Daily Devotionals in Verse and Rhyme

Monday, May 13, 2013

THE BLOOD OF JESUS

For Sacrifice

Time with Jesus - Tuesday, 14 May 2013

Hi all,

Have you ever visited an abattoir? I haven’t. I know very little about these legalised places for slaughtering animals. Having said that, we all have an idea what happens. The animal is taken to the place of slaughter. There it is first “stunned”. I’m told they do it for the benefit of the animal. That may be true. But animals do have an awareness of their surroundings. So if they weren’t “stunned” they may well react violently to those who are to slaughter them. It gives the “butcher” an advantage over the animal which they otherwise may not have had.

The Brazen Altar

I’m not sure how the animals are slaughtered. At one time it would have been with a very sharp “knife” that was drawn across the animal’s “jugular vein”. The blood would have flowed freely until it died from loss of blood. In this regard we can say, “The life is in the Blood”. No blood, no life! We are similar to the animals. If you drain the blood out of a human being, he/she will be as dead as the slaughtered animal! Leviticus states; ¹¹ for the life of the body is in its blood. I have given you the blood on the altar to purify you, making you right with the LORD. It is the blood, given in exchange for a life that makes purification possible. Lev 17:11 NLT

Taken for Sacrifice

We frequently forget God’s wisdom and knowledge. It was His plan that a substitutionary offering could be made. The life of an animal could be given in exchange for a man or woman. It had to be made very plain that someday the life of His Son could be given in exchange for the life of men and women. To achieve this, the Old Testament sacrificial system was put in place for ±1500 years before Jesus came. How many animals were sacrificed during those long years? How many Hebrews witnessed the ceremony? It must have been in the order of millions. The Old Testament picture was a shadow of the death of Jesus for millions of men and women. Did the Hebrews spot it? Probably not! But during the lifespan of every one of them they must have either seen it personally or heard about it from someone who had. The shadow was there. Would those who witnessed the real thing, see the significance of the shadow? Highly unlikely! Their minds were closed by the repetition of the ritual.

Abraham willing to
Sacrifice Isaac

The Jews in Jesus day were “locked in” to the sacrificial system. The possibility that the Blood of Jesus achieved everything the shadow depicted and more was not on their radar screen. In fact, the Old Testament ritual continued in Jerusalem, year after year for a further ±35 years. It would have been on-going today if the Romans hadn’t destroyed Jerusalem and the temple in 70AD.

I understand that many people living in the state of Israel today are talking about rebuilding the temple. They would then re-introduce the sacrificial system. Will that happen? It’s possible, but in my personal view not very likely.

Joy with Jesus

Their biggest difficulty would be the presence on the temple site, of the two Muslim holy sites; the “Dome of the Rock” and the “El-Aqsa Mosque”. Yes, they could be destroyed. But the reaction to this in the Muslim World would be terrifying. Only if it was done miraculously by God would there be no Muslim reaction. Will this happen? Only God knows!

