HIS FATHER’S SON

Time with Jesus - Saturday, 30 March 2013

Hi all,

C S Lewis

One of the greatest Christian writers of the 20^th century was C S Lewis. The following paragraph is quoted verbatim from the page on Amazon advertising Lewis’ book entitled, “Surprised by Joy”

This book is not an autobiography. It is not a confession. It is, however, certainly one of the most beautiful and insightful accounts of a person coming to faith. Here, C.S. Lewis takes us from his childhood in Belfast through the loss of his mother, to boarding school and a youthful atheism in England, to the trenches of World War I, and then to Oxford, where he studied, read and, ultimately, reasoned his way back to God. It is perhaps this aspect of C S Lewis that we - believers and nonbelievers - find most compelling and meaningful; Lewis was searching for joy, for an elusive and momentary sensation of glorious yearning, but he found it, and spiritual life, through the use of reason.

Jim & Phyllida at the Trevi Fountain in Rome

The paragraph is quoted because it was the experience of the Prodigal Son when he returned home to his father. In like manner, it was my experience when I returned home to my parents in England in April 1960.

Phyllida and I have found that most people who come to Jesus Christ, have their own experience of finding the love of Jesus in a personal way. The prodigal son discovered that he was still his father’s son in spite of what he had done. I found the same. We were “Surprised by Joy”!

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland 

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Saturday, 30 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	His Father’s Son
According to Mark Twain in His autobiography, “Truth is stranger than fiction; but it isn’t because fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn't.” In the light of this statement, what do we do with Jesus’ parables? Were they real stories about real people, or were they merely teachings used as illustrations to demonstrate truth by the greatest mind Who has ever lived? It’s difficult thinking that Jesus would tell stories that were not true in real life. So were these parables the product of His fertile imagination or things that He had seen and known? We are inclined to think that they were just stories. But the fact is, what He spoke about had actually taken place somewhere. As the TV shows state, “Names have been changed to protect the identity of individuals.” We don’t have to be Jewish or Christian in order to follow His parables. Some are so well known that people are surprised they are Jesus’ parables. The Good Samaritan is a case in point. Regardless of our “religious” views, the story grips the imagination and can leave us feeling rather uncomfortable! One of the best known parables is the Prodigal Son. The word prodigal has two interconnected meanings: One is Profligate and wasteful. The other is extravagant. In this instance, the younger son was profligate and wasteful. Regardless the size of his inheritance, he wasted it on riotous living in that far country. His father was extravagant. He gave his youngest son his inheritance while still alive. It should never have happened. I suspect that if you check with a lawyer, you will be told that you can only receive an inheritance after the person dies. A “settlement” before death would be a gift or donation. Was this parable a story or something that actually happened? By way of answer, if we look back over Christianity for the past two thousand years, we see it repeated regularly by men and women in every generation. The details may not be identical, but the truth comes shining through in the lives of many Christians. Men like William Wilberforce and John Newton. Women like Florence Nightingale. Hundreds, dare I say hundreds of thousands, of Christians throughout the generations? It’s true of me. What does a young man do when the bottom has fallen out of his world? It happened to me. It’s true to say that I’m a 20th century prodigal son. What we can say is that Jesus had something in mind which prompted the parable. Truth or fiction is irrelevant. What we do know is Jesus understands human nature. Our meditation this morning contains a part of my own testimony to what God regularly does in the lives of people. I’m only one of them Jim & Phyllida Strickland			For the choir director; a psalm by David. 1 How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I make decisions alone with sorrow in my heart day after day? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Psalm 13:1-2 GW 17 Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. James 1:17 MSG 14 But the city of Zion said, "The LORD has deserted me. The Lord has forgotten me." 15 The LORD answers, "Can a mother forget the baby who is nursing at her breast? Can she stop showing her tender love to the child who was born to her? She might forget her child. But I will not forget you. Isaiah 49:14-15 NIrV 21 Remember these things, Jacob: You are my servant, Israel. I formed you; you are my servant. Israel, I will not forget you. 22 I made your rebellious acts disappear like a thick cloud and your sins like the morning mist. Come back to me, because I have reclaimed you. Isaiah 44:21-22 GW 5 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 But after he heard Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was for two more days. 7 Then he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea." 8 "But Rabbi," they said, "a short time ago the Jews tried to kill you with stones. Are you still going back there?" 9 Jesus answered, "Aren't there 12 hours of daylight? A person who walks during the day won't trip and fall. He can see because of this world's light John 11:5-9 NIrV 22 A Gentile woman who lived there came to Him, pleading, "Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter is possessed by a demon that torments her severely." 23 But Jesus gave her no reply, not even a word. Then His disciples urged Him to send her away. "Tell her to go away," they said. "She is bothering us with all her begging." 24 Then Jesus said to the woman, "I was sent only to help God's lost sheep--the people of Israel Mat 15:22-24 NLT 6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold--though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honour on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 1 Peter 1:6-7 NLT	He sat down in the corner with his hands across his face. The thing he’d done was silly and he was in disgrace. His parents were so far away and he had let them down. How could he ever tell them in that far off distant town? He trembled with anxiety. He knew his foes were near. With each and every passing hour he trembled in his fear. Could he find forgiveness? How would things all turn out? And every time he thought of it, his mind was filled with doubt. He felt alone and desolate. He couldn’t face the truth. And life forever changed for him, that moment in his youth. There still was so much more to learn. He thought he knew it all. He’d heard about the Prodigal; about his rise and fall. He knew he had gone home again, disgraced and wearing rags. He knew that in the pig pen how much his heart could sag. But he was far too hungry. A servant of his dad, Was given food and clothing; a lot more than he had. And so he set out homeward. No sandals on his feet; Hoping that his father would give him food to eat. He didn’t know his father. At least not how he should. Perhaps the only thing he knew; his father was so good. And when his father greeted him, the thing that he had done, Was suddenly forgotten; he was his father’ son. That young man in the corner I have to say was me. What would my father ever say and just how would he be? And so I went back home again, “my tail between my legs”. I had received the poisoned cup and drained it to the dregs. My father didn’t mention it. Just, “welcome home my lad”. I felt I had been gob smacked!  To hear this from my dad! It’s not what I expected. I thought He’d rant and rave. Instead, he just accepted me. I thought he was so brave. A few short months thereafter I heard about the Lord. I went to Him in penitence and out to Him I poured; The truth of what had happened. But He already knew. He said I was forgiven and told me what to do. Learn about my Saviour and put Him in control. He would give direction, a purpose and a goal. And since that very moment the thing which I had done Was swallowed up by Jesus. Now I’m His Father’s son. Jim Strickland Written 30th March 2012.

