God First!!

God First!

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1 Peter 3:15 AMP

[15] But in your hearts set Christ apart [as holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect.

In a world full of competing interests, the verse above reminds us of what is really important. In a world that tries to sell off greed and selfishness as necessary human attributes, I am reminded again that God deals by different standards. As it has always been pointed out, the messenger could also reflect the weight of the message. Peter was a disciple who didn't start off being strong and focused. There were times he was also caught up in the pressure of the moment, and he made rash decisions, but I am glad that Jesus told him He was praying for him, and that he would be strengthened to make impact. 

Also, the audience of the message also reflects the weight of the assignment. Peter was writing to the elect, spread across the Jews and Gentiles, with a common election in Christ; people chosen by the foreknowledge of God, the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit and the sprinkled blood, to be God's own possession. They did not have characteristics that would have made them acceptable to the world at the time, but they were chosen by a God who shows no favouritism or partiality toward anyone. What a joy to know that there is a God whose heart of love does not make any distinction based on race, tribe or language. 

If indeed I am chosen by this God to be His own, I must live to glorify Him on a regular basis. The heart is the foundation of all that I am and do. Whoever sits on the throne of the heart defines and dictates the direction of the person's life. I am encouraged to give God control. I must set Christ apart in my life, by totally surrendering to Him. He takes first place or nothing at all. He is Lord of all, or not Lord at all. It is the focus of my heart that will define my words. Even medical science notez that the vagus nerve (Cranial Nerve X) is the one that connects the brain to both the heart and the mouth. Whatever I say reflects the content and condition of my heart. 

Whether I like it or not, my heart's condition must be tested and it will be demanded for by people. If I claim to be light, I cannot get away with silence or compromise. People will see the difference in me, and they will definitely ask me what is the hope and confident assurance I have within me. Light cannot be hid; the impact of salt cannot be denied; the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a man cannot be covered. People need help; the world does not have the right answers. Those who know and follow God are the ones that God is counting on to impact the world for Him. Do I know this God? Does He also know me as His own? God's time of favour is here. 

Walk Right!

Walk Right!

Proverbs 13:20 AMP

[20] He who walks [as a companion] with wise men will be wise, But the companions of [conceited, dull-witted] fools [are fools themselves and] will experience harm.

It matters where you walk. It matters how ypu you walk. It matters who you walk with. It also matters who or what directs your steps. We are in an uncertain world; wars, rumours of wars, famine and earthquakes have changed the perspective, making us pause and really consider options before we act. The system of the world gives you options, many of which are unsafe. How do you determine the right way to go, or the right step to take? How can you be sure you are where God wants you to be, and doing what God wants you to do? You need to be sure, particularly when you consider the eternal consequences tied to your decision. 

I note that the verse above makes reference to the 'wise', not the 'smart'. The difference is in origin and purpose. Being smart can come from education or nature, but wisdom comes through life experiences, self-awareness and time. Also, being smart can be determined by knowing what to say at a particular time, but being wise is knowing if, when and how to say whatever it is that needs to be said. Being smart is about the short-term solution to an issue; being wise focuses on the long-term consequences of actions and decisions. It is in this light that the verse above should be considered. Am I focused on immediate reward, or on long-term benefits? 

Am I wise, or am I smart? I also note that walking with the wise as a companion makes me wise. How does this work? Walking with the wise means that I am careful to watch their lives in action. If I am walking with someone else, I keep in step with the person at all times. I do not jump ahead, and also strive not to lag behind. Like the disciples, access to the wise is a privilege not to be taken for granted, or treated with levity. There are life lessons that will not be learnt by words, but by observation. When you see a wise person respond to trials and tough times, you learn the value of patience and perseverance. 

Of course, the opposite too is true. If I choose to walk with the opposite of wisdom, I get the opposite of the benefits of wisdom. If I am a  companion of conceited, dull-witted fools, what else can my life produce, except what looks like what I have spent time with? That is another lesson for me: I look more and more like whatever experience I spend time with. If it is with the wise, it leads to good outcomes. If it is with fools, it leads to harm. Consider the eternal consequences of your actions: it is not something to leave to chance. Be very deliberate about where you walk, and who you walk with. Your eternity will be glad you did. God's time of favour is here. 

Guided!

Guided!

Psalms 32:8 AMP

[8] I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you [who are willing to learn] with My eye upon you.

For the versions of the bible with titles over the chapters, you find these words captured at the top of the chapter from where the verse above is taken: 'The blesssedness of forgiveness, and of trust in God - a psalm of David'. It becomes clear what the focus of the entire chapter is. David was a man who could relate with the title of the chapter or song. We do not know the particular event of his life that led to this song, but we know David was a man who experienced mercy almost like no other. There were events that could have taken the lives of other people, but his life was spared for a purpose. Sin must not be excused, but mercy also cannot be explained. 

