THE THOUGHTS OF JESUS

Time with Jesus -  21 Aug. 2013 

Hi all,

Up to about 250 years ago, most people in the western world believed in God and the inerrancy of the Bible. It began to change with what is known as “rationalism”. If the thought was “irrational” it was discarded. 

According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word “irrational” means “not rational”: e.g. 1) not endowed with reason or understanding. 2): lacking usual or normal mental clarity or coherence. With rationalism, everything was subject to the human mind. In essence, you only believed that which could be established and proved empirically. 

Now because God could not be demonstrated in a test tube, His existence was doubted. Furthermore, miracles were questioned and rejected because they were “supernatural”. Biblical prophecy was also rejected, since it is impossible to know things in advance. Where such things were found in the Bible they were assumed to have been inserted into the text at a later date to give credence to what was prophesied. These thoughts on rational and irrational are very brief and do not do justice to either. Sufficient to say, that in rationalism, the human mind became the means by which anything was regarded as true or not.

The Dead Sea Scrolls have done much to undermine the rationalist critics of the Bible. These scrolls were compiled about 100BC. Among them was a complete volume of the Book of Isaiah. We are told the difference between what is in the scrolls with what we have in the Old Testament in our Bibles today is negligible. In this regard, the fastidiousness of the scribes down the centuries has preserved the inerrancy of what has been transmitted from generation to generation. There can be little doubt that the same attention to detail would have been given to all the other books of the Bible.

But what is Bible or Biblical prophecy? It is typically the prediction of future events based on the action, function, or faculty of a prophet. Such passages are widely distributed throughout the Bible, but those most often cited are from The Psalms, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Matthew 24 & 25, and Revelation. (Courtesy Wikipedia)

For today’s meditation I’ve used a different rhyming style; short verses rhyming every other line. I’ve not covered all ten Scriptures. I’ve focused on Psalm 69. ¹⁷ Don't hide from Your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in deep trouble! ¹⁸ Come and redeem me; free me from my enemies. ¹⁹ You know of my shame, scorn, and disgrace. You see all that my enemies are doing. ²⁰ Their insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. If only one person would show some pity; if only one would turn and comfort me. ²¹ But instead, they give me poison for food; they offer me sour wine for my thirst. Psalm 69:17-21 NLT

This psalm is a prayer of desperation. David realizes that because he is hated by others, he may be killed. Though he begs for rescue and calls down curses on his enemies, he concludes the psalm with a high note of praise, with inferences concerning the coming messianic kingdom when all enemies of God's people are dealt with swiftly and severely. (Courtesy John MacArthur)

The meditation seeks to “fill in the blanks” of what Jesus might have been thinking at that time. Jesus was on the cross for 6 hours. Only 6 hours to murder God! We all know it is impossible to experience what Jesus went through during those 6 hours. David wrote about this in Psalm 69. What I’ve tried to do is express what may have been going through 

His mind during those terrible 6 hours of agony. Call it poetic licence if you wish. There is however one prayer by Jesus which, I suspect, He repeated over and over, from the time He was taken in Gethsemane, to the time He yielded up His Spirit. The prayer is in Luke’s Gospel. - ²³ And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments. Luke 23:34 ESV

