Kept!

Kept!

2 Thessalonians 3:3 AMPC

[3] Yet the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen [you] and set you on a firm foundation and guard you from the evil [one].

This second letter written to the church in Thessalonica was a joint effort by all three of Paul, Silas and Timothy. These where men with different experiences in their walk of faith. We read about Paul and his many troubles in the hands of the Jews, and we read about Silas in at least one instance too, whipped and placed in prison together with Paul. We also read of the boy/man Timothy, whose birth circumstances placed in a big disadvantage, at least, in the view of the Jews of his day, but by the tutelage and mentorship of Paul, he became a force in the hands of God for the gospel. All of the above point to the truth that there is no life that God cannot use to promote His plan and purpose. There is no one so far gone that s/he is beyond the mercy and grace of God. My past or present will be part of the story of God's grace upon my life, so that it is apparent that if not for God, I would have been lost. 

That was the foundation of the verse above. These men were writing to people who had seen tough times. The audience was brothers and sisters called the congregation of believers in God. There is nothing on earth that can adequately describe all that God has in store for those who put their trust in Him. There is no experience on earth that can be adequately preparation for all that God will bring the way of those who are committed to Him. How can you fully explain this level of opposition and resistance to God's Word in the days of Paul? How do you comprehend why men resist the Word of God with so much violence these days, as it was in the days of Paul? Indeed, the heart of man is corrupt and desperately wicked, and it is hard to fully understand what it can produce. This is why it is very important that I give God full control of my heart. It is only in His hands, and by His lesding and direction, that my heart can and will produce the right fruit. 

Can I say, of a truth, that God is fully in charge of my heart? God is capable to play His part, but He will not force Himself on me, or go against the exercise of my freewill. He will supply all that I need for the journey ahead, but He waits for me to plug myself into His supply. How can He provide strength if I already claim to be strong and independent? How can He set ms up on a firm foundation if I claim to be strong on my own? How does He guard me if I have already made alternative arrangements for my own protection, or raised an altar to my own promotion? God is indeed faithful, but He will not honour my own rebellion against His ordained process for me. He will bring me through the valley if the journey of impact requires it. He will bring me through the storms if the story of change He wants to tell in and through me requires it. He is all I need for Life and Godliness. Do you have all of Him? Does He have all of me? God's time of favour is here. 

Seeing Well!

Seeing Well!

2 Corinthians 4:18 KJV

[18] while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

This is a letter from Paul and Timothy to the church in Corinth, as well as the saints in Achaia. The chapter from where this verse is taken lays emphasis on the work of God in mortal men. It reminds us that all of God's mighty works in man cannot afford to lead to pride, or a sense of self-sufficiency. In all cases, mortal man would think more highly of himself than he ought to. He thinks he has all of life figured out. There is no greater cure to this false sense of importance than salvation. There is nothing that reminds a man of his place and purpose in life than being reminded that I do not own anything down here, and whatever it is I am able to receive is given to me by God. That is the start point of our devotion today. Do I know who I am? Do I know where I am heased or what I am supposed to be doing with my life? Until that is sorted, I may continue to wallow in dangerous ventures, or be distracted by what the world thinks is important. 

How do I focus on that which is important? How do I even know what is important? One sure way is to first sort out the control centre of my heart. Whoever sits at the control will define the direction of my life. If it is self, be sure that self will lead you down the path of eternal death. If it is the Spirit of God, you can be sure that He will lead you into pursuits and priorities that line up with the will of God. One thing that must be established is that I cannot afford to be fooled by what mortal men count as important or celebrate. It is not possible to find a single thing that the human nature and the spiritual nature will agree on. Both are under different ownership structures, and both have opposing priorities. No matter how far you try and draw them, or how hard you try to explain it, these two lines will never agree. This is why I need to sort out the foundation of control first and foremost. It is the key to the verse above.