David was referred to by God Himself as a man after His own heart. There were things David did to get to this point; he praised God continually, finding times and seasons to sing songs of praise and worship to God. Whether in the valley, at the point of despair or death, or even when God had given him victory all around, and there was no war, he found time to praise God. Can the same be said of me? Can God count on me to be faithful to service and sacrifice, even when things do not go my way? This is the advanced level of God's dealings with man: even when I do not fully understand what is going on around me, I still praise. 

Even when I sin, there is mercy and grace to forgive, convict and restore me to fellowship with God. When I know that there is abundant grace in God, it must keep me humble and fully dependent on God. There is no room for pride; there is no room for self-sufficiency. It is the man who trusts in the Lord that can be guided continually by Him. God will not force Himself on anyone, or go against the exercise of my freewill, but be sure that He will show Himself strong in the lives of all who are fully committed to Him. The verse may appear as 'counsel', and indeed it is, but the eternal  consequences of rejecting God's guidance make this a directive.

He wants to instruct and teach me. As He is the Omniscient God, He knows the end from the beginning, and knows the path I should take. As the Wisdom and Power of God, He wants to show me the path of life, and the way I should go. If I want to end well, it will do me good to walk in that path. I am limited; I am not strong in and of myself. I cannot see beyond this present second. As the verse above makes clear, for as many as are willing to learn, God is willing to counsel. Note that no one will have an excuse on the day of reckoning: guidance is available to all who seek it. God wants to guide; God wants to help. Would you submit to Him? God's time of favour is here.

Trust!

Trust!

Isaiah 12:2 AMP

[2] “Behold, God, my salvation! I will trust and not be afraid, For the Lord God is my strength and song; Yes, He has become my salvation.”

You do not usually associate Isaiah with songs or words such as the ones in the verse above. He was a prophet known for pronouncing the judgment of God upon the nation of Israel, and he was also privileged to speak about the coming Messiah. God is not the One to be put in a box or fully understood; there is an experience of God that is both personal and exclusive to everyone who seeks to walk with Him. Isaiah also had to have his own personal encounter with this God, and we know the impact this made to the ministry of Isaiah. If I will make impact and affect my generation, it will only happen on the back of this undeniable encounter. 

It was this personal encounter that made it possible for Isaiah to refer to God as his salvation. That was personal. There is a level you get to that you can no longer rely on another person's encounter with God. What do I know about God? When all else fails, and it appears I am on my own, what is the comfort I have that God never leaves me alone? Not only did Isaiah know this God; he was also willing and ready to draw the attention of his audience to this God. Am I proud of who I am, whose I am, and who I work for? Am I proud to be associated with a God whose power is undeniable, and whose wisdom is beyond searching out? 

Isaiah went on to speak about his response to this God. He said he will trust and not be afraid. Again, you do not pull these words from thin air; they come from a place of personal conviction. In a world that is becoming increasingly paranoid, it takes grace to look life in the face and be normal. So many things are going wrong around us, yet we are reminded that it pays to trust God. Trust is not easy; I am asked to trust the conviction in my heart that God can take care of any matter relating to me. Even when I do not understand the WHY behind WHAT I am experiencing, I still trust. Even when things do not make sense, God on my side is the only fact that makes sense. 

It is not a wonder, then, that Isaiah could sing about this God. Even in pain, can I sing? When things do not go according to plan, would I still sing? When tough times come, and it seems like I am beating against a wall, do I remind myself of the past goodness of God that I have experienced? Calling God my salvation means I have seen Him at work, and I am convinced beyond all doubt that He has got my back. He is my strength and song; He holds me up when everything else around me falls apart. He is and offers salvation to all who dare to surrender their lives to Him. How do you respond to this God? God's time of favour is here. 

Treasure!

Treasure!

Matthew 13:44 NIV

[44] “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

Jesus took time to lay out the principles and practices of His kingdom. At several times in the Bible, there are accounts of Jesus teaching both the crowd and His disciples about God's expectations from all who seek to follow and serve Him. One thing that was peculiar about the teachings of Jesus was that He spoke to the crowd in parables. These were short, simple and allegorical story that was designed to teach a spiritual lesson. He would take any earthly experience that was familiar to the crowd, and use that to teach the crowd about the principles, practices and policies of the kingdom of heaven. 

Even the disciples wondered why Jesus was always speaking to the crowd in parables, and His response is instructive: "because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them".  What an awesome responsibility for any one choosing to follow Jesus. The verse above is recorded as Jesus speaking to His disciples in the house, with the crowd now long gone. Indeed, deep secrets are best valued in privacy. I do not know of anyone who shares trade secrets openly, or who is careless about precious treasure, unless that thing is not important to you, or you do not really know the true value of what you hold. The verse above lays out clearly that God's kingdom is like treasure hidden in a field. 

As already mentioned, no one places treasure in open sight for all and anyone to see, take or steal. It is always hidden and this tells me that whoever will take hold of it must be ready to get pretty uncomfortable. I have also yet to see where anyone finds hidden treasure without working hard for it. Gold is mined; oil has to be refined and diamonds too are rare. You do not walk along the streets to pick them up. For those who claim to have Him, do you really know the value of who you claim to have? It is called a kingdom, because it is a place of power and authority. It is also called a kingdom because from it proceeds blessings and benefits for those who willingly submit to its authority. 

