Be Wise!

Be Wise!

Daniel 12:3 AMPC

[3] And the teachers and those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness (to uprightness and right standing with God) [shall give forth light] like the stars forever and ever.

Let us put the verse above in the right context. These were the final words of the book of Daniel, and as we know, this latter part of the book was about prophecies of the end. Daniel himself was a Jew who found himself in captivity along with other Jews, but what distinguished him was his commitment to purity, both internal and external. Even though he was in a foreign land where he could have blended in without feeling guilty, he knew what God's standards were, and he would not compromise. For all of us who seek impact, relevance and eternal reward, we cannot afford to do what others do, live as others live, and even eat as others eat, as Daniel found out to his advantage. 

Daniel was also a man given to prayer. As we read from the book of Daniel, there were deep mysteries revealed to him simply because he was a man given to prayer. It was so special that even a dream and its interpretation were both revealed to him, which shows the heart of God in dealing with people who make time for Him, as well as God's readiness to share deep things with those who can handle them. Can God say the same about me? Can I find time in the midst of the most pressing schedule, to commune with God and seek His face for all that is both present and ahead? As we have said several times, God will not force Himself on anyone. 

He will also not go against the exercise of my freewill but be sure that He will show Himself strong and mighty in the lives of all who seek Him sincerely and with their whole hearts. This is the foundation of the verse above. God has needs too, and He seeks men who will listen to His heart and seek to do His will. He does not promise a life free of tribulations or tough times, but He sure promises us His ever-abiding Presence and Power. As the first verse of the chapter from where the verse above is taken makes clear, there will be a time of trouble and distress for the world, but God promises deliverance for all whose names are written in the Book. 

That has to be the right motivation for all that I am asked to do: whatever it is I want to do: teach the undiluted word of God and turn many to righteousness. It is by personal example that the life of Christ can be made attractive to the world around me. The verse above refers to teachers and those who are wise. To be able to teach the right way is to be humble and open about your struggles, and totally depending on the One who cab help you stand. To be wise is to also lead others to the saving knowledge of Jesus, saving them from eternal damnation. This is the best use of the life that God has given me. That is true wisdom. Do I truly have Him? God's time of favour is here. 

Refuge!

Refuge!

Psalm 46:1 AMPC

[1] GOD IS our Refuge and Strength [mighty and impenetrable to temptation], a very present and well-proved help in trouble.

This is a psalm written by the sons of Korah. We do not know the context, but there is no doubt about the depth of the message. You do not speak like this without some deeply personal experience of the God referred to in the verse above. Mature men are confident to speak about someone or something they know quite well, and this also applies here. Can I say with utmost confidence that I know this God that the sons of Korah spoke of in the verse above? I also note that it went far beyond just hearsay; as much as it is nice to hear others speak about God, it is even more important to know Him for yourself. 

When trials and tough times come, you really cannot depend on just what someone else has said. It has to be something you have personally found to be true, proven by personal experience. Another thing that is clear from the verse above is that you do not come to such a conclusion without some rough and tough times. How do you call God a refuge if you have never had to run to Him for safety from danger or trouble? How do you find God to be a place of strength if there had not been times of weakness, discomfort, pain or failure? Again, this is the power of personal experience. Men can speal of what they know, but they cannot experience God on your behalf. 

He has walked in my own shoes, so His experiences have become sources of help and inspiration for me. He was tempted by the devil, and whatever it is that we go through today has already been answered and provided for by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Just like a definition of 'refuge' lays out, it means protection, shelter, or a safe place that keeps you away from danger, trouble, or hardship. Of course, there must be danger for a refuge to make sense. The human experience is unpredictable; God does nor promise a life free of trouble, but that in spite of what comes, there is a presence that stays true. 

The verse above also refers to the same God as a very present and well-proved help in trouble. Again, how do you prove this to be true if life was all a bed of roses? How do you test the veracity of this claim if you never had pressure? I must value the blessings of this life which enable me learn the value of God’s presence and power.  It does not matter how bad things get or how deep problems go; God is ever-present. He stays in when everyone else steps out. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He has not changed or moved; if He seems far, I must check where I am and where I have been. He is that faithful. God’s time of favour is here. 

Plan; Pray; Prepare!

Plan; Pray; Prepare

Proverbs 16:9 AMPC

[9] A man's mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure.

The story of creation helps to put the verse above in the right perspective. God made man in His own image and likeness; when God breathed into man, He deposited a part of His divine nature into man, so man could be His representation on earth. One of the ways by which man shows off Gods nature in him is by planning, organising and implementing ideas that change or improve the world. Consider some of the awesome discoveries that man already has in place, and you will deeply appreciate the kind of mind that has gone into putting everything in its rightful place, and making sure everything just clicks. That is the proof that God exists. 

