Discipline!

Discipline!

Hebrews 12:11 AMP

[11] For the time being no discipline brings joy, but seems sad and painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness [right standing with God and a lifestyle and attitude that seeks conformity to God’s will and purpose]

How do you define discipline? The Merriam-Webster Dictionary presents it as 'the practice of training oneself or others to obey rules, maintain order, and follow specific standards of behavior to achieve goals or foster self-control. It involves consistency, focusing on long-term benefits over short-term gratification, and, in some contexts, acts as a form of correction or punishment'. The Cambridge Dictionary sees it from the perspective of 'punishment, castigation, penalty, correction'. In all of these definitions, there is a thread that applies to discipline in the context of the verse above, and it is the fact that rules of engagement have been clearly defined, explained, clearly understood. The rules were established to guide human behaviour, but now, the rules have been breached, and the rules give room for consequences to be applied. 

The person who has breached the rules knows clearly why the discipline is being applied, and as a sign of maturity, does not go about grumbling about the enforcement of the rules against him. That is why no discipline is pleasant at the time it is applied. Even for the world system, discipline is very important in molding behaviour, and to ensure a positive outcome for those who are subject to that process. If the people who are subject to the world's system understand the value and importance of discipline, just reflect on what this means in the spiritual. Of course, no natural person likes to be disciplined, but the long-term effect of discipline makes the process worthwhile. The word 'training' is also used in relation to discipline, and the picture it paints for me is that discipline is not a one-off event, but an experience that leaves a mark in and on me. 

When you see someone who has 'trained' for a sport or event, there are evidently physical signs on that person. In the same way, for a Christian who is training to be a vessel of honour in the hands of God, there are signs that will be apparent in and on that person. The verse above makes reference to the benefit that comes from that process, amd it is the peaceful fruit of righteousness. It means that the seed of discipline, guidance, and submission was sown, and as I continue to let the seed take root in me, it produces the fruit of righteousness. Like natural seeds, you do not wake up one morning to find the fruit, and it will not grow overnight. It takes time, it takes effort, and it takes commitment, but the end in this case justifies the means. I place myself in a position where God's will becomes my sole focus and pursuit. Does this describe me at the moment? Does God hold my sole attention, and can He take me on the journey of preparation so I can be preserved and presented for His service? God's time of favour is here. 

Speak!

Speak!

Philippians 4:6 AMP

[6] Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God.

Paul, speaking to the church in Philippi, had an understanding of what he was addressing here. Here were new believers who had just come to the saving knowledge of Jesus, and who would have tried to understand the times they were in, and how best to show their faith in the midst of the decadence of their times. Do recall that, at the time Paul was writing this letter, Christianity was not as widely regarded as it is today. The Bible only gave us the perspective from the early disciples and their ministries. Those who knew Jesus then were persecuted, but Paul took time to keep encouraging these believers to hold on to God at all times. As Christians today, we also have an obligation to provide encouragement and support to those who may be struggling with the demands of this new call. Like Paul, we speak, not from a place of fear, but a place of conviction. 

Like Paul, we know whom we have come to believe, and we are not ashamed of our new identity in Christ, persuaded that He is able to keep that which we have committed unto Him against the day of His return and reward. As we wait for that day, we know that many things will happen, both uncomfortable and pleasant. We are in a world system that has been irretrievably given over to sin, and it cannot be saved or redeemed. In that light, we must be prepared for resistance, as well as opposition to all that Jesus represents. This is why the verse above is central to our position and response to what is going on around us. We have been given the greatest resource in the world, which is access to the King of kings, and the ruler of the universe, who is able to bend anyone and anything to His will. He cannot be defeated, because He is the Creator of all things, seen and unseen. 

