Love 4!

Love 4!

1 Corinthians 13:4 AMP

[4] Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. 

Paul was writing to the church in Corinth on different topics. The chapter before the one from where the verse above is taken was speaking on the use of spiritual gift. The main emphasis was on using these spiritual gifts for the growth of the church, the deepening of the Christian experience, and of course, to the glory of God. If there is one major lesson that this Christian experience has taught me, it is that these gifts of the spirit can sometimes be an avenue for pride and self-importance. How can something you could not invent or manufacture fill you with a sense of your own importance? This is why the message in the verse above is timely and relevant today. 

As I consider who I am and what I have, how do I deliver on my assignments? Am I really conscious of what God demands, and am I careful to point men in His direction as I seek to impact the lives of men? This has to be the daily walk for me: it must not just be about chasing clout, seeking applause or approval from men, self-glory or adulation, but that God is visible in and through me. It means that for me to effectively and efficiently carry out my responsibilities, I need the character of the One who owns the gifts, the platform for the gifts to be exercised, and the lives that are to be impacted by the gifts. If He is not glorified by my use of His gifts, what is the point? 

As I serve in my office, the how is as critical as the why. Men may see the effort, but effort alone does not always equate to impact. As the verses before the one above makes clear, I could speak many languages eloquently, or exercise the gift of prophecy with ease, or as an extreme, even give everything I own, to the point of offering my body to be burnt, yet, if the motive is not aligned with God's nature, which is love, it ends up as a waste of time and effort. Men may love what you do, because all they see is the physical, but the God who sees beyond the physical is the One whose view matters, and who I must please in all I do. Who do I please: God, or man? 

The verse above makes clear what the right standard is. Love, God's version, endures with patience and serenity. It does not give up on anyone easily. Love, God's version, is kind and thoughtful. It puts itself in the shoes of other people, seeking their good. Love, God's version, is not jealous or envious. It does not see itself as better than other people, but it finds joy and fulfilment in pouring into others. Love, God's version, does not brag, and is not proud or arrogant. All the above represent what God desires from all who claim personal knowledge of Him. It is in the fruit of my life that its foundations are known. If He is in, love is the norm. If He is not, this is one you cannot fake. God's time of favour is here. 

Love 3!

Love 3!

John 15:12 AMPC

[12] This is My commandment: that you love one another [just] as I have loved you.

Again, I note that Jesus was alone with His disciples, as He took time to lay out the principles, practices and standards of His kingdom. These teachings were the last set of instructions He gave, just before He went to the cross. It has to be noted that there is always a message for the crowd, and a separate message for the disciple. The standard for the crowd is different from the standard for the disciple. There are some things that the crowd can get away with, but the disciple cannot. This is where it becomes critical for me to define who I am: one of the crowd, or a disciple? My response defines the rest of this devotion. 

The disciple has a master; he has an example to follow. He has been given a sample to work with, a template on which to pattern his own life after. He has not been left on his own, and he has not been told to just do anything. We have someone whose personal life presents us with the confidence we need to know that we can make a success of our own walk of faith, just as He did. The crowd does not have such limits as anything and everything is permissible. It is hard to define standards when there are no examples to look up to. Again, which one am I? My answer can be anything, but when the test comes, would I be able to stand? 

One of the standards the disciple is expected to uphold is that of love. The reason why it is a standard is the nature of the God who commands the standard. He has shown what the standard looks, feels and lives like. As we have always said, God will not demand from me that which He has not first supplied sufficient grace for. If He says I should do it, it is because He knows I am His, and He has already laid down the perfect example of what He desires from me. As the verse above makes clear, a commandment does not give you wiggle room; you are either disobedient or compliant. There is no middle ground or room for complacency. 

Love is a command. Love is an example. Love is Godly, and is possible. That is what Jesus has shown us. A command means that it is binding on all who are under the authority of the One who gave it. Jesus has also shown us how it is done: He gave up His life so that we  could have life. I may not literally give up my life, but am I willing to lay down and allow other people 'walk over' me? Am I fixated on proving I am right, at the expense of my relationships with people? Do I insist on what I want, to the detriment of the welfare of other people? Remember: love is who God is and does. All who are His are empowered to be and do like God. Am I one? God's time of favour is here.

Love 2!

Love 2!

1 Peter 4:8 AMP

[8] Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others].

As always, the audience defines the impact and effect of the message. Peter, one of the disciples of Jesus, had a front-row seat to the amazing things that Jesus did, the messages Hs peached, as well as the exanples He laid down. He introduced himself as an apostle, a special messenger of Jesus Christ, and he was writing to the elect exiles who were now  scattered abroad in different places. It was not their choice to be where they were, but the decision to follow Christ came with its impact and consequences. Let it be clear that God did not promise anywhere that the decision to follow Him would be easy or convenient; what He guarantees is His ever- abiding presence.

