The Right Way!

The Right Way!

Matthew 7:8 AMPC

[8] For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened.

We read from the first recorded sermon of Jesus on the mountain, where He sat down with His disciples, and the crowd was also there to listen to Him. It must be noted here that the messages preached, as well as the challenges that Jesus posed were directed to His disciples, and not to the crowd. As we know, you can never get coordinated response from a crowd. It is a group of people who are yet to make up their minds on what is important. They do not yet know what they want to do with their lives, and are open to all sorts of suggestions. That is why there was always a crowd of people around Jesus everywhere He went, but very few people who took anything of value away from that contact with Him. With a crowd pressing against Him, a woman with the issue of blood for twelve years pressed against the same crowd, touched Him, and was healed and made whole. 

As it was then, so is it today. A lot of people have heard about, and/or have also seen the impact of the person and name of Jesus, but are yet to have or experience a unique and personal encounter with Jesus, which makes a big difference. The disciples in this case were the direct recipients of these instructions, and Jesus would have us know that it is a special thing to be known by and associated with the person and name of Jesus. The instructions, benefits and blessings that are noted in the verse above are for people who have left the crowd, and are committed to following Jesus, no matter what their physical realites are. Reflect on the verse above: what would make a person to keep on asking for something, if there was no clear conviction that the person who was being addressed has the power, ability, capacity and capability to do what was being requested for? 

How do I keep knocking on a closed or locked door, if there was no clear conviction that the door could be opened, and access given to the riches that lie behind the door? Why should I keep seeking for anything, if there was no assurance that the need could be met by the One to whom the request has been made? The key areas of focus are the person, the request and the response. Am I one of the many people in the crowd, or one who has made a conscious decision to follow Jesus? Am I focused on nurturing that relationship, making demands on the resources that this new relationship has given me access to? Am I willing to wait for the timing that will help me become all that God intends? Am I willing to submit myself to the process that God needs me to be subjected to, so that His light and glory can be evident upon my life? He has done His bit, and provided a means for nourishment and sustenance. The response is left to me. God's time of favour is here. 

Seek God!

Seek God!

Psalms 42:1 AMP

[1] As the deer pants [longingly] for the water brooks, So my soul pants [longingly] for You, O God.

This psalm is credited to the sons of Korah, who are also credited with about 11 of the psalms in the bible. As the bible records, these were a group of Levites assigned by God to be gatekeepers in His Tabernacle, and to lead the chorus in worshiping God through song. This means that God wanted praise and worship from His people and He empowered and  gifted some of the chosen tribe of Levi to be the leaders of this great assignment. What this tells me is that God has always desired praise from His people. There is nothing else He does not have, as all things belong to Him, and He can raise stones to praise Him, as He has made clear in the Bible. However, it is a privilege that mortal man is called, set apart and empowered to praise, worship and rever an immortal God. Do I know who I am, whose I am, and do I have an understanding of this amazing assignment? 

There is no Levite arrangement in our time today, as all who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour are set apart to offer quality praise to God, in line with the standards laid down by this God. What makes these men distinct was the identity of their father Korah. This was the same man who was caught in a conspiracy to oppose Moses, and who was punished along with Dathan and Abiram. The ground opened up and swallowed these men and all they had, including wives and children. What a terrible way to be punished. However, these sons of Korah were not part of that rebellion, and it is instructive to note that God dealt graciously with them. God is still looking for people whose lives His grace can shine in and through. Whatever is in my past will not be a limiting factor to what God can do in and with my life. Am I a vessel that is willing and obedient and available? 