This is the God that Paul asks us to approach at anytime, to discuss anything. There is no issue so minute or so gargantuan, that God cannot solve. There is no minor matter, or major problem that is beyond His capacity to deal with. This is why prayer is important: we acknowledge our weakness and limitations, and seek the help of the One called the Help of Israel. Reflect on what the verse above says: in every circumstance and situation, continue to make your requests known to God. It means that God wants to hear me speak to Him often, not because He always gives me what I want, when I want it, but because He is a Father and Friend who seeks fellowship much more than transactions. No matter how bad things get, I will approach. This is access and privilege that money cannot secure. May nothing keep me from my Help. May no guilty conscience keep me from the One who died to deal with sin. Make the approach, and speak to God today. He waits for you. God's time of favour is here. 

Right Mode 2!

Right Mode 2!

1 John 4:15 AMP

[15] Whoever confesses and acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

Let us lay a quick foundation to the verse above. John, the writer of this book, made it clear that he was writing from the position of personal experience. He said: 'what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life, is what he was proclaiming to his audience. He said he had seen the Word of Life in action as an eyewitnes, and was able to testify about this Word of Life to his audience. By extension, my personal conviction helps drive my public declaration. Whatever it is I am convinced and sure about becomes a message that I am proud to present to other people at anytime. John had tasted of the riches of the Word of Life, and was now inviting others to come and experience the same. Do I have the same mind and heart as John here? Am I focused only on what I can get, and not much on the lives that God seeks to bless through my own knowledge and experience of Him? 

John in his day had the opportunity to fellowship with the Word of Life, along with other believers of his time, and so do we in our own time today also have the opportunity to fellowship with the Word of Life, as well as other believers of our own time too. However, it has to be noted that this access is not a right you get automatically by natural birth; it is a privilege you get by the second birth. The natural birth has given rise to sin, and anyone who dies following the natural birth only has no access to the eternal life promised by God. That is the standard, and I can choose to live or die by that standard. It will not be lowered or changed for anyone, no matter how gifted or connected. It is the second birth, or what we call 'being born again' that gives a man that access into the reality of the latter part of the verse above. It is a non-negotiable and irreplaceable experience for anyone who wants to access all that God is and has. 

How do we arrive at this amazing destination? The verse above clarifies. It is for anyone who confesses and acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God. It may sound simple, but this is the position that has caused problems for many people. It does not follow rationality or human critical thinking. It does not make that much sense humanly speaking. This is where God provides the grace that brings salvation and has appeared to ALL men. It is this grace that enables me to say No to sin and Yes to God. Both confession and acknowledgement work together to achieve that which God seeks. It is my mouth that confesses, and my life's pursuits and priorities provide the public acknowledgement that I now live by different standards and have a different master now. The reward of that inner change is that God abides in you, and you in God too. Picture the amazing fellowship that is possible when the presence of God manifests in all of us. Do I truly have Him? God's time of favour is here. 

Life's Worth!

Life's Worth!

Acts 20:24 AMP

[24] But I do not consider my life as something of value or dear to me, so that I may [with joy] finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify faithfully of the good news of God’s [precious, undeserved] grace [which makes us free of the guilt of sin and grants us eternal life].

Yesterday,  we considered the end of Paul's earthly ministry, and the declaration he made about his race, his fight and his reward. He did not get to that conclusion overnight; there were actions and decisions that he made that led to that conclusion. Paul had been saved, and then commissioned to minister among the Gentiles, and we know he was backed up by God. Miracles, signs and wonders were all parts of the manifestations of God's power in and through the life of Paul. It would have been easy for Paul to get comfortable with such a high level of impact, but for a man who spoke this way, just being applauded by man was not the focus. God had to be glorified in and through him to the end. That is the crown of a life that God uses: that this life is a vessel of honour, and God is able to shine in and out of it. Does this describe me in any way? Can I say, of a truth, that my life is one that God is pleased with? 