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus 21 August 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 THOUGHTS OF JESUS
The Lord Jesus Christ was amazingly accurate in His assessment of people and the things they desire. Being God, this is not surprising. Because of this, He is able to sum things up with a succinct phrase. In Luke’s Gospel He summed up our attitude toward “things” as follows; 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12:34 TNIV I’ve looked at this statement on a number of occasions trying to understand His meaning. The context is our attitude to wealth or money. What I took from this was that if my treasure is money, that’s where my heart will be. It seems a bit obvious. Charles Dickens’ better known novel is “A Christmas Carol”. There we see the great miser, Scrooge, obsessed with money and the drive to accumulate more and more. His statement, “Christmas – humbug!” stands out from this story like a sore thumb. Nevertheless, it’s clear that Scrooge’s treasure was money. That’s where his heart was. The story of his transformation makes “A Christmas Carol” one of the best loved stories in English literature. When Jesus spoke, His words were invariably on many levels. It’s obvious where Scrooge’s heart and treasure was. But what about you and me? Now it’s very easy to get all pious and say that my heart and treasure are with Jesus Christ. That would be wonderful. For me, I wish that were always true. So where is your heart and your treasure? Dr A W Tozer spoke about this in one of his books. He said “If you want to know where your heart and treasure are, all you need to do is stop and think. What do you think about in your spare time? What does your mind return to when you are free to think of anything you wish?” He added, “That is where you heart and your treasure are”. Very simple isn’t it? I find this very scary. You would think that every man or woman of God would always think about Jesus, His Father, The Holy Spirit and the Kingdom of Heaven. I’d like to think it’s true for me and all who reads this. What happens in fact is that many men tend to think about the opposite sex. This may not be unsavoury thoughts. Some think about the girlfriends they had when they were growing up. Many think of their Mother. None of these thoughts are wrong. They become wrong when they are revisited whenever the opportunity arises. Whenever they are free to dwell on such thoughts. That’s where his treasure is! Ladies also have fantasies. It could be “Prince Charming” or the boy next door! These thoughts are not wrong. But when they are an obsession, they become wrong. That’s where her treasure is! In today’s meditation I’ve taken some of the Scriptures and turned them into short rhyming verses. The one I’d like to draw your attention to is taken from Psalm 69:20. What I’ve tried to do is imagine the thoughts of Jesus while He was on the cross. Through His agony, was He able to think of anything? I think so. I’d be surprised if He was in such pain that He couldn’t think. One of our recent choruses says that He thought of you and me! Whether or not that’s true, I’m not able to say. There’s little doubt in my mind that He was fully aware of everything happening around Him. No doubt, snatches from the Psalms and Prophets passed through His mind. All I’ve done is tried to fit some of them together in a rational way. Am I right? Don’t ask me, ask Him! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			10 If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength! Proverbs 24:10 TNIV	Failing in the Time of Trouble. And your strength is small? That is when you burst your bubble. And you’ll lose it all! He will always give His power, To those who are weak. For He is a strong high tower! Ask for what you seek. I’ve sufficient grace for you, Far more than all you need. When you’re weak, then I can do, A strong and mighty deed, That’s when I stopped asking, Lord, take this thorn away. From now to everlasting, He’s all I need each day! Call on Me, I’ll answer you, If you are in a jam. Rescuing is what I do, For that is who I Am! Our great God is eternal. So safely run to Him. He deals with the infernal; He makes their power go dim! He’ll drive away your enemies. “Destroy them” He will say. So seize your opportunities, And you will take the day. I’m terribly insulted. Heart-broken, I feel sick. My searching has resulted, That no one cares a lick. There’s not even a token, Of any sympathy. No kind word has been spoken; No one would “pity me”!		Comfort has departed. The agony’s severe; And it has barely started. If only God was near. Why have you forsaken; Your one and only Son? What action have You taken? It feels like You have gone! This horrible sensation. All sin, throughout all time. This dreadful desolation, Which I have made all Mine! But Father, I’m still trusting, That this will also end. I know I look disgusting; But on You I depend. I know we’ll be together. My life’s been free of sin. Then we will be forever! Mankind will be our kin! The trial is nearly over; My Spirit I’ll dismiss. Then we’ll all be in clover; Justice and mercy kiss! I see the Priest’s knife flashing. It’s time for me go, The devil’s work is crashing; He doesn’t even know! My task has been completed Mankind can be restored, For sin has been defeated. All men may serve the Lord! Jesus became High Priest, Because The Father said, “Since You made Yourself the least, I’m going to make You Head. This honour was not taken, Assuming it Your right. But when You were forsaken, You showed the world the light!”
			29 He gives strength to those who grow tired and increases the strength of those who are weak. Isaiah 40:29 GW
			9 and then he told me, My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9 MSG
			15 When they call on Me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honour them. Psalms 91:15 NLT
			27 God lives forever! You can run to him for safety. His powerful arms are always there to carry you. He will drive out your enemies to make room for you. He'll say to you 'Destroy them!' Deuteronomy 33:27 NIrV
			20 Insults have broken my heart, and I am sick. I looked for sympathy, but there was none. I looked for people to comfort me, but I found no one. Psalms 69:20 GW
			1 Every high priest is a man chosen to represent other people in their dealings with God. He presents their gifts to God and offers sacrifices for their sins. 2 And He is able to deal gently with ignorant and wayward people because He Himself is subject to the same weaknesses. Hebrews 5:1-2 NLT
			5 That is why Christ did not honour Himself by assuming He could become High Priest. No, He was chosen by God, who said to Him, "You are My Son. Today I have become Your Father. " Hebrews 5:5 NLT
			8 Even though Jesus was God's Son, He learned obedience from the things He suffered. 9 In this way, God qualified Him as a perfect High Priest, and He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him. Hebrews 5:8-9 NLT
			4 He suffered the things we should have suffered. He took on himself the pain that should have been ours. But we thought God was punishing him. We thought God was wounding him and making him suffer. Isaiah 53:4 NIrV
				Jim Strickland Written 21st August 2012

DARE TO DISCIPLINE

Time with Jesus - 20 Aug. 2013

Hi all,

Over the past year or so, I’ve stated my position concerning the need to discipline children. For a change it seems it would be worthwhile hearing from a professional, respected by many. 