The psalm makes reference to the deer. This is an animal that is constantly chased by other predators who will have it for food. It has to constantly be alert and be aware of its surroundings at all times. It spends a lot of time running, and needs time to be refreshed and replenished. This is where its panting for water comes in. For all who are running today, there is a place of rest, restoration and renewal that God provides for those who seek Him. This panting is an intense, desperate longing for God, coming from a heart that knows that if God does not help, no other help will be available. It portrays deep spiritual hunger, as well as a turning to God alone in times of despair or loneliness. I note that the sons of Korah acknowledge the personal nature of this desire. As much as corporate worship helps, it is critical to note that it is my personal walk with God that will guide me through whatever is coming. Deer may move in herds for protection, but a race for survival is always personal. Can I say that God is my sole focus? God's time of favour is here. 

Right Sorrow!

Right Sorrow!

2 Corinthians 7:10 NLT

[10] For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.

Paul was writing to the church in Corinth. One quick point to note about this church was that it had all spiritual gifts possible. Paul made reference to the abundance of gifts present in the church, which were needed for growth, impact and application in the assembly of believers in Corinth. However, it was also noted by Paul that the church had many issues, some of which were pride, immortality and greed. The church had a member having immoral relationship with his stepmother, and there were others not paying due regard to the ordinances of the Lord’s supper. This tells me that having spiritual gifts is not the end goal in itself, but it is about living a life that points men to the presence of God in me. It must not first and foremost be a show-off; but a humble assessment of who I am, whose I am, and what the owner of my life and all I have desires of me. 

This is the message of the verse above. Paul was trying to draw the attention of his audience to what God desires from all who seek to follow and serve Him. I may make mistakes, or get something wrong, but I must not allow the devil use a guilty conscience to keep me away from God. I may do something wrong, but I have to keep reminding myself that I have a Father whose love for me is greater, higher and deeper than anything else in all of creation. I am the only part of His creation that is made in His image and after His likeness. I am the only part of His creation that the Bible records that He breathed into and became a living being, with an outer body, an inner man, and a spirit that is able to receive from and connect to God. This is an awesome privilege, and it has to remind me to always depend on God to help me live right. O, what love this is. What awesome care. 

As much as this is a generally applicable truth for all human beings, it is deeper for those who seek to follow Jesus. If I do wrong, I have a Father whose arms are wide open to receive me. His love is not conditional upon me being good; He loves me anyway. He seeks a heart that also seeks after Him. He loves a heart that is receptive to correction. As His Word says clearly, He will not despise a broken and a contrite heart. Just as He hates sin, I must also hate sin. If I do wrong, I must be quick to repent and return to Him. There is Godly sorrow that leads to true repentance, and there is a worldly sorrow that leads to death. The lives of Peter and Judas Iscariot are classic examples of both kinds of sorrow. One led to restoration and eternal impact; the other led to despair and eternal damnation. Is my heart rightly tuned? Do I react to sin the right way, and can God catch and hold my attention when required? God's time of favour is here.

Trust!

Trust!

Psalm 56:3 AMPC

[3] What time I am afraid, I will have confidence in and put my trust and reliance in You.

Another psalm of David; another account of God's dealings with a man after His own heart. It is easy to think that a man who was favoured by God should have no issues, trials or tough times, but as we know, God does not deal with His own that way. David was already anointed as king at the time this psalm was written, yet he was a fugitive in his own land, forced to hide from the king of the land, and hiding among the enemies of his land. Just reflect on this: a man anointed by God for great things, yet nothing in his present made it clear that he would do any good. This is why it matters in whose hands we are in. If it is the world, be sure that there are no guarantees that the world can take care of you and supply all that you need. The world can only supply that which it has in abundance: instability, wars, trouble and iniquity. If you want a different outcome, change the supply route. 

This is where the verse above comes in. David had a choice to make: keep trusting in man and his schemes, or trust in God and watch Him work. We read about David today because he made the right choice. He did not claim that he was above fear; he simply put his trust in the One who could deal with fear. He did not claim self-sufficiency in any way, shape or form; he simply trusted in the One who is Omnipotent and all- sufficient. He did not use 'IF'; it was 'WHEN'. To pray that you will not have trials is to miss the point that God wants me to learn. It is clear that for all who will fully trust in the Lord, it is just a matter of time. There will be uncertain times in the lives of believers, because it is a walk,a fight, and a race of faith. If all was clear from start to finish, what is the use of faith and trust? Who hopes for what he has already obtained and possessed? 