This has to be what motivates us to remain true to His call upon our lives. The audiience were people chosen and foreknown by God the Father, consecrated by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ, and to be sprinkled with His blood. That should have made them untouchable, but as we know, walking with God does not prevent life from happening to me. They had a choice to be bitter, angry or resistant to the message of Peter, but they made a choice to open up their hearts to the message. As it was then, so is it today. The world will not accept that which it does not understand and cannot control. I have a choice to make: blend in or stand out. 

My daily choices and responses to what the world offers me will reflect who I am and what I have. The prayer of Peter at the start of his letter is also instructive: that the peace of God in the hearts of these people will free them from fear. Once fear ia dealt with, what else remains? Only hearts that are free to flow with the love of God. That is the message in the verse above: there are a a lot of things that the Christian experience will demand from you, but there is something that sits above them all, and that is love. Yesterday's devotion focused on what love is, and today's focus also reminds us what God's standards are. God will not lower His standards for anyone. 

Remember: God will also not demand from us that which He has not first supplied sufficient grace for. He wants me to have fervent and unfailing love for other people. It is not love that demands that they first deserve it, but love that reaches out, no matter what the other person does. Love is special, in that it helps me see with God's eyes, not mine. Left to me, it will be hard to love if there was no reciprocal feeling, but we come to a place where love is given freely, without conditions, and with grace that overlooks offence. That is what God has given, and it is what He demands from all who are His. Am I His? Are you? God's time of favour is here.

Love 1!

Love 1!

Psalms 103:13 AMP

[13] Just as a father loves his children, So the Lord loves those who fear and worship Him [with awe-filled respect and deepest reverence].

The entire chapter from where the verse above is taken is a tribute to God's love and care for His own. It is a psalm of David, one who God called a man after His own heart. The chapter starts with those immortal words: "Bless the Lord, O my soul". David took account of all that God had done for and to him up to that point, and his only response was to break down in gratitude to God for His dealings with him. Like David, I have to know that God has not changed or moved away from His nature: faithful and consistent. He does not need me to be God, yet my life is the loudest testimony to His faithful dealings. Do i know this God of love? 

The same chapter reminds us of the mercy and grace of our Lord, who is slow to anger, yet abounding in lovingkindness and compassion. He is a God who hates sin yet loves the sinner unconditionally. He will punish sin, no matter in whom it is found, yet He will strive to save the soul of the sinner from eternal damnation. Even though we can be stubborn, He does not deal with us after our sins, or reward us with punishment according to our wickedness. That is a love that defies human understanding. This is a love I could not earn, merit or deserve. This is a love that will do all it can to preserve me from evil. That is God's love in application. 

Then the note of caution: God's love is quite amazing, but He does not force it on us. God does not force Himself on anyone, and He will not go against the exercise of my freewill. This is where my heart must choose to submit and surrender to Christ, of my own freewill. Earthly fathers, no matter how good, cannot force their will on a child that can now decide on things. You may counsel, advice or seek to mentor, but the decision or response is left for that child to take. There are only two possible options, and God has made clear what the end of these two options are: life or death. There is no middle ground; no other safe zone. I am either all in or all out.

The power of my choice is now reflected in the verse above. God the Father made us all for His pleasure, but there is a greater glory when the created acknowledges the power and wisdom of the Creator, and give glory, honour and praise back to Him. The Father loves all His creation, but there is a special care for those who fear and worship Him out of a clear sense of understanding of who He is, what He has done, and what He is able to do. Like any imperfect earthly father, we tend to gravitate towards a child who listens. In the same way, God is close to those who choose to obey and honour Him. You desire this close relationship? Seek to honour and obey Him. God's time of favour is here.

The Right Way!

The Right Way

Matthew 5:10 AMPC

[10] Blessed and happy and enviably fortunate and spiritually prosperous (in the state in which the born-again child of God enjoys and finds satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of his outward conditions) are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake (for being and doing right), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!

The sermon on the mountain continues, and the focus today is on those who face tough times as a result of their decision to follow Christ. It has to be clear that at no time did Jesus promise a life free of trials, tough times or tribulation. Following Jesus means that you are taking a decision not to follow the world and all it represents. This goes against everything the human nature is comfortable with; this is why the decision to follow Christ is not one that the human nature can fully explain. That decision opens you up to all sorts of attacks, even from family and friends. They cannot comprehend how you would take an unpopular position. 

However, the understanding you have of who Christ is will be the anchor that keeps you stable and focused. No matter what comes your way, you know the reason why it happens is because of your faith in Christ. He has also given us ample warning and advance notice of what is coming. Be sure that the devil will not take your new allegiance lightly; he will do all he can to distract, deceive and destabilise; after all, his mission is to steal, to kill and to destroy, and he has been in this business since the account of creation. Hs knows what he has lost forever, and he will do all he can to get as many people as possible to his side. You cannot give the devil that much control.

For all who are born again, there is a new life birthed in us, sustained by the presence of God in us, and a seal of eternal redemption. Whilst we wait for the eternal, we have to live in the present, and prepare for the eternal. God in His wisdom knows how best to prepare us for what is coming. He is the wise pharmacist, who prescribes the experiences and encounters the way He sees best, in the measures that are appropriate, and in the seasons that will work out His glory. He will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear, and if He allows it, be sure that He has made a way of escape for us. What other way can the love of God be explained or applied? 

