Right Motives!

Right Motives!

Matthew 18:20 AMP

[20] For where two or three are gathered in My name [meeting together as My followers], I am there among them.

In the chapter from where the verse above is taken from, Jesus lays down several primary principles and practices of His kingdom. Some of these include the power of prayer and the disciplne required to maintain it, the proper ranking in His kingdom, the joy heaven has when souls are saved from death and bought with precious blood into the saving knowledge of Jesus as Lord and Saviour. In all of the words in the whole chapter, it must be noted that Jesus was speaking to His disciples, and not the crowd. These words are for those who have made up their minds to follow and serve Jesus, and not for the many who are content to live 'convenient' lives.

The standards for the Christian are always higher and deeper than those for the unsure and uncommitted crowd. When you see a big crowd of people united in the pursuit of a thing or a purpose, do not always assume that they may be right. Being many does not always mean being right. Being many is not the same as being aligned with God's will and timing. The God who speaks here is a God of total and absolute knowledge; He cannot be deceived by platitudes, eye-service or sheer hypocrisy. The One who formed and made the heart sure knows its many dimensions and deceits. When I set my heart to do anything, I must always remember that God sees all. 

I also believe that it was always part of God's plan that man work with other men to achieve anything. He has not made any human being absolutely self-sufficient. Even as God has commanded man, at creation, to be fruitful, to multply, and to fill and subdue the earth, man needs to work together with others to achieve these instructions. Recall the events of the tower of Babel, and you will realise the power that man has when he is aligned with others to pursue and achieve a goal. In this instance, the motive was wrong, and God had to disrupt the plans. Just imagine what could have been achieved if the motives were right, and the pursuit of God's glory was the focus. 

That is what the verse above encourages and celebrates. With God, the number is not as important as the motive and the backup. If the glory and praise of God are the reasons why men are gathering, and not for the promotion of self, God is pleased to dwell amongst such people and to make Himself known. It does not have to be many; it just has to be focused on God. When the gathering is in His name, it means that He is glorified and exalted. Why would He not seek to show Himself strong and mighty amongst such people? Do not pursue numbers; pursue God's purpose. When He is there, mighty works follow. God's time of favour is here.

Let Him In!

Let Him In!

Revelation 3:20 AMPC

[20] Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears and listens to and heeds My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will eat with him, and he [will eat] with Me.

John the Beloved found himself at the 'wrong' end of the government at this time. He had made a decision to follow Christ, and he would not be dissuaded, no matter what came his way. In his own words, he was on the island of Patmos, where he was banished on account of his witnessing to the Word of God and his testimony for Jesus. It is clear that all who would walk the same path must be ready for similar experiences. Nowhere in the bible does God promise us a trial-free life; even those who do not follow or submit to Christ will face tough times. The major difference is that those who have Christ have support, help and encouragement on life's journey. 

Even in the worst of places, God found John. It was on this island where he had been left alone that Jesus met and gave him amazing revelations into what was hidden at the time, as well as what was ahead for the world and the church. Indeed, for all followers of Christ, we are never left alone. The devil will make his threats as he always does, but be sure that God does not leave us alone. He is able to find us where we are, and use us for His glory, no matter what is going on in or around us. Part of the messages given to John included lessons and instructions for the church. The verse above is taken from the letter to the church in Laodicea. 

It is interesting to note that the words in the verse above are written to a church: a place where Christ is expected to be in charge and in total control of. How could a church be notified that its Lord and Master was at the door and knocking, waiting to be let in? How was it possible that the church needed to be reminded of its ownership and allegiance? Was it that the church had forgotten its basis and foundation? Before we point the finger, we must examine our own lives too. Can the same be said of me? Have I become caught up in the name and culture, and have forgotten the person and presence who makes the church what it is? 

The good news is that God does not abandon His own. He will not stay away, until it is too late. As He told the church then, so does He tell anyone who is listening: He wants to come in and change that life from the inside out. He does not force Himself on anyone, and He will not go against the exercise of my freewill, but be sure that He will change the life of anyone who submits to His control. The verse above speaks of a special relationship that comes out of this access: what could be deeper than 2 friends sharing a meal together? That is something based on trust and love. Would you let Him in? Remember: we do not have forever to sort out our allegiance. Do it now, before it is too late. God's time of favour is here.

Look Right!

Look Right!

Colossians 3:12 AMPC

[12] Clothe yourselves therefore, as God's own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), [who are] purified and holy and well-beloved [by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by] tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, [and] patience [which is tireless and long-suffering, anx,>;×s3nd has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper].

As is the custom, we consider the audience of this letter, in order to understand the weight of the message in the verse above. Paul and his son in the faith, Timothy, are credited with writing this letter to the church in Colosse, and this letter is addressed to the saints: the people consecrated by God, and who are faithfully following and serving Him. The first point to note here is that God sees and knows all about me. There is nothing like 'secrets' when it comes to God. He made the heart, so He fully understands all its dimensions. It will be a pointless venture to seek to keep the heart's focus away from the attention of the One who made it. It is best to surrender it to Him.

