The Witness!

 The Witness!

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 1 Peter 3:15 KJV

As we go through this earthly phase, there will be demands placed on our time, resources, possessions, and person. We will definitely have challenges, no matter how "spiritual" we think we are, or how influential we may think we are. The verse before today's extract talks about suffering for righteousness' sake, and emphasizes the fact that we should be glad in when these experiences come our way. Pray, how do you rejoice in the face of trials and difficulties? How do you maintain calm when everything around you is falling to pieces? How do you keep your equilibrium when the world and all its priorities are losing balance? Today's extract seeks to place in proper context how we can survive in the face of all that is happening all around us.

First of all, our inner man must be rightly connected to the right source for nourishment and sustenance. We have to hold God in the highest regard in our lives. If God is not held in high regard in my life, how can I expect other people to revere and respect him through my life? If I do not consider God's commands as important, and I do not pay attention to what He says at any time, how can I teach others to follow God? If my heart is not sanctified, and God cannot dwell in it, how would my life be a living witness for God? The state of my heart will determine the fullness of the impact that my life will make. No wonder the extract above emphasizes the need to sanctify the Lord God in my heart. Being Lord means He is all - Lord, Master, King. Nothing less than all 

Being the Lord God in my life means that His desires, commands, and instructions are my highest pursuits and ideals. Can that be said of me? Can that be said of you? I also note that the instruction to sanctify the Lord God in my heart is first and foremost a personal instruction: this is not a general call to everybody, but to those who seek a higher calling and a closer walk with God. This is not a call for general application, but be sure that the benefits of obeying that call will be felt all around the world. The men and women who changed the world first allowed God to change their hearts; after that, impacting the world became inevitable. It is when I have nailed the inner that I can manifest the outer. When God takes first place in my heart, everything else falls into place.

That is the other part of the extract above - being able to give an answer to every man that asks the reason for my hope. Is it not when I have hope that I can give you an explanation for that hope? Is it not when God is in charge that my life can truly impact? When a man holds God in the highest esteem, he will always have a message. John the Baptist was not attractive by the world's standards, but because he was willing to decrease so that God could increase in his life, people came from all over the country to listen to him. Interestingly, the King of Kings himself came to John for baptism. Do you have a message for the world? Has God given you something that is a solution to a problem in the world? I am not able to make a difference until God makes the difference in my life. I will not amount to much until God is all in all in me. God's time of favour is here.

Time!

Time!

Psalm 126:5 AMPC

[5] They who sow in tears shall reap in joy and singing.

The context to the verse above is closely related to the focus from yesterday's devotion where we looked at seedtime, harvest and the earthly and eternal implications of these principles. One thing that was made clear from yesterday's devotion, and is also implied from today's extract, is that God cannot be mocked. Whatever a man sows is what he will reap. Science has tried but it has not yet been able to change the seed to produce a different fruit. Whatever goes into the ground is what will change form, take the required nutrients, gp through a process that only God can fully explain, and then produce fruits in miltiple folds of what was planted. 

This is the first lesson for me: if I want to change the quality of the fruit, it must be done before the seed is put in the ground. The people of Israel found themselves in a place they could not have imagined. They were in a land flowing with milk and honey, as promised by God to Abraham, but carelessness and complacency had set in: they had forgotten the God that brought them this far and  they turned to other gods. Of course, in line with His word of warning to them, He punished their rebellion by handing them over to their enemies. As is the case with God, His mercy always comes through for us. He changed the story and restored them to the land, but the damage had already been done.

Like the chapter from where the verse above is taken starts from, the people knew it was God who could have turned things around the way they did. They cried to the Lord in their distress, and He heard them. As it was then, so is it now. Same God; same mercy and grace. It is in this light of mercy that we consider the message in the verse above. Why would anyone sow in tears? There could be many reasons, some of which are the sorrow that one feels for sin and seeks to pay the price that will secure freedom from its grip and influence. It could also be spiritual, where I engage in the practices of prayer, fellowship, faithfulness and obedience to all of God's instructions. 

We also know that there is precious seed being kept to be sown, so that there can be supply of food. You invest the seed in the hope of a bountiful harvest. All these images present situations that are hard and may cause pain in the immediate, but the benefits are actually worth it in the end. Yes, paying such a high price may be hard at that moment of demand, but as we know, God does not owe a man. If I am careful to obey when He leads, the promise is that joy will follow. In the hands of God and under His leadership, present suffering will lead to future joy. It does matter in whose hands, and under whose authority it is. Am I in His hands? God's time of favour is here. 

The Lord is Near!

The Lord is Near!

James 5:8 AMPC

[8] So you also must be patient. Establish your hearts [strengthen and confirm them in the final certainty], for the coming of the Lord is very near.

The letter of James covers different topics, but as the letter ends, James touches on an issue that has always remained relevant, no matter the dispensation or generation. This is an issue that relates to the return of Jesus, and this could either be at the rapture, when He returns suddenly to take all tbose who are eagerly waiting for Him, or at physical death, when the mortal gives way to the immortal, and there can be no reversal of the eternal destination for anyone. It is this experience that all of us must prepare for and expect, because it is a promise made by a God who does not lie. He has not yet been found to be a liar about these last days.