When this God then breathes into you, you cannot really be ordinary. It is impossible for such a God to put a part of Himself in you, and you will not be capable of awesome discoveries and impact. What makes this even more humbling is the fact that this breath is given to all men, irrespective of the decisions they then take with what they have been given. You noe find men using their God-given knowledge to develop things that destroy fellow men. The world is becoming more and more insensitive to human suffering as long as it can make money off the human experience. We seem not to understand the eternal impact of what we have been given.

It is part of the normal human experience to plan. Whatever it is you want to do, you sit down and make a plan. To plan is to lay out a detailed proposal, set of decisions, or an organized sequence of steps created to achieve a specific goal or future objective. It means that you have an end in view, and you lay out concrete steps or decisions that will help toward the achievement of that goal. This has nothing to do with Christianity; it is human nature. However, place this awesome power in the hands of a man who has come to understand earthly and eternal implications and you will find a man who knows that plans are only great when the divine is in charge of the mundane. 

You make the plans, but you know clearly that God is the final arbiter of what works. You place all the plans in His hands, and trust that He is able to guide into His perfect will. I am limited by time, information and resources; there are things that I am not able to foresee and plan adequately for. The weather alone can force a change of long-term plans. You cannot afford to face life without the help of the One who knows and holds tomorrow. The Lord has to direct my steps so I can arrive in the place He has prepared for me. Remember: this is a voluntary submission. God will not force Himself on anyone. Would I willingly yield? God's time of favour is here. 

The Same!

The Same!

Hebrews 13:8 AMPC

[8] Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages).

It is very important to consider the context of the message in the verse above, considering the messages in the verses just before the one above. The writer of this book starts off with an encouragement to be hospitable to people, no matter their state in life at the moment. These could be poor people, those who are in prison, or strangers you do not know. It then goes on to address the importance of purity in marriage, and the judgement of God that is certain to come on all who do not honour the marriage covenant. We then read about the danger of greed, and why total dependence on God is the best decision a man can make. 

There is this very special message too about the power of spiritual mentorship, where we are enjoined to remember all who lived out the truths of the word of God, and became examples whose lives are worthy of respect and emulation. Why does this matter? This is where God's power and wisdom are beyond searching out or understanding. This is a God who has limitless resources and can decide how He wants to make impact in the earth that He formed, but He chose yet another part of His creation to be the instruments of the display of His power and glory. He has made men to be carriers of His power: through them, the aroma of His presence can be made manifest around the world. 

This is the context in which the verse above is to be understood. An immortal God places His premium on mortal, limited man. He shows off His unlimited power using limited vessels, so that all the glory is given to Him. The vessel knows that he is only empowered to do anything special because of the One who lives in him. This is why leaning my entire being on God is the best decision I could ever make. Trusting in His power, wisdom and goodness opens doors of impact that would otherwise be closed. There is no room for pride or self-sufficiency; how can I be filled with pride over an endowment I did not create? It is all God. That is what makes the verse above powerful. 

It is a message of hope, as well as a warning. No matter the changing times and seasons, God remains the same. No matter how many dispensations and generations have come and gone, God remains the same. Check out the stories of the men and women in the Bible and you will see amazing ways God has shown Himself in the lives of people. What He called sin under Adam and Jacob is still a sin under our current generation. What He also celebrated in the life of Abraham is still deeply appreciated in our own generation today. He does not change like shifting shadows. You can trust Him with your life, and He will surely bring you safe into eternal harbour. Would you trust Him with all you are and have? God's time of favour is here. 

This God!

This God!

Psalm 100:5 AMPC

[5] For the Lord is good; His mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting, His faithfulness and truth endure to all generations.

We take our devotion today from a chapter of the bible titled 'A psalm of thanksgiving and for the thank offering'.  It is one of the few pslams that is not directly attributed to David. The title helps to clarify what the focus of the entire chapter is: a recognition of the nature and identity of this God, the amazing and wonderful things He has done, and a public declaration of the right response to all He has done. The fact that David is not mentioned at all means that it is someone who we may not know, but has been able to document his own personal encounter with this God. Do I truly know this God? Do you? Is all I know about Him just what someome else has written?

There is nothing wrong in starting with, or relying on someone else's testimony at the start, but I have to make my own. It helps to listen to someone else's encounters with God and hear the wonders of His power, but there is a place for my own encounters with God. It is what I know that will carry me through the many experiences that will definitely come my way. Reflect on the life of David: he did not always make the right decisions, and the journey of his life was not always pleasant and enjoyable, but he definitely had God on his side, with God declaring that He had found a man after His own heart. That is wonderful coming from God Himself. 

Can God say the same about me? Can He trust my heart that it will sing of His praise even when everything around me seems to be falling to pieces? Can He trust that my heart will rejoice more in Him than for all that I have or hold? Would my focus shift to the size of my problems, rather than fixing on the size, power, wisdom and capability of the God who made the universe, and holds all things under His control? He does not promise perpetually blue skies, or a life free of trials, tribulations and tough times, but He sure promises us His ever-abiding Presence and Power. When you do not have Him, it does not matter what other material thing you have acquired. 