Even in the face of certain persecution and opposition, Paul would not choose the easy way out of anything. At the time of the verse above, he was compelled by the Spirit and his convictions to go to Jerusalem. He knew that trouble was waiting for him there, yet he would press on. A life that is not submitted and surrendered fully will struggle. Even Jesus, the son of God, came to a point where He prayed to His Father that the coming cup of suffering will pass over Him, but He also knew the eternal value of obedience to the will of His Father. We stand where we are today because Jesus surrendered. As a child of God, I learn that there are no regrets if God is pleased with my life of sacrifice, surrender and service. Is there anything so mighty and powerful that it can take my eyes off the prize of heaven? Is there any price too high for me to pay, in order to secure eternal life with God and the reward of faithful service to the end? 

Like Paul, I must know that the value of my life is determined by what I do for God, not really for myself. It is in service to God that I truly thrive. Let nothing/no one keep me away from the ministry God has committed into my care. Jesus births and sustains vision, and His provision will always be sufficient for the vision. Paul knew clearly who His audience was, and what the message was about. I must know who I have been sent to, and take counsel from God on what to say, and when to say it. After all, it is God's mission first and foremost. I am called to join Him at work, not to define the terms and conditions by myself. I keep my eye on the prize, and make sure that I am in line for the reward. I only get the reward if I run, walk, fight and work in line with the mandate of the One who sent me. The end indeed justifies the means. I ask God for grace for the race that has been set before me. God's time of favour is here.

Well Done!

Welll Done!

2 Timothy 4:7 AMP

[7] I have fought the good and worthy and noble fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith [firmly guarding the gospel against error].

The wisest man who ever lived on earth, at least according to bible records, once said that for everything there is a season, and a time for every activity under heaven. The very first activity mentioned is 'a time to be born and a time to die'. This is central to the theme of the verse above. Between being born and dying, there are a lot of things that will happen and a lot of things to be accounted for. There is no one who is able to control when to be born or when death comes, but once birth has taken place, a clean slate is provided on which we all have the power to choose what we write on that slate and how that life is lived. We do not have control over when and how we die, but we do have information on what to do before death comes. The bible is full of stories of both men and women who lived on the earth at different times across different generations and dispensations. 

We have several lessons we can either adopt or discard, as we journey towards that inevitable end of life, and the judgement and reward that must follow. Paul was one of the men in the bible who did have a violent start, at least by human measurement, as we see him as part of a conspiracy to commit murder of Stephen. He then went on a rampage against Christians at the time, but he was arrested, and had an encounter with Jesus. The rest, as they say, is history. From bible records, Paul was involved in more than half of the letters of the new testament, and his work among the Gentiles of his day remains the foundation of the spread of the gospel to the ends of the earth, as mandated by Jesus when He was leaving the earth. The reflection for me here must be: what am I doing on earth right now that will set me up for a glorious end? Do my current pursuits and priorities guarantee me a good end, and a reward for faithful service by God? 

Check out the confidence in the words of Paul in the verse above. The confidence did not come from a false sense of importance, but a place of conviction and backing. He had seen God move, but he had also been faithful to his calling. There was no room for pride or selfish ambition; and this ministry did not give room to pursue personal agendas. There was a focus on bringing glory to the name of the Lord and drawing men to the kingdom. That is what God rewards. I note that I do not have forever on this side of eternity to settle down and work. There is no permanent residence down here; at some point, the fight will be over, the race will be finished, and the reward of faith will have to be sorted. Am I sure my current course and direction will land me safely in heaven with God when this earthly phase is done? As long as I have life, I can take steps to be sure. Know and follow God wholeheartedly; the end is eternal life. The alternative is NOT worth considering. God's time of favour is here.

Covered!

Habakkuk 2:14 AMP

[14] “But [the time is coming when] the earth shall be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, As the waters cover the sea.

Isaiah 11:9 AMP

[9] They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord As the waters cover the sea.

The verses above make references to times and seasons. There is a past or present time, as well as a time that is coming. Both times have different characteristics and events that define them. The past or present time is one that is filled with sin, due to the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. It was not like that in the beginning. God made the heaven and the earth to reflect His glory, and He made and placed man in the Garden to tend it, and to also maintain a relationship with Him. The devil came with deceit and led man astray, causing man to lose his privilege, position and power. Since the fall of man, it has been disaster after disaster for mankind. The earth has not gotten better at anything Godly, but the world system keeps finding ways to rebel against God. Man had unhindered access to God at the beginning, with God coming down in the cool of the day to speak with man. All of these were lost due to sin. 