It is not a wonder, then, that the verse above calls such people who experience God this way as blessed. They enjoy His favour, as a Father gives liberally to His children, and they find satisfaction in Him. They can endure pain and distress, because the focus is not just on the earthly, but the eternal. They may suffer persecution, but they know it is only for a season, and the blessings that come from the experiences make the experiences worth it. At the end of it all is eternal life, the crowning glory of a life lived in total surrender to God. If you go with God, there will be no regrets. Make sure Christ is in charge; the end will be worth it. God's time of favour is here.

Peace!

Peace!

Matthew 5:9 AMP

[9] “Blessed [spiritually calm with life-joy in God’s favor] are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they will [express His character and] be called the sons of God.

Another category of persons that God calls blessed are the makers and maintainers of peace. Reflect on this: there are people who choose peace over being proven right. They know who they are, they know what is right and fair, but without compromising on their faith in God, or breaking the law, they are able to find a way out of conflict or trouble. It does not mean that they are weak; they have just found a higher calling and a more efficient way to make God known. What makes this even more important is the truth that those who seek to be like God have to show off His nature and characteristics. How else can I show God off than to show off His nature?

Jesus is called the Prince of Peace. He did not come to lay aside the law that prescribed punishment for sin, but He came to fulfil and discharge its requirements in a different way. He died in the place of those who actually did the wrong, but in His sacrifice, He has opened up a new way of access to God, and by Him, we now have His life in us, His name on us, and His nature in and shining through us. When we speak, we reflect His identity. When we relate, we show off His presence and power in us. This is why it has always been emphasized that this message is for disciples and not the uncommitted majority. Am I one of His disciples, or am I still one of the crowd?

Why is peace the focus? Peace is defined as 'much more than the mere absence of conflict or war. It is a holistic state of completeness, soundness, well-being, and harmony. It is a state of right relationship with God, oneself, and others, ultimately rooted in the character of God'. This is the strength and power of the peace that is spoken about here: it flows from God to us, and it impacts all areas of our lives. It is hard to compartmentalise my life and only allow God's peace to thrive in some areas of my life. If God does not control all, it will be hard for that life to really experience the version of peace that is the focus here. Is God in full control of my life? Does He own all?

The world is looking out for the difference. 8t has seen all versions of conflicts, as well as pretenders. It is those who have God that can show off this right version of peace. If I have Him, I am able to make and maintain peace. It does not mean that everyone will believe or accept the message, but they know where I stand and who I believe in. Jesus also told His disciples then, and He also tells us now that if we let His peace reign in and through us, we express His character, and men will see His imprint in and on us. What grace it is for men to call me a child of God, because they can see His life in me. Can the same be said of you? God's time of favour is here.

Pure!

Pure!

Matthew 5:8 AMP

[8] “Blessed [anticipating God’s presence, spiritually mature] are the pure in heart [those with integrity, moral courage, and godly character], for they will see God.

Today, we consider yet again another one of the classes of people Jesus refers to as blessed. It is important to consider what God calls blessed, as it is not the same as what the world calls blessed. To be blessed is to 'experience God's divine favor, inner peace, and spiritual well-being, rather than material wealth or perfect circumstances. It is a state of deep, joy-filled contentment that remains untouched by life's hardships'. It is first an inner state that impacts the outward; the world sets it the other way around. This tells me is that it is difficult for the world to defend a definition of being blessed that it can totally explain or fully understand. 

The world will not understand the demands of the verse above. This is also why the charge in the verse above was given to the disciples of Jesus, and not the crowd. Pray, how does the uncommitted majority know the value of purity, when it does not even know or submit to the Holy God? The crowd will only hear and enjoy the words, but it does not have the strength or capability to obey. God will not demand from me that which He has not first supplied sufficient grace for. If He commands it, be sure that He will supply what is needed to obey, as well as demand an accounting for that which He has commanded. Am I part of the crowd, or am I a true disciple? 

One definition of purity is 'not just about avoiding wrong behaviors, but it is a state of being morally uncompromised and wholly devoted to God. It encompasses both inner integrity and external actions, reflecting God’s own flawless character'. You do not define purity first from what a man does, but who lives in the inside of him. His external actions flow from his internal condition. His public face is a reflection of his private devotion. It has to be made clear that God is the focus of purity, as it is His own nature. God is holy, and that is His standard. The lesson here for me is to ensure that the internal is sorted; the public will take care of itself. 

Of course, when you are like God, you will end up with God. When you walk with God, you become more and more like Him. That is what proximity to God leads to. I cannot spend time with God, and men will not see His imprint on my life. I cannot be a follower of Christ Jesus and my life will not reflect His presence, glory and virtue. It is not a wonder, then, that the verse above says that the pure in heart shall see God. As they walk on earth, they will see God move in their defence. It may not always look good, but it will definitely end well. What is the use of a life that is only good for this earthly phase? I will see God when this earthly phase is over. God's time of favour is here.