The man is Dr Phil from US Television. Hereunder are his comments along with a couple of remarks from Phyllida and me.

The idea behind parental discipline is to ultimately create self-discipline within your child. That means the kid has to learn something -- your value system and the difference between right and wrong -- that will guide him or her throughout life. So what do kids learn from being spanked? The hitting itself doesn't teach them anything. Whether you believe in physical punishment or not, Dr Phil has some disciplining tips and alternatives to spanking: (by Dr Phil - Courtesy Google)
Dr Phil		Phyllida and Jim
1	Don't take out your frustrations while spanking. Ask yourself if the spanking is truly warranted because of the child's behaviour, or whether it's an excuse for you to have an adult temper tantrum? Are you more prone to spank when you are in a bad mood?	This comment is “right on”. If you are feeling angry, it’s possible you can move the matter beyond discipline into physical abuse. When God says “spanking will not kill the child”, it’s only true if you are behaving responsibly. Never spank when angry!
2	There needs to be a sense of calmness and order in the house. If you are spanking your kid for being physical and chaotic, aren't you adding to the physical chaos by being physical and violent with your child? What are you teaching them?	A good point. If things at home are calm and peaceful, it may be fine to give a spanking. Don’t rush into it. Think ahead and decide whether a spanking will make a better point than a good dressing down. Spanking should be used as a last resort.
3	Make a commitment to your child's discipline. You have to do what you say you're going to do. Consequences should be highly predictable for your child.	In nature, if you jump off the roof, you will “hit the ground”. It might kill you. Keep your word. If you say there is a consequence to an action, good or bad, stick to it.
4	Define your child's currency. What does he/she value? You can withdraw a positive (take away a favorite toy) or introduce a negative (giving a time-out) event -- but be consistent.	As a 9 year old child, the penalty for most misdemeanours in school was to write out Exodus 20! Always let the punishment fit the crime, or the reward fit the achievement.
5	Develop a child-level logic. For example, kids know you are less likely to discipline them in public, so that's where they'll act out.	In this case the need to discourage the behaviour is vital. Be sure the child knows in advance what the outcome of his action will be.
6	When you have a confrontation with your kid -- don't ever lose! They will miss out on the opportunity to learn an important lesson if you cave in and let them get away with a behavior that is unacceptable.	This is right on. The rule of thumb is, “make sure you’re right before the fight”. He/she must know in advance that it is wrong to e.g. “pull his sister’s pigtails”. He/she must know that there will be a consequence.
7	Two things you should NEVER say to your child if you want him/her to behave are: "I'll give you something to cry about," and "Wait until your father gets home." Children can see through idle threats and will eventually ignore them. They will also take advantage of the fact that one parent doesn't want to deal with doling out the discipline and tries to hand it over to the other parent.	It is vital that both parents must speak as one. Decide this before marriage. The question of disciplining children needs to be agreed beforehand. Phyllida and I decided that we would support each other, even if we disagreed! We had agreed we would sort things out between ourselves later. No child should ever be able to get a decision by one parent reversed by the other parent.

Correct error
Don't rule with Terror

Discipline is not exactly a favourite topic, particularly for children. But it’s an essential part of growing up. It’s a bit like a garden. Left to itself it goes wild. Children are the same. They need discipline. The Bible tells us: ²⁴ Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him. Pro 13:24 ESV

Unacceptable behaviour

It’s not easy for a loving parent to discipline a child, but it’s necessary. 

The greatest responsibility God gives parents is the nurture and guidance of their children. Lack of discipline puts parents' love in question. It shows a lack of concern for the character development of their children. 

The Last Resort
Never in anger
Always in love

Disciplining children averts long-range disaster. Without correction, children grow up with no clear understanding of right and wrong and with little direction to their lives. Don't be afraid to discipline your children. It’s an act of love. 

Listen Carefully

Remember, however, your efforts cannot make your children wise; they can only encourage your children to seek God's wisdom above all else! (courtesy Life Application Bible)

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Explain NOT inflicting
PAIN

Discipline must be Balanced with Love

Allow a child to be child
Allow a baby to be a baby
Let them have Fun!