It is also instructive to note that you can only call up that which you have spent time storing up. If you do not know who God is, what He can do, and what He offers, how can you trust Him with your life? If He is not your daily and regular contact, how do you how to call on Him when the storms and winds suddenly arise and threaten your heart, life and family? The life of David teaches us that life will happen to the best of us, but the best use of my life is to commit it into the hands of the Master of the storm, and let Him work. Like David, I can find myself in the midst of enemies, or like his son Solomon, I can find seasons of peace and quiet, but whatever the present reality is, I must learn to put my trust and reliance in God. I sense that IN is higher than ON. Putting ny trust IN God means I am in Him and He is IN me. It is total and absolute commitment, with no alternative options. Does that describe me at the moment? Does God hold and own all of me? God's time of favour is here..

Benefits

Benefits!

Psalm 23:6 AMPC

[6] Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.

I love the way this popular verse starts off. It is the popular psalm of the Shepherd, with David the writer relying on his personal and firsthand experience to highlight the benefits and blessings received from God as his Shepherd. The whole chapter celebrates God, and we see His protection, provision and support laid out clearly in the  chapter. The verse above is part of the narrative. When all has been said and done about the shepherd and what He offers me, there is also a dimension that is eternal. It is easy to focus on the eternal, and ignore the realities of the earthly. It is easy to console yourself with eternal rewards, while trying to bear up under the weight of earthly burdens. Actually, it does matter that I enjoy the blessings and benefits of the earth, as I also prepare for eternity. How can God be glorified, and His reputation enhanced, if there is no human life willing and available for God to display His glory and splendour in? 

There is a certainty about who God is and what He promises. It is not a supposition or an accident. If God promises it, be sure He has the power, authority and ability to bring it to pass. I have to note that those who have access to the promise at the end of the chapter must align with the conditions at the start of the chapter. Recall that we are talking about shepherd and sheep. How can anyone lay claim to the benefits of a relationship you do not believe in? How can I lay claim to a gift by someone whose authority I choose not to recognise or submit to? The benefits of the verse above are for the sheep that are under the control, guidance and direction of the shepherd, not independent contractors who think that they can take care of themselves. If I can, why would I need God? If I can, why do I need anything from God? For those who know that they are weak by themselves, and know that only God can help them, this verse is for you. 

Whilst on earth, God's goodness, mercy, and unfailing love follow me all the days of my life. Even when things 'look' wrong, I remind myself of who is with me every step of the way. Whilst still on earth, I constantly remind myself that I am preparing for eternity, a place and position where I will be with God forever. Whilst on earth, I am reminded that this is not where the story will end; there is a lot to do on earth as I prepare for my eternal residence. I must be conscious that the Omnipresent God is everywhere, and there is nowhere to hide from His presence. He is Omniscient, and nothing escapes His attention. He is the Omnipotent God, who fills all things in all ways, and with whom nothing is impossible. It is this clear understanding that keeps me very focused, even when things threaten to fall apart all around me. Because He is with me, I do not fret. I stay connected; i stay refreshed and I stay renewed. Is this God also your own God? God's time of favour is here. 

Identity!

Identity!

1 John 4:4 AMPC

[4] Little children, you are of God [you belong to Him] and have [already] defeated and overcome them [the agents of the antichrist], because He Who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world.

As I read about the reference to 'you' in the verse above, I take a look at the introduction to this letter. Who was the 'you' that John was writing to? John himself was a witness to the Word of Life. He had seen with his eyes, and touched with his own hands, and he was sure of what he was testifying about, and declaring to his audience. The joy of fellowship, as well as the blessing of partaking in the amazing fellowship with the Word were too precious to be kept to himself alone. He wanted to share it with the whole world. It was this confidence that made him speak the way he did. Can I say, like John, that I know who the Word is, what He can do, and can I share my personal convictions about His power, personality, and pre-eminence? Does He also know me as His own? It is usually easier to claim to know Him by speaking the language of the Bible, but it has to go beyond and deeper than just words. 