Am I also waiting for that day, or am I focused only on the here and now? I am charged to be patient, and I love the example that James used in the verse just before the one above. It is a picture of a farmer who has taken time to pay the price early by preparing the seed and the ground that will receive the seed. He knows that the seed will not germinate and start bearing fruit all on the same day, but he also knows that, with the right preparation, the supply of the right materials, and of course, heaven's breath, a bountiful harvest is guaranteed. The farmer knows that if you really need the output, you cannot skip any of the important inputs on that journey. 

So, the farmer prepares the ground, the seed, the understanding of the ideal season for planting, the aids to growth, the conducive environment for safety and development into maturity, and then he has to wait. He trusts that God wil send His rain on the ground at the appropriate time, and in the appropriate quantity, so that the seed has what it needs to grow properly. Even if the farmer sits down in front of the seed he has put in the ground, he will not see it sprout out of the ground. God is the One with the prerogative on the timing and manner of the process that will lead to fruit. This is why man can never play God, and how God reserves glory for Himself alone.

Fretting solves nothing, but only creates health issues. Worrying about output does not lead anywhere profitable. As the farmer has to wait for the results of his efforts, so must we also wait for the manifestation of all that we have been promised, if we stick in faith to all that God demands of us. Like the farmer, I cannot afford to keep my eye on the prize only and then fail to put in the work required to lead to that prize. I cannot keep ny entire focus on heaven only, and then forget how to live a life of impact down here. I place my heart in the hands of the One who knows how to preserve me to the end. Indeed, He will return one day. May He find us ready. God's time of favour is here. 

Stand!

Stand!

1 Corinthians 16:13 AMPC

[13] Be alert and on your guard; stand firm in your faith (your conviction respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, keeping the trust and holy fervor born of faith and a part of it). Act like men and be courageous; grow in strength!

Paul was writing to the church in Corinth, and he had touched on different topics and issues going on in the church at the time. There were divisions and factions, with some forming groups around leaders such as Paul, Apollos, and Peter instead of focusing on Christ. Paul also had to address moral and sexual misconduct, as the church was tolerating behavior that Paul believed was incompatible with Christian teaching. There were also many conflicts among believers, as well as confusion about marriage, Christian freedom and mode of worship, particularly the Lord’s supper. The one closest to the verse above was issues on the resurrection of believers.

You would imagine that such a church would have fallen apart and become irrelevant, but this was a church that was highly gifted and zealous about the work of faith. This is what you get with the Holy Spirit; you may not always understand how He worls, but you can never deny His presence and impact in the midst of God's people. With a church with all these issues, God was still at work, backing up His Word with miracles, signs and wonders in diverse ways. This is the supporting evidence that lets us know that Christ is the owner of the church, and He has promised to build His church, and the gates of hell will not be able to overcome it. That is power 

When such a God backs you up, you focus on the big picture as well as the small details that matter. As we journey towards eternity with God, there are realities we have to face. As we have already noted, the devil will not give up fighting until it is truly over for him. This is what makes the message of Paul in the verse above quite relevant for our own time today. He charged his audience then, as well as all of us today, to be alert and on our guard. Why? It is because there is always the danger of losing sight of what matters. If I ever take my eyes off Jesus, there are so many distractions waiting to take His place in my heart. 

There is a reason why I need to stand form in my faith. My stand becomes a testimony, as well as a source of encouragement and strength to all those who may be going through tough times. God does not waste anything; if He permits it, be sure that He will use it for His glory, my blessing, and my joy. This stand involves truat in God, as well as a holy fervor. God demands holiness from all who seek to follow Him, and in whose lives He will be glorified. The verse above also tells me to act like men and be courageous. You will not know what it takes to be this kind of man unless and until God does a work in you. God seeks men who will represent Him well. Can He count on me? God’s time of favour is here. 

Like Father, Like Child!

 Like Father, Like Child!

Matthew 5:44-45 GNBUK

[44] But now I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, [45] so that you may become the children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun to shine on bad and good people alike, and gives rain to those who do good and to those who do evil. 

As we know, the audience always defines the message. You place a demand on people in line with their belief systems and priorities. People generally resist messages that contradict their identity or do not align with their priorities. Jesus was also conscious of this when He preached His first sermon on the mountain. The crowd was there, but the bible made it clear that Jesus went up a mountain, and having sat down, He called His disciples to Himself and began to teach them. Yes, the crowd was there, but the target was not this uncommitted majority, but the few who had made the decision to follow Him wherever He chose to lead them.

The uncommitted majority lives by different standards. The uncommitted majority does not care about the principles and practices of love as laid out in the verses above. The uncommitted majority has no issue with petty things like hatred, jealousy, bitterness, anger, or malice. How can you preach a message of love for enemies and prayers for those who treat you badly, unless God has first done a work in your heart so that no root of bitterness or anger can take hold of your heart? How can God find expression, and be made known in and through you, if He has not totally captured your heart? This is a position that all of us must respond to: how is my heart? 