Anyone outside the coverage of this kingdom will never know why those who are in it live the way they do. Those who have truly tasted of the benefits of the kingdom will not desire anything else. Anyone who has seen the good of the kingdom of heaven knows that there is no better offer anywhere else. That is why anyone who has come to the knowledge of this kingdom will do all they can to take hold of it to the end. The verse above makes reference to selling all you have in order to own the field in which the treasure is buried. Knowing and having God is my greatest possession. I must do all I can to retain that knowledge and possession to the end. Where I end up is defined by who I know. Do I really know God? Does He also know me as His own? God's time of favour is here.

Faith's Harmony!

Faith's Harmony!

Romans 10:9 AMP

[9] because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Paul was writing to a specific audience: those beloved of God, called to be saints, and set apart for a sanctified life. That is specific. God is not the author of confusion. He has a purpose for every life He has made. The Bible makes that very clear. The accounts of the new testament started with the ministry of Jesus amongst  His own people the Jews, before it spread out to the uttermost parts of the world. This is in line with the plan of God for the salvation of the whole world. Paul, a Jew, found himself as a minister of the gospel of Jesus to those that the Jews thought were beneath them, and not worthy of the benefits and blessings of the new life available in Christ. 

Thank God that the story did not end with the message to the Jews only. When the Holy Spirit came down at Pentecost, He descended on all who were in the upper room, but His touch also extended to all who were in Jerusalem at the time. 3,000 souls were saved, and the move of God amongst nations was now in full force. Men and women have come to the saving knowledge of Jesus, not because of where they were from, or their tribe or language, but simply by the power of the gospel of Jesus. Men and women who the world had given up on because of their past, now had a new lease of life, by virtue of the operation of the Holy Spirit.

How does this work? The verse above lays a bit of an emphasis on both an inner witness and an outward expression. Both are critical and important. There has to be an inner witness that cannot be shaken by earthly experiences. It comes from a conviction that only Jesus can save, and that only in Him is there true salvation and eternal redemption. It is this harmony between the heart and the mouth that makes it a complete experience. If the heart does not believe, it becomes a case of hypocrisy. I do not want to pay lip-service to faith; God cannot be deceived by outward piety that is empty of inner conviction. Have you come to both believe and confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour? 

Remember: the door is open to all who seek to come. God does not force Himself on anyone, and He will not go against the exercise of my freewill. It is an open door, but it will not remain open for all of eternity. He offers eternal life to all who come to Him. At least, you know with certainty what lies at the end of your decision, whatever it is: if I confess Jesus as Lord, and believe in my heart that His Life is now my own life, I am saved. This is the simple message of the cross that many struggle with. It does not ask for money, labour or striving; it just asks me to believe and confess. If you have tried others and not experienced the joy only God can give, why not try Jesus? He waits for anyone who will come. God's time of favour is here. 

The God-Factor

The God-Factor!

1 Corinthians 3:7 AMP

[7] So neither is the one who plants nor the one who waters anything, but [only] God who causes the growth.

Paul introduced himself to the church in Corinth as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God. He was writing jointly with Sosthenes to the church in Corinth, a church described as those sanctified in thd same Christ that he, the writer, had come to know and serve. The church is the body of Christ, and are selected and called as God’s people. It is this special relationship that defines the church and Christ. It has no regard to height, weight, culture, language, or gender; what is important is faith in Christ, and that is what makes me one and the same with someone who does not even look, speak or interact like me. 

This is the church that Christ had come to lay down His life for. At the time He died, none of us alive now were there, so we could not say that He died for only those who looked a certain way. He died at a time when the world did not even recognise or acknowledge Him. His gift paved the way for anyone at all, no matter the weight or depth of sin, to make an approach to the throne of grace, and receive mercy, forgiveness of sin, and full restoration of access to God. The one who has now been forgiven and restored now has a duty to live out the demands of this new faith on a daily basis. There is now new ownership, and the demand on my time and resources have now changed.

Then comes the message in the verse above. If my racial or cultural differences with another person did not matter at the time Jesus died for all of us, why should it become important now when we am saved? If where we are from was not considered at the time Jesus paid the price for us, it means that it is now not important after we have secured the  eternal life that was promised to all who believe. The letter of Paul referred to the church in Corinth as still being worldly, with jealousy, strife and discord among the church. It was a church that was still holding allegiance to the men who preached to them; not to the One who saved them from eternal damnation. 

That is a practice or attitude which needs to be addressed. All men, no matter how smart or influential, are tools in the hands of the Saviour to lead men to the personal knowledge of, and encounter with the Saviour. It is this personal encounter that preaches the loudest message. Men will come and go, and make different impressions upon your life as you grow, but all of them must be treated as vessels in the hand of God to draw the hearts of men to God. Jesus Christ is the most important factor in this discussion: He is the One who is the gift as well as the Redeemer. He saves and preserves; and He can use anyone and anything to achieve His purpose. Am I available? Am I yielded? God's time of favour is here.