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – 14 May 2013			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
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INTRODUCTION			DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	THE BLOOD OF JESUS
Ever since my teens I’ve liked motor cars. I’m no aficionado but I like the things. I’m tempted to say I love them. But I don’t love cars the way I love God and love my wife. I like big expensive luxury cars. I would love to have a top of the range BMW or Mercedes. A Rolls Royce is somewhere near the very top of my mental fantasies. Of course, I’m not likely to own one. But it would be a great “nice to have”. It’s one of those juvenile fantasies. Like marrying Miss World; Penny Coellen back in my early days. Not surprising really. In my mind she remains one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen. Another popular fantasy among school boys back then was to marry Princess Anne. It was not so much being married to her as the associated notoriety and recognition. But England was 6000 miles away, so it was the sort of pipedream and was not taken seriously. Fairly recently I read a story about a man who wanted a Rolls/Royce. Eventually he got one. It was a fairly old model but was just what he wanted. A couple of months later he sold it. There was nothing wrong with the car. But he was inundated by begging letters and people wanting to “touch him” for money. There are other wonderful possessions which most of us want in life. A home of our own, children, a good education, friends, relations and good financial prospects. We all have this in common. The difficulty with all this “stuff” is that it is all temporary. In a few short years we will have left it for others to enjoy. I’m reminded that a shroud has no pockets. There is nothing wrong with having possessions. Proverbs tells us: A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous. Proverbs 13:22 ESV The real issue is what we do with our possessions. We are going to leave them behind. I know the story of a man who said, “Lord, If I can’t take it with me I don’t want to go.” But we will all go. There is something that is of greater value than everything in this world combined. It’s something you cannot buy. However, it will cost you everything; it’s the blood of Jesus Christ. You cannot buy it. You cannot steal it. God by His grace provides it as a free gift. But although there is no capital outlay, it will cost you everything. All your possessions, all your friends and family; that’s the price. The blood of Jesus is not cheap. It only takes one tiny drop to cleanse us of all unrighteousness. But it’s never been cheap. It’s the cost of the life of God. He shed His blood for me. He thought I was worth it! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			¹¹ They overcame him because the Lamb gave his life's blood for them. They overcame him by giving witness about Jesus to others. They were willing to risk their lives, even if it led to death. Revelation 12:11 NIrV ³³ And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? ³⁴ Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us--who was raised to life for us!--is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Romans 8:33-34 MSG ¹¹ "'The life of each creature is in its blood. So I have given you the blood of animals to pay for your sin on the altar. Blood is life. That is why blood pays for your sin. Leviticus 17:11 NIrV ¹² "That same night I will pass through Egypt. I will strike down every oldest son. I will also kill all of the male animals that were born first to their mothers. And I will judge all of the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. ¹³ "The blood on your houses will be a sign for you. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. No deadly plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. Exodus 12:12-13 NIrV ¹ There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1 ESV ¹³ Just then one of the Elders addressed me: "Who are these dressed in white robes, and where did they come from?" ¹⁴ Taken aback, I said, "O Sir, I have no idea--but you must know." Then he told me, "These are those who come from the great tribulation, and they've washed their robes, scrubbed them clean in the blood of the Lamb. Revelation 7:13-14 MSG ⁵ and from Jesus Christ--Loyal Witness, Firstborn from the dead, Ruler of all earthly kings. Glory and strength to Christ, who loves us, who blood-washed our sins from our lives, ⁶ Who made us a Kingdom, Priests for his Father, forever--and yes, he's on his way! Revelation 1:5-6 MSG	How to defeat the devil? God’s Word makes it quite clear. There are three simple methods which draw the victory near. The one is testifying about what Christ has done. Telling people they will win through Jesus God’s own Son. The next is being willing to give your life away. “Everything for Jesus” is what we hear men say. But there’s another factor without which you and me, Could never be forgiven and couldn’t be set free. The fact is, there’s a penalty that always must be paid. If anyone commits a sin; if God is disobeyed, The person who committed it must be condemned to die. The price remains mandatory and to all it must apply. This can only happen when the blood of life is shed. When the blood has drained away, the victim will be dead. That’s the way God made us; life cannot carry on; If all the blood within us has drained away and gone. Put into simple language, in order to forgive, A sacrifice must shed its blood so that a man might live. The concept isn’t popular. Not in this day and time. Our people are too squeamish and baulk at all the grime, They think of in an abattoir; “It must be sanitised”! But monsters of iniquity can never be disguised. Perhaps I do not like it. But I’m not in control. The One Who really matters and Whom we all extol, Insists the blood of life is shed to pay for what we’ve done. And since it is essential, His One and Only Son Became the very sacrifice. He shed His blood for mine. To pay for our redemption; for His blood is divine. Which means it pays for all the sins of me and you and you And you and you and you and you; no other blood will do! If you say that it isn’t fair, my friend, you’ve got it right. Absolutely undeserved in anybody’s sight. But this is His decision. We are not asked to vote. So each and every one of us are in the selfsame boat. Of course you can refuse it. You don’t have to agree. But then you pay the price yourself for all eternity. I think we should accept it. Thank God we’re not condemned. Thank You Lord that by Your blood, our sentence You amend. Forgiven, cleansed and pardoned. It’s too good to be true. But that is what the blood of Christ has done for me and you. He became the sacrifice. The price He paid was high. He had to go to hell and back; to shed His blood and die. We cannot point a finger. Our pardon is complete. There’s no way we can add to it; For it’s designed to meet, The standards God demanded and each of us must pay. But Jesus paid the price in full on Calvary that day. Jim Strickland Written 14^th May 2012

Sunday, May 12, 2013

STRENGTH OUT OF WEAKNESS!

Masculine image today

Time with Jesus - Monday, 13 May 2013

Hi all,

We live in an era of “main manne”. To really succeed as a man you need to be at least a front rank forward in a top rugby team. An acceptable alternative would be a cross between the Incredible Hulk and Spiderman. If anyone gets in your way, you walk over him or neutralise him with a portable canon. Weakness in any form is not acceptable. The image is to be hard drinking, hard fighting with complete control over any situation including women.

If you don’t believe me, have a look at what’s on TV these days; bulging biceps for the men or big boobs for the women. Better still, have a look at the games the kids play on their play stations. They are mainly about killing the opposition. The more you kill, in the shortest possible time, the better you are.

The Image Today

With the macho image and the love of killing games available, is it surprising that we have terrible incidents in real life. Men who shoot and kill students on a lonely island; men who will open fire with an assault rifle on little children in school. It doesn’t take a PhD from a University to connect the dots. But please be careful. If you suggest there is a connection between a macho image and the murder of the innocent, you run the risk of being ridiculed by those who should know better.

I get the feeling that if Jesus came for the first time in the 21^st century, academia would run Him out of town. They wouldn’t harm Him. They would merely dismiss Him and leave Him alone with His “strange ideas”.

Weakness?

On several occasions I’ve mentioned that the Kingdom of God is the opposite of the world system. As Jesus is recorded to have said in Mark’s Gospel, ⁴² So Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. ⁴³ But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴ and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. Mar 10:42-44 NLT

Loan Rangers are not part of
Christianity

Most Christians read this Scripture as though it had nothing to do with them. It’s fine for Jesus and His Disciples. But we are modern and up to date.

The truth is the opposite. If I would like to be in the forefront of Christianity, Jesus says I must be your slave. A Macho image is valueless in God’s Kingdom.

Called to serve!

To put this simply. If I want to be “better than you” in God’s Kingdom, I must become your slave. In fact, the higher I aspire, the lower I must go. Jesus became the servant of all. He is now King of Kings and Lord of Lords. If we aspire to be great, Jesus recommends we should; ³⁷ The man replied, "The one who showed him mercy." Then Jesus said, "Yes, now go and do the same." Luke 10:37 NLT

Today’s meditation looks at being strong in Christ.