STATUS QUO

Time with Jesus - Friday, 29 March 2013

Hi all,

Passover Plate

If I mention ABBA, people of my generation will immediately smile and think of the big hits this music group made in the past. One of them, “Money, Money, Money” is well remembered. Some of the lyrics are quoted below:-

Money, money, money / Must be funny / In the rich man's world - Money, money, money / Always sunny / In the rich man's world. - Aha-ahaaa / All the things I could do / If I had a little money / It's a rich man's world.

I loved the song. The theology of the song is decidedly questionable; in fact decidedly unchristian. Jesus made a comment about money that is still discussed at length by Christians. ¹³ "No servant can serve two masters at the same time. He will hate one of them and love the other. Or he will be faithful to one and dislike the other. You can't serve God and Money at the same time." Luke 16:13 NIrV

Jim & Phyllida

The problem is how to live in this world without money. Credit/Debit cards are not the answer. Frankly you cannot do it. Money is our way of bargaining for goods and services. It was hardly any different 2000 years ago. Jesus was adequately provided for. But men and women provided for His day to day needs. Much the same was true for His disciples. Even Paul was compelled at times to “make tents” to finance himself.

Carry yhr Cross

So what was Jesus’ problem with men and money? Perhaps the best way to put it is to say He was not against people having money. He was against money having people. When you have money, you are “in charge” of your wealth. When money has you, the result is greed. Greed is not congruent with Godliness. Greed focuses on self. Godliness focuses on others. It’s impossible for them to mix.

Today’s meditation goes into this in more detail.