When I have sorted out control, then I am able to see the way God wants me to. Let it be clear that it is the internal control that helps in seeing well. The WE in the verse above does not have general application; it is for those who are under God's management. They keep their hearts on the eternal, whilst sorting out the earthly. They are not fooled by the drama going on around them, but use the provision and resources of the earth to advance the plans and principles of the kingdom of God. They have their hearts set on pilgrimage, sure that this earth is just a temporary phase that will end at some point, and then, the real life that has no end starts. Please note that as it is only your physical eyes that can see it, it will not last. Only that which God is lasts forever. In Him is Life, and in Him is eternal life. Do you have Him? Do I? God's time of favour is here.

Done Right!

Done Right!

Matthew 6:3-4 TPT

[3] But when you demonstrate generosity, do it with pure motives and without drawing attention to yourself. [4] Give secretly and your Father, who sees all you do, will reward you openly.”

This is part of the first recorded sermon of Jesus on the mountain, as He sat with His disciples. Of course, there were a lot of people listening to Him as He taught: a crowd was there, the Pharisees, Sadducees, and the teachers of the law must have been there too. One conclusion that the people who listened to Him came to was that He taught them as One having authority, not like the scribes. The people were astonished at His teaching, but one has to go back to the start of the sermon to establish who the intended audience was. Jesus called His disciples to Himself and took them up the mountain. Yes, there was a crowd, but it was when the disciples had sat down that He began to teach them. The clear directives given in that sermon are not for the weak or faint hearted. The messages in this sermon are not for people who are unsure of who they are, or what God's expectations for them are. 

The sermon is indeed for those who have made up their minds to follow Jesus; who have counted the cost and know what it would take from them. Do you know who you are? Do you have the clear view of God's expectations from you? Am I willing to pay the price for discipleship? One of the prices for such a call is what the verse above lays out. It calls for an emphasis on life without a desire for the limelight. It is human nature to crave recognition. It is human nature to want to be seen, and to matter. There is ordinarily not much wrong with seeking validation, but why do you seek it? Why do you need to be seen? The answers to these questions reflect who you are, what your priorities are, and where you will end up. One way to gauge the state of your heart is in what you are willing to let go. Is there anything at all that I consider too important to give up, if God asks me to? Is there any price I consider too high to pay, if it leads to God's glory? 

One of the issues that weigh on the heart of man is the fact that you cannot determine the times and seasons of the reward God has promised. God asks me to do whatever it is I want to do with pure motives, and without drawing any attention to myself. It is only a broken and submitted heart that can do this. In a world that is ruled by likes and shares, and driven by what is attractive and pleasing to the eye, it takes discipline not to be fooled by what looks good on the outside. It is the Father's prerogative on how and when He rewards my generosity. Never let applause define application. Do not let what people will say keep you from obeying God or aligning with His instructions. I have to note that there is nothing the world can give you that will last forever. It is God who blesses and adds no sorrow. That which is done right, in secret, will be rewarded by God. He is worth waiting for. Would you? God's time of favour is here. 

God's Help!

God's Help!

Psalm 143:8 KJV

[8] Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; For in thee do I trust: Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; For I lift up my soul unto thee.

Nothing is said about the events that led to the words of this psalm, but there is no doubt that there was some trouble around David at this time. Just in the few verses before the one above, you find David saying things like: "For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; He hath smitten my life down to the ground; He hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead. Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; My heart within me is desolate". These are words that show some despair, some despondency, and some trouble around the man David. As we know, he was a man who didn't go looking for trouble, but because of the grace upon his life, he attracted a lot of opposition. He spent a lot of time in privacy, with sheep, as well as lions and bears. These ones he could control, but he had no knowledge about how to deal with human beings. 

Reflect on the fact that a king was using the might of government to hunt him down to kill him. Reflect on the fact that he had to gather together about four hundred men who were in distress, in debt, or were discontented, and he became a captain over them. That was what David, anointed as king over Israel, was reduced to. However, there was a truth about the man David that is of eternal benefit to us: he knew God. May sound simple, but this was the secret to the life of impact he had. Here is a man that God Himself called a man after His own heart. He was by no means perfect, based on the things we read about him, but he had this relationship with God that went far beyond mere words, but backed up with the right actions. This man would spend time with God, praising and worshipping God. He knew how to hold God's attention, and his life offers us a template on what works. This is not a license to make the same mistakes that David made.