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Tuesday, 20 August 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	DARE TO DISCIPLINE
Today’s meditation is fictional, but is invariably true. Bad things happen. Kids get killed walking across the motor-way. They take chances. Sometimes the cost to you is your life. I’m reminded of an old poem. Not one of mine, But it went; Here lies the body of Jonathan Grey. He died defending his right of way; He was right, dead right as he drove along. But he’s just as dead as if he were wrong! I heard that little poem when I was in primary school. Sadly, it’s still true. The accident statistics in South Africa for the “Christmas holidays” are shocking. Lunatic drivers, taxi drivers and drunk drivers create carnage on our roads each and every year. Mostly, it’s the perpetrators that get killed. But in many cases the victim is an ordinary driver; sober, alert and not over tired. But they get killed by those who should not be driving. Frankly, I believe that drunk drivers, who cause the death of others, should be tried for murder. Furthermore, those who are convicted of drunken driving offences should have their cars confiscated and face a very stiff penalty. Sometimes accidents happen as a result of poor road maintenance. In this case, the local authority should be responsible for all costs associated with the accident. Perhaps I’m a bit paranoid about this? But we as a nation must bring down accident figures. It should not be optional. Our first Scripture takes an imaginary look at a scenario all too familiar to most of us. When the law and/or God’s Word is ignored, it could bring death around our ears. 12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. Proverbs 14:12 ESV There is another situation that needs to be raised at this point. I’m referring to the disciplining of children. God’s Word makes it very clear: 24 Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children. Those who love their children care enough to discipline them. Proverbs 13:24 NLT Obviously, discipline should never be child abuse. That must never be the case. But children need discipline to grow into responsible, well balanced adults. Unfortunately, in most countries of the Western World, the law has been adjusted such that if you attempt to discipline a child – spank his/her bottom, it is seen as illegal. Many parents risk the wrath of the law by spanking their children anyway. They refuse to be intimidated by a law that restricts their ability to bring up children God’s way. The danger comes when little Tommy or Mary complains to the authorities that their father and/or mother have spanked them. So their children grow up to have no regard for the law or the “rights” of other people. There is little doubt in my mind that society is now “reaping what was sown”. A society where children and young people run amuck and cannot be controlled. The incidents in Norway and USA are good examples of what can happen when children are left to their own devices. Perhaps I’m not a good example, but the fact is my Dad was not shy about loving and the need to discipline. I got a hiding when I deserved it. Most of my school fellows received the same type of discipline from their parents. We all grew into manhood (it was an all boy’s school) and have become responsible citizens. Discipline is good! Jim & Phyllida Strickland.			12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. Proverbs 14:12 ESV	Go to the next corner. Turn left and then turn right. You should be on the proper road, to get you home tonight. The route is full of potholes and some of them are deep. But if you pay attention and do not fall asleep, You’ll be as safe as houses and get there in good time. If you decide to drive top speed, your life’s not worth a dime. So easy on the gasoline; sit back; enjoy the drive. But if you doze and fall asleep, you won’t get there alive. These words were in the manual and it was good advice. Provided that you follow it, your journey will be nice. But if you play the macho and try to beat the clock, You’ll do yourself an injury and smash into a rock. But Tommy wouldn’t listen; He knew just what to do. He thought “I’m indestructible; my car is still brand new. I’m sure that it can reach the ton if I increase the speed. A big rush of adrenaline is just the thing I need.” And so he put his foot down. His car was very quick. He thought that he was floating and felt a wee bit sick. “Tanked up” drinking alcohol; far higher than a kite. To make things worse, he couldn’t see while driving late at night! Oblivious of danger he watched his “speedo” climb. One hundred; then one twenty. He heard alarm bells chime. But in his drunken stupor, they didn’t reach his brain. And long before he knew it, he’d smashed into a train. He’d written off the motor car. His body crushed and bent. They put him in an ambulance. To hospital they went. The doctors had a look at him, but he was D.O.A Although his family prayed for him, there wasn’t any way, To snatch him from the jaws of death. It had too strong a grip. And he had paid the penalty. This was his final trip. His friends all gathered round him and eulogised his life. But that could not restore him to family and wife. God gave him ample warning in the manual that day. It was his own stupidity that took his life away. The moral of this story is, keep yourself alert. Let the Father lead you; and keep you from such hurt. Listen to Him carefully. He will not let you down. And you will not be D.O.A. when you arrive in town. Never mind the voices you hear inside your head. Mostly it’s the devil and he desires you dead. Take all your decisions and ask God please to show, The way you should be living and what you need to know! Jim Strickland Written 20th August 2012
			26 Anyone who trusts in himself is foolish. But a person who lives wisely is kept safe. Proverbs 28:26 NIrV
			Nun. 1 Your word is like a lamp that shows me the way. It is like a light that guides me. Psalms 119:105 NIrV
			4 Though people tried to bribe me, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent through what your lips have commanded. Psalms 17:4 TNIV
			1 "If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, 'Let us go after other gods,' which you have not known, 'and let us serve them,' 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him. Deuteronomy 13:1-4 ESV
			8 The LORD says, "I will instruct you. I will teach you the way that you should go. I will advise you as my eyes watch over you. Psalms 32:8 GW