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland 

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Friday, 29 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	Status Quo
Three thousand years ago, David was Israel’s King. Our Jewish brothers and sisters see it as Israel’s finest hour. We Christians know better. Even so, as we look back three thousand years we have some sympathy for their view. Have a look at the life of King David. You’ll find that we are not much different from the people of those days. They may not have our technical advantages, but they still managed to be devious. They had their thieves and murderers just as we do. The status quo has not changed in 3000 years! Not really. It looks different because of progress. Well, we call it progress. Is it progress or is everything still served up the same way just tailored to 21st century conditions? About one thousand years after David, Jesus came along with His extraordinary recommendations. Recommendations that are as effective today as they were back then. “Don’t store up treasure on earth.” Store up treasure in heaven where there are no thieves and moths don’t devour”. The past several years have shown in a very significant way, the danger of storing up “wealth” on this planet. Just about every country in the 1st world has gone through a terrible financial crisis. A dear friend in USA has lost everything. House, car, job and security. She is not alone. Many of those who have been part of the sub-prime financial loan system have been in serious trouble. Countries have been looking for a financial “bail-out”. In the past 24 hours, the people of Cypress have been faced with the possibility of losing their money in the banks. In the 1970’s a book was written called, “The Day the Dollar Dies”. The book warned God’s people about the danger of being in debt. “The Golden Cow” by John White written in the 1980’s says much the same. The church has gone through a period when “extreme prosperity” was preached. It wasn’t true. Many Christians have lost everything. For us today, the question is how to go about Jesus’ sound recommendations. It’s time to begin investing everything in heaven. But where are the deposit slips? What is the name of the bank? What is the bank code and what is your account number? Good questions! The answer is easy. I’m told that the bank code is 777777 but this may be a rumour. Deposit slips are readily available. You get them by PRAYER and they are instantly available on line. Ask for them and you will receive. Heaven’s bank does not use account numbers. They use names rather than numbers. The name of the Bank is “Jesus Christ Unlimited” and is accessible by FAITH 24/7 Jim & Phyllida Strickland			24 For riches don't last forever, and the crown might not be passed to the next generation. Proverbs 27:24 NLT 6 We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. We heap up wealth, not knowing who will spend it. Psalm 39:6 NLT 2 Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ--that's where the action is. See things from his perspective. Col 3:2 MSG 19 "Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Mat 6:19-21 NLT 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 1 Cor. 9:25-26 NLT 18 We don't look for things that can be seen but for things that can't be seen. Things that can be seen are only temporary. But things that can't be seen last forever. 2 Cor. 4:18 GW 18 A wicked person earns dishonest wages, but whoever spreads righteousness earns honest pay. Proverbs 11:18 GW 8 Now there is a crown waiting for me. It is given to those who are right with God. The Lord, who judges fairly, will give it to me on the day he returns. He will not give it only to me. He will also give it to all those who are longing for him to return. 2 Tim 4:8 NIrV 4 The Chief Shepherd will come again. Then you will receive the crown of glory. It is a crown that will never fade away. 1 Peter 5:4 NIrV	Things have not changed very much for some three thousand years. The problems which they had back then still bring the self-same tears. The rich are getting richer; the poor are just as poor. Men are still enchanted by a woman’s sweet allure. What perhaps is different is the timing and the date. The thieves continue thieving and have the same old fate. The people are as devious as they have always been. The boys and girls experiment where they cannot be seen. We all have our ambitions. We want to reach the top. Anything to get there, as long as it won’t stop. Our vision is still limited. Our every thought is “me”. It seems that our sin nature is as bad as it can be. The time we are allotted is three score years and ten. Eighty if we’re strong enough and what will happen then? It doesn’t seem to matter. The days are rushing by. And all of our accomplishments are gone the day we die. Riches are uncertain. We know they cannot last. And still we think we’ve got the time to have our final blast! But all of the possessions which we accumulate, Are passed on to the children that we’ve had with our mate. We’re nothing more than shadows, rushing to our end; Heaping up our wealth but never certain who will spend, The money that has come to us by working night and day. If only we would take the time, we’d find a better way. The problem’s discontentment. Let’s make a little more. Gratify our inner greed and overfill our store. Here is my suggestion. A better way to go. A method that is guaranteed; that everyone should know. Open an investment in Heaven’s Super-bank. Nothing will depreciate. For that, there’s God to thank. There are no thieves to steal it. Nor moths who will devour. And you have access to it, regardless of the hour. Perhaps you cannot see it. But it is there for sure. And it’s accumulating though it’s used to feed the poor. There is a crown of righteousness; but Jesus knows what’s true. And says that where your heart is, your treasure is there too. So take a tip from David from those days and in his time. Do not look for vengeance. It isn’t worth a dime. Keep in mind your covenant and do not throw back spears. This is still the way in spite of some three thousand years. Try to be forgiving no matter what’s been done. And you will be a student of God the Father’s Son! Jim Strickland Written 29th March 2012