It is a guide on what works and with God's help, make sure to get the same benefits that David got. David placed himself where he would hear God's lovingkindness in the morning. This tells me that David made it a habit to start the day right with God. How does God reach me if I do not make out time for Him to speak to me? David put his whole trust in this God, and we know how he ended. Same God; same principles. David would also not do most things without seeking guidance from God. Even though already anointed as king, he would seek God's face before going up to Hebron to be anointed, and he would encourage himself in the Lord when everything else was falling to pieces around him. Like David, the secret to a life of impact lies away from the public. It is private strength that drives public impact. Nobody may see the silent years, but they definitely cannot ignore a life of purpose. Like David, can I also lift up my soul to God, sure and certain that He will bring me to the place of fulfilment and peace? God's time of favour is here. 

God with Us!

God with Us!

Joshua 1:9 AMPC

[9] Have not I commanded you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Just picture the man Moses, and how Israel must have viewed him as he led them from Egypt to the land of promise. The people of Israel had seen how God used him in parting the Red Sea for them to walk over on dry ground, while the army of Pharaoh all perished in the sea. They had seen Moses do mighty works in the wilderness, from amazing supply of manna and water for the whole of their sojourn in the desert, to the glory of God being made manifest at different times. There was this incident on Mount Sinai where the glory of God was so obvious that the people of Israel were trembling with fear. In all of these encounters, we read, like a footnote, of the man called Joshua. First time this young man was mentioned was when Israel had to fight Amalek, and Joshua had to choose men to fight. Joshua did as commanded, and God gave victory. Do not despise the days of small beginnings. 

A few years later, the same Joshua was at the foot of Mount Sinai, at the tent of meeting, and as one of the emissaries sent to spy out the land of Canaan. In all of these encounters, we see the young man being trusted to represent Moses well. I am not sure this man was in any way interested in replacing Moses, and I can imagine how he felt when the mantle of leadership was being placed on him. He had seen Israel rebel, and even though he had not joined in the rebellion, he had also wandered with the whole of Israel for 40 years. He had seen what disobedience did to Aaron and his sons, as well as to Miriam the sister of Moses. He had witnessed the punishment of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. How could anyone lead such a stubborn and rebellious people like these? This is where God always steps in. The One who commissions always knows what is ahead, and He is the One who supplies what is quite appropriate for the vision that He has birthed.

This is what the verse above is all about. God knew that the shoes that Moses was about to take off was big, but then, it is not about the capacity or ability of the one who would fill the shoes, but the capacity and ability of the One who gave the shoes in the first place. God knew what was ahead, and before the pressure would build, and discouragement would come, He came to reassure Joshua. No man can do God's work without the help of the One who commissions the work. No man can survive on His own. I need the presence and power of God to achieve whatever is His will. He knows the scope of the assignment, and He knows the lives that need that which He has given me. When God commands, all that I need for life is supplied. His name is at stake, and be sure that God can back up His name. He will not leave me alone to fend for myself, whilst I am at work for Him. I must not let the world dictate relevance. With God on my side, and as I obey His leading, I am where He wants me to be. That is impact. Am I where He wants me to be? Are you? God's time of favour is here. 

Choices!

Choices!

Romans 12:21 AMPC

[21] Do not let yourself be overcome by evil, but overcome (master) evil with good.

Paul was writing this eternal to God's beloved people in Rome, who were called to be saints and designated for a consecrated life. This foundation is important, as we consider the message in the verse above. Interestingly, the start of the chapter from where this verse is taken further buttresses the audience, as the first two verses of this chapter admonishes the audience to present their bodes as living sacrifices that are holy and acceptable to God. Paul further counsels the audience not to be conformed to the pattern of the world they were living in, but be transformed by the renewing of their minds, in order to prove for themselves what God's good, pleasing and perfect will for their Iives were. This is the foundation upon which the verse above is laid. Paul was not speaking to people who were totally ignorant of God's desire for holiness and righteousness, but to people who had tasted of the gift and benefits of salvation. 

