the kings of the earth. Give glory and power to the One who loves us! He has set us free from our sins by pouring out his blood for us. 6 He has made us members of his royal family. He has made us priests who serve his God and Father. Give him glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. Rev 1:5-6 NIrV 9 Here is the new song they sang. "You are worthy to take the scroll and break open its seals. You are worthy because you were put to death. With your blood you bought people for God. They come from every tribe, language, people and nation. Rev 5:9 NIrV 9 After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. 10 And they were shouting with a mighty shout, "Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!" Rev 7:9-10 NLT	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! 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