Time with Jesus - Monday, 29 April 2013
Hi all,
1 Corinthians 13 is
affectionately referred to as the great “Love Chapter”. There are no other
chapters in the Bible that give such an enormous “definition” of love. Indeed,
Paul makes it clear, 13 Three things will
last forever - faith, hope, and love - and
the greatest of these is love. 1Co 13:13 NLT
It comes as no great surprise
that Paul’s discourse on love falls more or less in the middle on his
exposition of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. There were no chapters or verses in
Paul’s letters or in any other parts of the Bible. These were subsequently added
by men for our convenience. Sadly, these divisions were not done particularly skilfully.
Certainly it has made our quest for knowledge from God’s Word a little easier
for us. 
At the same time it has made us much lazier and less willing to commit
Scripture to memory. It’s far easier to say “1 Corinthians Chapter 13 verse 13
than to try and find words somewhere in his first epistle. Computers have
helped us, so we could scrap chapters and verses. But it’s unlikely we will
change things now. Moreover we are able to say in our ignorance, “That’s not in
this chapter”!
It’s interesting to note the
sequence of the three words referred to; faith, hope and love. I’ve pondered
this occasionally. For instance, why not love, faith and hope? Perhaps the
reason is because Faith is now; hope is future and love has no beginning and no
end. My distinct impression is Paul wanted to see people living by faith in
God. Hoping to see what God has promised and love being the “oil” that “makes
it all work”! In his letter to Titus Paul writes; 12 … we should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness,
and devotion to God, 13 while we look forward with
hope to that wonderful day when the glory of
our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. Titus 2:12-13 NLT. We
live in the here and now by faith in the
Lord, looking forward with hope to the glory of Jesus’ return. (Love)
Our meditation today looks at
our hope for tomorrow. No government or political system can bring it in. Only Jesus
Christ is able to complete our hopeful aspirations. That’s exactly what He will
do. Faith and hope may disappoint. Love never fails!
Shalom,
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – Monday, 29 April 2013
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
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©
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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
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©
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INTRODUCTION
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DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
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The Christian’s hope
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In
1974, I returned to South Africa after an interval of approximately 14 years.
Life in England and in Canada was great. But for me, South Africa was home
and here is where we wanted to be. There comes a time in our lives, when we
hanker for home and the things we remember.
During
the 14 year absence, South Africa had changed. On the surface, everything
seemed normal. My immediate reaction, when looking at the black people of our
country, was the way their means of transport had changed. In the 1950’s, it was
usually the bicycle. There were a few cars, but not all that many. Now, cars
and minibus taxis were the means of transport. It seemed to be inevitable,
that “one man one vote” was around the corner. It only took 20 years!
In
January 1976 we moved to join Eskom head office in Jo’burg. In July there was
the student uprising in Soweto. This uprising was inevitable, sooner or
later. South Africa was the last “bastion of white rule”. It could not
continue much longer. All the countries around us were getting rid of “white
minority rule”. No doubt, this was one of the reasons why the students began
their revolt. It was exacerbated, by the insistence of the education authorities,
that Afrikaans would be the language in which these students were to be
taught. It was a dumb decision. Things were about to take a major shift in
direction.
Back
then, it was illegal to speak about Nelson Mandela. He was supposed to be
safely incarcerated on Robin Island. Many of us took no notice of this
regulation. I remember talking with a group of “Eskomites”. They were talking
in general terms about him being a future President of South Africa. Some thought
it could never happen. Others held him out as one of the very few “hopes” we
still had in South Africa! It seemed ludicrous that a prisoner on Robin
Island could become our President.
Two
factors helped me realise that I was likely to see a black South African president
within 20 years. One was the inescapable fact that it had taken place
throughout Africa. The other was knowing that the “hope” for South Africa
could only come to fruition through the black majority. In an odd way, Biblical
history indicated that God would not stand by indefinitely. The day would
come when democracy would arise among us. In much the same way as Jesus
Christ was the hope of all nations; Nelson Mandela was the “hope” of the
black majority. Proverbs tells us, Hope deferred makes the
heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a
tree of life. Pro 13:12 NLT. Mandela became the hope of the nation and the
people’s dreams were finally fulfilled!
Jim &
Phyllida Strickland
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13 Waiting for
our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of
our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself
for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people
for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
Titus 2:13-14 ESV
19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our
souls. It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary. 20
Jesus has already gone in there for us. He
has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 6:19-20 NLT
19 Now repent
of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. 20
Then times of refreshment will come from the presence
of the Lord, and He will again send you Jesus, your appointed Messiah.
21 For He must remain in heaven until
the time for the final restoration of all things, as God promised long
ago through His holy prophets.
Acts 3:19-21 NLT
10 This will
happen on that day when he comes to be honoured
among all his holy people and admired by all who have believed in him. This
includes you because you believed the testimony we gave you.
2 Thessalonians 1:10 GW
22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in
the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 And we believers also groan, even though we have the
Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our
bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope
for the day when God will give us our full rights as His adopted children,
including the new bodies He has promised us.
Romans 8:22-23 NLT
2 Dear friends, we are already God's children, but He has
not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know
that we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He really is.
1 John 3:2 NLT
4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also
will appear with him in glory.
Colossians 3:4 ESV
20 He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I
am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
Revelation 22:20 ESV
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Life can
be appalling each time we look around.
What is it
we are seeing? Where can our hope be found?
Who’ll
come to our assistance in face of such a mess?
Why do the
wicked prosper? What use is righteousness?
Look at
the politicians. A gang of corrupt thugs,
Stealing
tax payer’s money! Young people using drugs!
Carnage
and death embracing people as they drive.
And if you
try to stop it, you will be “skinned alive”!
Look at our
taxi-drivers. They think they own the road.
And if you
show dissention, don’t think they will be slowed.
There has
to be an answer. A way to put things right.
But if we
try and do it, were in for a tough fight.
The courts
don’t dispense justice. The perpetrators win,
Because
they have the money to fix the jam they’re in.
Our little
girls in danger of being stopped and raped.
It seems
the wicked rapists, have got the system taped.
If is the “cops”
who do it, they simply close their ranks
And so the
rapists prosper; and give their colleagues thanks!
There must
be a solution. Lord there must be a way,
To change
the situation from what it is today.
My child there is an answer. There is
a way to cope.
Though things may scare you spit-less,
there is the way of hope!
Hope always looks at problems and
knows that they will end.
I am not standing idle. Be sure that I
will send
An army strong and mighty. They’ll
bring the remedy.
The wicked will all suffer. They are
attacking Me.
There can be no escaping from what
that army brings.
They will receive a judgement for this
and many things.
Don’t think I have no interest in what
is all around.
Their sins are documented and it will
astound
The men of every nation. They thought
I would not do
The things that I have promised! My Word
is ever true.
So do not think it’s useless for you
to carry on.
The HOPE that I AM bringing, to make
you firm and strong.
It won’t be slow in coming, so do not
be surprised.
The tide will break upon you as though
it’s been disguised.
Look at the great tsunami that swept
the folk away.
That is what you will witness when I
act on that day.
Jim Strickland – Written 29th
April 2013
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