Do I belong to this group? Am I relying on head knowledge, or what I have heard over the years, but with no personal experience to speak about? Do I know God, and does He know me as His own? Have I accessed the grace that is available to all men, so that my actions and decisions reflect a life of total dedication to God? It is a submitted life that can reflect the glory and virtues of its owner. This is a reality that cannot be faked for a long time, because it is a demand that will cost me a normal, boring life. Reflect on the verse above, where Paul is counselling his audience not to let themselves be overcome by evil. This means that it is possible for a mortal man to be insured against evil, but it is about inner constitution, not outer muscle mass. I do not have the capacity to fight and defeat evil, because the human nature is prone to sin, and cannot choose to do good without some help. Anything sin is evil. 

Sin is the natural state of the fallen human nature, so doing evil will be the norm, rather than the exception. This is where a man needs the help of the One who has defeated evil. The verse above makes it clear that it is possible to choose not to let evil overcome you. This is only available to those who have fulfilled the first part of the chapter from where this last verse above is taken. Who have I truly submitted to? Who sits in charge of my heart's contents and focus? Who is pulling its strings, and determining its pursuits and priorities? An encounter with God is what gives a man the power to choose good over evil. There is no value in education, enlightenment or earnings that will give a man victory over the fallen human nature. Only Jesus can, and His help is always available to all who seek Him. Do not take this verse in isolation of the conditions to be met in order to qualify for help to defeat evil. Have I truly submitted? God's time of favour is here. 

This God!

This God!

2 Peter 3:9 AMPC

[9] The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people's conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance.

Reflect on the audience for this letter of Simon Peter: he referred to those 'who have received like precious faith' with the apostles through the righteousness of God and Savior Jesus Christ. Precious faith: this is something that has value, is not picked up cheap from the street, and is not something that this world can give you. Of course, if the world cannot give it to you, it cannot take it away unless you let it go. This is the audience that Peter was speaking to. Why is this important? It is the impact of the message in the verse above. As the verses before the one above make clear, just as they are now, there were scoffers and mockers in those days who were walking after their own fleshy desires, saying that Jesus was not coming back, as He had promised. How could mortal man make the immortal God out to be a liar, who could not keep a promise? 

Who would blame them, when it appeared that several generations of prophets had said the same thing, but Jesus still had not returned. One needs the help of the God who promised, to keep hope alive and to remain focused on what is important. Men have come and gone, and it appears that the earth is immovable and unshakeable. Nothing seems to change, and it does appear that evil is not immediately punished. This has given men the courage to keep doing evil. This can make the faith of even the strongest man to shake sometimes, but we have and hold on to the sure word of God that His promises can never fail. The Word of God makes reference to two immutable things by which it is quite impossible for God to lie, which are His Name and His Word. It may appear that promises He made are taking time before they are fulfilled, but He stakes His name when He speaks, and He wants to be trusted. 

Men view delay as being slow. We are the ones who use times and seasons to measure impact and relevance. God is not moved by the things that easily distract men. Men also measure time in years, and we grow old and die, but between life and death is one very important decision that we all need to make, and that is what to do with Jesus. God gives us the power of freewill, so we can make up our mind to submit our lives to Him of our own accord. God does not force Himself on anyone, and He will not go against the exercise of our freewill. He will be patient with us, so we can come to Him. However, I must note that I have not been given forever on this side of eternity to make up my mind. God is not interested in the death of a sinner, but no sinner will enter into the kingdom of heaven. If God is patient, it is because He seeks the heart of man to turn to Him. I must not ignore this gift. Eternity will be glad that I made the right choice. God's time of favour is here.