It is the foundation above that drives the words of the verse above. Anyone who has surrendered his heart to God for safe-keeping and guidance cannot at the same time, insist on his own way. There is a particular way that a surrendered heart appears, speaks, and relates with other people. It cannot be the same way the people under the influence and control of the world's system would appear or speak. That internal condition is key to all external expressions. As God's own chosen representative, I have to appear in a certain way that looks like my ownership; after all, the One I represent is the One whose view and opinion count. 

If He is happy with my service. It really does not matter what anyone else thinks. If He is also not happy, it still does not matter how much applause I get. This desire to be liked by everyone will lead to compromise and hypocrisy. Like Paul, there may be times when you need to identify with the challenges and realities of the people you seek to preach salvation to, but it must never be at the expense of the truth of God's word, and His standards. We also know that in those days, the appearance of a man would usially reveal who he was or where he was from. If we apply this to the spiritual, can men deduce who I am and whose I am, simply by the way I appear, speak or relate with other people? 

Let us check out what the verse above requires of all who seek to look like God: a tender heart, pity for and mercy on others; kindness, patience, long-suffering, endurance and a good temper. Do we notice how many dimensions of the fruit of the Spirit is in the verse above? This tells me that I cannot exhibit anything that looks like the above without the imprint and impression of the Holy Spirit in and on me. These are not things you get by labour or by inheritance; these are born and sustained by the presence of God in me. His life in me will definitely flow out to touch others. Do I look like my ownership? Is God evident in and through me? God's time of favour is here. 

Fight Right!

Fight Right!

1 Timothy 6:12 AMP

[12] Fight the good fight of the faith [in the conflict with evil]; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and [for which] you made the good confession [of faith] in the presence of many witnesses. 

It is important to consider the author as well as the recipient of this letter. Paul was writing to the young man, Timothy, who he had met on one of his missionary journeys, and had groomed to preside over the church in Ephesus. That was no mean responsibility, considering that Ephesus was a town known for idolatry. It is important to note that depth will always be tested. Timothy had learnt a lot under Paul, but now was the time to apply those lessons to daily reality. Like Timothy, I must take every opportunity to learn about God very seriously; the times we live in call for some serious commitment to Godly pursuits and priorities. 

As the verse above makes clear, we have been drafted into a fight. Like all fights, this is one you have to go into with clarity on what the target is, with the right motivation, and focused on the right end. The choice of words here, such as 'fight', makes it clear that even though we serve a God of peace, with Jesus called the Prince of Peace, yet, in the same Scripture, He is also called the man of War. This tells me that there will be times and seasons where I have to take a stand, make a choice or simply focus on one thing. We also have an advantage, which is that the One who described this as a fight is skilled in it, and has never been defeated. 

God speaks from a position of strength. He does not lose; and for those who follow and obey Him, they also do not lose, no matter how the fight may appear to end for them. It must be clearly understood that we are called to a fight against a known enemy: evil in any form, which is propagated by the devil and his cohorts. The child of God is expected to take a stand against all that the devil represents. It cannot be this comfortable hypocrisy, where we do not want to offend other people. It must not be this middle-of-the-road thing, where we stay on the fence without being known or committed to any side. Being lukewarm comes at a cost: rejection by God.

My confession of Jesus as my Lord and Saviour has made it clear to people where I stand and who I stand with. I could not have called myself, because I did not even know that I needed help. This also means that with my new relationship, I have now taken hold of eternal life with God, which is His promise to all who hold on to the end. I must also know that the devil will continue to try to distract, deceive, deflate and defeat me, but as long as I am focused on the One who calls me, I have nothing to fear. This is the encouragement that should gird my heart: in His hands, I am safe. In His hands, nothing can touch me without His permission. What can anyone offer me that could beat that? God's time of favour is here.

Focused!

Focused!

Romans 8:18 AMP

[18] For I consider [from the standpoint of faith] that the sufferings of the present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us! 

I believe one of the central themes of Paul's letter to the Romans is faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross. That is what brought men like Paul to the saving knowledge of Jesus, and that is also what has brought me to the same experience of God more than 2,000 years ago. It is the starting point of any discussion one wants to have about the undeserved grace of God, expressed in the gift of Jesus to the world, and the ultimate price He paid on the cross of Calvary to offer full and free salvation to all men. If I paid nothing for it, and I have been invited to take hold of the free gift, where is the place for pride or self-glory?

That is what Paul referred to in the first chapter of his letter, where he stated, quite clearly, that 'For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith'. It is a journey of faith, which means that a lot of the things that would happen to me on this journey will not be planned and may not be fully understood on this side of eternity. For example, God has made several promises of safety and security, but then, how do I determine if I am truly safe and secure if nothing, at any time, threatens those senses of safety and security? How do you determine that God keeps His promises? 

If I ask God to teach me perseverance and patience, how does He do this without some uncomfortable pressure that will teach me how to respond the right way? It is clear that this present world is not able to grasp the various dimensions that God can use to teach His children the lessons He wants us to learn, but we have our entire lifetime on earth to apply the lessons our interactions and engagements with God bring us. It is clear that nowhere in the Bible does God promise us a life free from pressure, trials, or tough times. In fact, it appears to me that God needs to take us through these experiences, so we can be better prepared for the glorious experiences ahead. 