When you do have Him, you have all you will ever need for all of life. When you have Him, He empowers you to be able to see Him at work in your life at all times. When you have Him, you personally experience His goodness. You can speak of His loving-kindness and tender mercies. That is the power of a personal encounter; I do not have to convince you just by word of mouth; my life will be the loudest evidence of my encounter with this God. He is not just good for now; He is good for all time here on earth, as well as for all of eternity. He is faithful and true; that is His nature. He has told you who He is; would you trust Him with your whole life? God's time of favour is here.

Right Treasure 2!

Right Treasure 2!

Matthew 6:20-21 AMPC

[20] But gather and heap up and store for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust nor worm consume and destroy, and where thieves do not break through and steal; [21] For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

As we saw yesterday, there is a need to keep an eye on the future, even as you strive to make impact here on earth. A good steward of resources does not eat everything he sees. Like a good farmer, there is a right balance between seed for sowing and seed for eating. You have immediate needs to be met, but you also have future needs that may arise. If you eat all you make or earn all at once, how do you plan for the uncertain future? Just think of the land of Egypt in the days of Joseph, and consider what would have become of the nations of the world at that time if Joseph had not overseen the storage of food in the years of plenty.

One major point noted in the devotion for yesterday was that as long as what you have and hold can be stolen or tampered with on earth, it has no eternal value. That is the start point for our reflection for today. Jesus also makes sure that He does not leave us without guidance on what is important and eternal. I note that in order to gather, heap up and store for myself treasures in heaven, the right way to prepare is from down here on earth. Pray, what do I look forward to in eternity if there has been no investment of time, resources and faith in the right direction and on the right things?  What will speak for me in eternity if there is no earthly preparation?

As I work down here, I must know that all my actions, decisions and interactions are all going towards my eternal destination. With God, nothing is ever wasted. I note that I am not expected to fold my arms and just watch the world pass me by, but I must use all of God that I know and have to change the world around me to look like the place I am headed. When we pray the Lord’s prayer, asking that the will of God be done on earth as it is done in heaven, this is a part of it. My actions and reactions must bring heaven down to earth and make the gospel of Jesus attractive to the people around me. It is by His light in me that the world is drawn to His light.

It really matters who the focus is. I am not distracted by the provisions and privileges the world gives me, because I know they are temporary. My heart is fixed on Jesus and all He has for me. He also knows the power and impact of a focused life, so He gives me all that I need for life and Godliness. He takes over my heart so that there is room for no one or anything else. If He is the treasure of my heart, He knows that He has control, and He can direct as He pleases. Let that be the first thing I sort out today: the control centre of my heart. If He is in charge, earthly and eternal impact are sorted. If He is not, nothing else will work. God's time of favour is here.

Right Treasure 1

Right Treasure 1!

Matthew 6:19 AMPC

[19] Do not gather and heap up and store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust and worm consume and destroy, and where thieves break through and steal.

We all have things that we treasure. We all spend time and resources on things that we consider as important and strategic to our overall wellbeing. What makes this even more interesting from the perspective of the world's system is that what I consider important does not have to make sense to you and vice versa. As a result of our different backgrounds and experiences, we have come to have peculiar priorities. We will do anything tp pursue and entrench these priorities, and also quarrel with anyone who tries to tamper or hinder these priorities. That is the way human nature is wired, and it will take grace for a man to set his heart on the right priorities. 

This is the foundation of the verse above. Let us consider the context and audience. As it has been pointed out several times over the past few weeks, you do not demand specific allegiance from someone who you do not have a measure of control or influence over. I cannot demand allegiance and submission from someone over whom I hold no power or sovereignty. The verse above is taken from the first Sermon of Jesus on the mountain, as He sat down with His disciples. Yes, the crowd was there listening to Him, but the bible passage was careful to note that having sat down, His disciples came to Him and He began to teach them. That was His audience. 

As it was then, so is it today. You may love the words and message in the verse above, but to be honest, if you belong to the uncommitted majority, this message is not for you. How do you encourage a man whose heart is set on the world's goods that there is a treasure bigger and better than the one he currently holds and owns? How do you encourage a mortal man to give up the known and visible for the invisible? The natural man is wired to live for the present; there must be an inner change for that man to understand the weight of the message in the verse above. Who am I? Who are you? Who is in charge of my heart: the Word, or the world's systems?

If Jesus could be advising His disciples this way, just picture the helplessness of those who do not even know Christ. If a disciple can struggle with possessions, picture the scenes for someone who has no allegiance to Christ. The counsel is simple: focus on the eternal, even whilst seeking a life of relevance and preparation down here. To store up treasure is to understand the long-term benefits; if all I care about is the here and now, I will have no interest in what tomorrow holds. I make sure not to gather or heap up treasures here on earth, where security is not guaranteed. As long as it can be stolen or tampered with on earth, it has no eternal value. What am I focused on? God's time of favour is here.