Do we think that sin is not such a big deal? Do we think that the power of sin is exaggerated beyond what it is? Reflect on the price that was paid by God to deal with sin, as well as the prize that God lays down for all who come to put their trust in Jesus, and you will realise that God does not joke with sin. He is seeking lives that will reflect what He established in the beginning. He is seeking lives who will show off His redemptive power, and the grace that brings salvation to ALL men, no matter how stained their past could be. God wants to show Himself strong in the lives of men whose hearts are fully committed to Him. This is very important, as we consider the message of the verses above. A time is coming when what I get will be defined by what I do with Jesus. A time is coming when the old order will give way to the new, and all that we thought was immovable will give way to that which is truly unshakeable. 

A time is coming when the whole earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God. I note that it is the earth that is referenced here, and not the world's system under the control and influence of the devil. The system of the world is beyond redemption, and this present earth is destined to give way to a new earth, wherein righteousness will reign. This tells me that if I want to be a part of this new earth, my present preparations must match the expectations of God for entrance into that new earth. The things that God rejects as sin in this current earth will not be accepted in the new earth. God informs and warns ahead of the manifestation of that time how I can prepare the right way. His Word has clear rules of engagement for that time. His Word has clear guidance for all who seek admission into His Holy mountain. Of course. If His mountain is described as holy, be sure that all who enter into it must be holy. I have been duly notified; the required response is mine to sort out. God's time of favour is here.

Love!

Love!

2 John 1:6 AMP

[6] And this is love: that we walk in accordance with His commandments and are guided continually by His precepts. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should [always] walk in love.

John, called the apostle of love, was writing to the 'chosen lady and her children'. Whether this was an actual person or a symbol of a church, it is not clear but the message in the letter is clear and unmistakable. John was writing about the topic of love. To the natural man, love is that feeling that makes your heart beat faster when you see the subject or object of your affection. To others under the same human influence, love is proven by the things you do to or for other people. As dealing with the natural man is not an exact science, you find sins like fornication and adultery labelled as 'making love'. It shows that the natural man can only understand love from the perspective of what it can see, feel or receive. That is why the natural man cannot be the source of anything Godly. The natural man is unable to grasp the scope, height, or depth of the love of God, because it cannot receive, respond, or submit to it. 

The spiritual man is the one that is able to receive and respond to the love of God, which is the focus of the verse above. The verse lays the right foundation of love as a relationship with the One called Love Himself. The verse above makes a categorical statement: love id proven by walking in accordance with His commandments. How do ypu align with the commandments of a God you do not know, recognise or submit to? How can you be guided by the instructions of an authority you do not recognise, or claim the benefits of an authority that you do not submit to? These are fundamental questions that require honest review, so you know where you stand, or what you can look forward to receiving from God. God is merciful, and sends His rain on both the good and the bad, but like all natural men, no matter how nice they are, when it comes to writing a will, their natural children who have stayed faithful are the first priority, before any outsider is considered. 

The verse above also makes it clear that love is a command. This tells me that this is not one of those negotiable options; it is a command that demands allegiance and total obedience. How can you even partially obey God? It is as good as disobedience. God commands His own to love, and of course, the proof of love will be seen in the outflow of my life. Can men come in contact with the Love of God in my life? Does Jesus shine in and through my life too? Is His light evident in my life in a way that men can see the results of His presence in me, which are good works that bring glory to His name? Do I let the world define my view of what love is, or is God sitting in full control of the strings of ny heart, defining its pursuits and priorities? I must also note that there are permanent and eternal ramifications to my response to the love God offers. May it not be that it is at the throne of judgment that reality dawns that the wrong version of love had been pursued. May God help me find Him, and find life. God's time of favour is here.