Those who had come to a personal encounter with this God were the audience of this letter by John. In the event that they had forgotten, or life's issues were pressing, John had to remind them of who they were, whose they were, who was backing them up, and where they were headed eternally. These points are important. My identity defines my enthusiasm as well as my entitlement and inheritance. No matter how many years a servant stays in a house, s/he will never share in the inheritance of a rich man, unless the rich man decides to give. The son is the natural heir to all that the father owns. That is why I must sort out my identity. It cannot be what people say I am, but what I have settled with God. There has to be a strong witness in my heart that I belong to Him, and He knows me as His own. The verse above says I am 'of' God, which means that my value and impact are defined by my ownership of God. Take God out, and I am just dust. 

I have access to all that God is, only if I am of God. Permanent victory over the devil and all his agents is guaranteed only if I am of the One who secured that victory. This is not one of those things that I can afford to sit on the fence on, or I toy with by playing with sin. It cannot be a weekly reminder; it has to be a daily walk. The devil will not give up as long as the earth remains in place. He knows his time is short, and he will try all he can to draw me into sin, as well as ignorance of what God has secured for me. The devil is the prince of this world, but he has no power or influence over all who come to the saving knowledge of Jesus. That is the message of the latter part of the verse above: the One who lives in me is greater than he who is in the world. The world and all who are under its control is due for eternal destruction; the one who is in God inherits eternal life. As always, the choice of eternal destination is mine to make. What would it be? God's time of favour is here. 

Trust!

Trust!

Proverbs 3:5-6 AMPC

[5] Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. [6] In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.

Life today is complex. The more years we spend on earth, the more things change. A lot of technological advances have changed the landscape of the world; man's inhumanity to man continues to find new expressions; we continue to find new ways and means to hurt each other. Men have also found schemes to make money and be comfortable, sometimes at the expense of other people's health and safety. It appears that the God-factor is not really considered important these days. We seem to relegate God to an afterthought; an idea we only stumble upon when we have tried other options and failed spectacularly. What the verses above make clear is that we cannot continue to ignore God and get away with it. No matter how bad things get, or how good you have it now, at some point in time, you will have to deal with God's view on life and what really matters. 

The writer of the words in the verses above was known as the wisest man who ever lived at the time, and you may argue, even till today. He had seen the power of wealth, as well as the dangers of wealth. He had seen the value of wisdom, as well as the limits of human intelligence and schemes. He had seen all extremes, and for such a man to tell us to lean on, trust in and be confident in the Lord, he was speaking from personal experience. It may be that until you have tried other options and failed, you may not know the value of total trust in God. Until you have been totally disappointed in man, you may not know what it means to completely depend on God alone. Man's wisdom looks good, particularly when it seems it is succeeding and making you wealthy, but note that the world is able to take away from you that which it gives you. The world cannot sustain that which it did not originate. 

The counsel here is critical: go for the Lord who is wisdom personified: the Omniscient God who holds and knows tomorrow. Who else can guide me into the future, other than the One who formed the future? Who knows the dangers and perils ahead, other than the One who wrote down all the days appointed for me, even before one of them came to pass? This is not something I do once a week, or for some parts of my life, but for ALL my ways. It is a daily walk, and a full commitment to surrender. It is a call to recognize and acknowledge Him in all areas of life. Nothing must be too big or too small to take to Him. Nothing must be too inconvenient to leave at His feet and trust Him to sort out. The promise is that He will direct and make my paths straight and plain. If I want the result laid out in the verses above, I must align with the conditions laid out. The choice, as always, is mine to make. God's time of favour is here.