The message you give to the uncommitted majority has to first be about a change in heart and focus. How can love find a place in a heart that is still under the control and influence of the devil? Until that change is done, and love has taken over the heart, the message in the verses above is not yet ripe. The question now is: 'Who pulls the strings of my heart - Jesus or the devil?' What the verses above also say is quite interesting: "so that you may become the children of your Father in heaven".  All my actions, whether I am conscious of it or not, are reflections of my ownership and residence status. If God dwells in me, it will show in my attitude to other people. 

This inner change is important because it underpins the message in the latter part of the extract above. God has shown us the way He does it, as our heavenly Father. He makes his sun shine on both bad and good people alike, and also gives rain to those who do good and to those who do evil. He does not discriminate, giving everyone the same access to grace and mercy, so that His judgment can be fair.  As a Father, He is accessible to all, but He surely seeks to show Himself stroing in the behalf of those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. Who is your father- the one called our Heavenly Father, or the father of all liars? Whoever it is at the end, that defines your eternity. Make sure it is the right one. God's time of favour is here. 

Living in Light!

Living in Light!

1 John 1:7 AMPC

[7] But if we [really] are living and walking in the Light, as He [Himself] is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations].

As always, there is always a choice between light and darkness. There is no middle ground where I am able to stay uncommitted to one side. As we have also read from God's word, God hates being lukewarm. My daily choices are the best proofs of the choice I have made. God gives me all the information, as well as all the help I need to make the right choice, but He will not force Himself on me, or go against the exercise of my freewill. I  have been given all that I need for life and Godliness. What I am not allowed to do is to then turn around and try and blame God for the consequences of the choice I have made. This is why this race is best seen as personal.

The writer of this letter, who is traditionally referred to as John, would know what this meant to me in a personal capacity as a disciple, as well as a brother to James, who was also a disciple. Both of them had different experiences as they walked with Jesus. We read of James being killed by Herod, and we also read of a John who was banished to the Island of Patmos. In all of these different experiences, we see a common thread: walking with Jesus does not shield you from trials and tough times. What it does is to provide the assurance that no matter what comes, Jesus sees and knows the end from the beginning

He is able to ensure that all things work together for my good. This is why where I live and dwell matter. What I have access to is defined by my residence status. Like many countries would lay out, benefits are defined by status. Length of time may help, but living according to the rules help. This also applies to spiritual matters too. How can I make a demand on the resources of a place whose authority I do not submit to or recognise? How can the laws of a country I am not subject to or resident in work for my favour? The emphasis here is to encourage dwelling, not temporary or fleeting attention. Am I dwelling in the light? Am I walking in the light? 

Everything that God does is for my earthly and eternal good. If I remain in Him, I have unbroken fellowship with Him. He wil not stay where He is not welcome, and He will not compete for attention. He has given me His all and His best: forgiveness of sin and full redemption by the blood of Jesus His son. In response, I either give Him my all or nothing at all. He is the Light, and all who submit to Him enjoy the benefits and blessings of the Light. I get clarity on what to do, and how to do it. I have this confidence that God has sealed my eternal hope. I have an assurance that whenever this earthly phase ends, I inherit eternal life. What do you look forward to? God's time of favour is here. 

Focused!

Focused!

Galatians 6:9 AMPC

[9] And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.

Paul understood the assignment; he knew what he had been saved from, and what he had been called into, and he would not let anything distract him from the work that had to be done. Hie introduced himself as an apostle, a special messenger appointed, commissioned and sent out, not from any body of men, nor by or through any man, but by and through Jesus Christ. That is a clear message that the views or opinions of men do not count when it comes to pleasing God. As long as God is pleased with my life, and I am guided by Him, the offerings of my life will please Him. Of course, the opposite is also equally true. 

Paul was also writing this letter to the brethren who were in the churches of Galatia. These were people who were mainly Gentiles, and were not considered by the Jews of those days as entitled to the message and benefit of salvation. In fact, some Jews were insisting that the Gentiles had to follow the Jewish customs, particularly circumcision, if they were to be accepted by the Jewish community. Paul had to take time to educate the people here that salvation, faith in Christ, and a life of submission to the instructions of Christ, were more important that just merely following rules. This was the focal point of the letter of Paul to his audience here.

That message also includes encouragement in the verse above. Let it be clear that working for God, and being backed up by Him, will still not keep you away from trials and tough times. In fact, my surrender to God makes me a target for the devil. As we know, he does not fight those who are already in his camp, so if he is really attacking you, it means that you are doing something right by God's standards. It will be an error to assume that working for God means that the devil will leave you alone. He does not quit, and he does not give up, as long as this earthly body is in place. This is why I take encouragement from the truth that this earthly phase is not forever. 

One day comes soon when the earthly will give way to the eternal. While I wait, I take comfort from the truth that God is the One who rewards all men for faithful service. I do not lose heart or grow weary; I keep at it because I know who I am working for. He is the One who determines reward, and He is a faithful God who will give to every man the justice that each person deserves. He is the One who provides the comfort, support and encouragement that we need to confront the evil of our day, be able to fight the good fight of faith, and at the end, take hold of the crown of life. As He is with me, I cannot lose. Is He with you? Do you have Him? God's time of favour is here.