Jesus' life on earth was a good example of this: He was rejected by His fellow countrymen, a disciple betrayed Him for money, even though he had followed Him for more than three years, the cross came with its pain and shame, and all the disciples forsook Him and ran away. If He is the perfect example, how can we expect anything less? If we are set up for greater works, why would we think we can get away with just coasting along: no pain, no trial, and no preparation? Let it be clear: God may not be able to extensively use a vessel that He has not tested and found to be dependable, faithful, and committed to Him. Am I one? God's time of favour is here. 

In Him!

In Him!

Ephesians 1:7 AMPC

[7] In Him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through His blood, the remission (forgiveness) of our offenses (shortcomings and trespasses), in accordance with the riches and the generosity of His gracious favor,

As is always the case, context is important here. Paul, writing to the church in Ephesus, introduced himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the divine will of God, and sent to those who had been consecrated and set apart as God's chosen ones in that church. One of the reasons why this context is important is because of the history of both parties mentioned. Paul had an interesting past; he did not always serve God this way, but initially, in ignorance, he persecuted those who believed in Jesus. He had an encounter with this same Jesus, and his life never remained the same since then. Like Paul, we need that personal encounter too. 

Paul's conversion took him to the Gentiles, and one of such places was Ephesus. This was a town steeped in idolatry; there were gods of all sorts, and there was even a temple of Artemis. There was also strong opposition to the gospel of Jesus, and plenty of false teaching to address. At some point in time, Paul had to leave the young man Timothy in Ephesus, so he could teach the truth and also challenge all the false teachings gaining ground in the city. That was the context in which the verse above is placed. Here was a town that did not know Jesus, but by the ministry of Palu, people like Timothy came to know and serve Christ. 

The standard and expectation of God have not changed. He is still looking for people who would come to the right place, and for the right help to live right and please God. The start point for a life that will impact for God nust start from the foot of the cross. There is no argument that can beat the need for the salvation of the soul. I can decide to pull religion and be full of just activities, but it will not take me anywhere. The good news is that even Jesus us invested in my eternity, and that is why the cross has been given to me free of charge. At the time He died, I did not even know I needed help, but He paid it ahead so I could walk into it.

It is IN Him that we have all these, not outside of Him. If He does not give it, I cannot force it out of Him. I must remind myself not to believe the lies of the devil, who seeks to kill, to steal, and to destroy. The One who calls me His own has secured eternal life for me. He does not do part-time salvation; it is full and free as soon as I confess to Him, forsake my sin, and depend on Him for help. By virtue of this remission of sin, and by the reach of the riches and generous grace and favour available to me because of my faith in Jesus.  I cannot fake it; I cannot pretend to have Him.  My life will show the quality of the depth in me. Do you have Him? Do I? God's time of favour is here.

Give Thanks!

Gove Thanks!

1 Chronicles 16:34 AMPC

[34] O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!

Context is always important. When you read the words of the verse above, you may think that everything was great all the way to this point. Let us refresh our memory: not too long ago, the ark of the covenant had been carried carelessly, and Uzzah was killed by God. Out of fear, David diverted the ark to the house of another man, but this time, the man knew how to treat the ark the right way, and God blessed the house of this man. This time, David had learnt the lesson, and knew what was required before the ark of God could be moved. As it wad then, so is it now: God has not changed, and His standards have not been lowered. He is not called the Unchanging God for nothing. 

What God commanded the people of Israel to do, in terms of worship and reverence, is still applicable to us today. Remember what David said to the people: "For because you bore it not as God directed at the first, the Lord our God broke forth upon us–because we did not seek Him in the way He ordained". It is a huge risk to forget, neglect or disregard God's instructions and rules for service in His vineyard. We must not get to the point where we lose the awe that God's name must invoke in us. We must not get so used to the tokens of service that we forget that this same God is also a consuming fire. He is merciful, but He is also jealous for His glory. 

David always knew how to get God's attention so it is a bit of a surprise how he missed the important signs of what God demanded of men who approached Him for worship. The verse above enjoins us to give thanks to the Lord. This is solid counsel, and we will do well to heed and obey, but even more important is the heart and attitude with which we seek to give thanks. Cain and Abel offered sacrifices to the Lord; we do not read that it was God who demanded the offerings, but these men, of their own volition, brought an offering. Yet, God, who sees the hearts of men, accepted one man's offering, and rejected the other. This is what makes this interesting. 

There is nothing I can do to change or improve on who God is. I should consider it a privilege to be called to give thanks to the Lord of all the earth. The verse above gives a few reasons why God deserves my thanks: He is good, no matter what the reality around me looks like. There may be evil in the world as a result of the fall of man, yet God's nature of goodness and mercy never changes. His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever. He is not just good for today: He is also good for tomorrow and forever. These are just a few of the many things that God has guaranteed for me, and for which He deserves thanksgiving. It is a choice for now; make it a habt and a lifestyle. God's time of favour is here.