This Life!

This Life!

Psalms 23:4 AMP

[4] ¶Even though I walk through the [sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort and console me.

There are some experiences that will cause men to doubt their sanity, salvation or service to God. There are times when the foundation of all that you think you know and have are tested. There would be seasons where you know that if not for God's grace and mercy, it is likely that you would have fallen apart. This earthly phase of life is quite unpredictable; we do not have a self-designed crystal ball to check and decipher what is ahead; we only have the help of the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us in life, as we journey to eternity. Why are the reflections noted above important? It is the context in which the verse above is placed. I may not be able to fully comprehend the weight of the verse above without looking at the whole story behind the verse. Recall that this is a psalm of David, the man God Himself referred to as a man after His own heart. 

This reality should have led to a special and exclusive experience of God, and truly it did, but not in the way the world would interpret it. David knew God personally and received favour that no other king of Israel did, yet that did not keep him from some pretty 'horrible' experiences, the way the world defines it. He was special, but that did not keep him from lions and bears. He was favoured, but that did not make his father or brothers like him or his company that much. He spent the early years of his life in solitude and with sheep, and maybe that was the reason why he found time to know and experience God. What are my current realities too? What are the things that are really uncomfortable now, but which are  the stepping stones that God is preparing for my divine visitation and earthly impact?  How do I learn to view my current reality, no matter how painful or complex, in the light of God's purpose and plan for me? 

I must know that being a child of God does not insure me from 'unpleasant' realities. Being a Christian is not an insurance policy against pain. After all, David made it clear at the start of the chapter from where this verse above is taken from that the Lord was his shepherd, and he would not want for anything. How does a man with such supply end up in the valley of the shadow of death? This tells me that following God is a personal decision that will lead me down paths that outsiders will never understand or embrace, but I do not live life for the applause of outsiders, but just to please the One who called me. I am to follow God wherever He may lead, because I am confident in His eternal plan for me. I take comfort in the truth that His love for me will not destroy me, but He will display power and splendor in and through me, so that the world will know that there is an Omnipotent God at work. If God's presence is with me, it will not matter where His hand leads; I have peace that all will end well. Do you have the same assurance? God's time of favour is here. 

Walk Right!

Walk Right!

Galatians 5:16 AMP

[16] But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the sinful nature [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts].

Paul introduced himself to the church in Galatia as an apostle, not commissioned or sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ the Messiah, and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead. This introduction makes it clear what is the source and inspiration of the confidence and strength with which Paul operated, and how he was able to confront the dangers he saw in that church. This was a church in which he had spent time teaching about the principles, practices and standards of God's kingdom; the audience had initially accepted and embraced this, but over time, they had shifted allegiance from Christ and were now pursuing distractions. 

It is a warning to all of us who know, follow and serve Christ that we cannot afford to be careless. It is easier to pull down someone from a high position than it is to pull someone up to that high position. It is easier to stay off the commitment, dedication and focus that a surrender to Christ will demand from you. It takes absolutely nothing from you to live a life of compromise, but for a child of God who has seen the light, tasted the gift of the Holy Spirit, and seen God at work, it is a crime to pursue a gospel, message or lifestyle that is different from that which Christ has come to establish. The devil is smart; he offers 'viable' alternatives, but these are traps of trouble and ultimate destruction.

This is why the counsel in today's verse is very apt for our time. Habits only build up over time, and they will not happen overnight. It os what I consistently do that I become good at. It is what I focus on that I eventually master and become exceptional at. I must also be careful of who I walk with; the company I keep and the conversations I have will eventually impact eternity.  These are not decisions to be taken lightly or carelessly. The counsel in the verse above is to make it a habit to walk in the Holy Spirit. This is done by seeking His will and being responsive to His leading and direction given by His voice and Word. He will never contradict Himself, and He is not an author of confusion. 

Of course, making a choice means giving up on another alternative. The thing about the choice to follow God is that it leaves no room for any other alternative. I cannot do both at the same time. The devil seeks to steal, kill and destroy, and he does these well by keeping the focus on sin and man's areas of weaknesses. Sin keeps my eye on myself; surrender keeps my eye on the divine. It really helps that we have superior help from the One who has defeated sin, the devil, and death. That understanding keeps me focused on God and the hope that I am not ever alone. Now that I know what the options are, as well as the consequences of these options, what is the decision? Follow God or perish? God's time of favour is here. 

Grace!

Grace!

Ephesians 2:8 AMP

[8] For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God;

Man was made in the image and likeness of God, to bring God praise and pleasure. The plan was that man would not die, but sin came and attempted to distort the plan. God in His mercy laid out a plan for the restoration of man to the original position, and that plan was tied to His Person, His Son Jesus Christ. No matter how hard I tried, I could not fight sin on my own. No matter how hard I tried, sin became the default setting for me, and I just needed help outside of myself to get to where God wanted me to be. This is the impact of grace; it was not what I deserved that I got, and whatever it is I got is a reflection of God's nature,, and should make me humble. 

Grace did not consider my old condition; it simply offered me a way out of sin. It did not demand from me a price that I could not pay; it paid the full price for sin, and simply asked me to trust in that finished work, and live in daily appreciation of all that God had done for me. The verse above refers to it as God's remarkable compassion and favour, which draws us to Christ. If not for grace, how would I know and admit that I need help? If not for grace, how would I submit my whole life to someone I have never met? If not for grace, how would I give up the tangible and the physical for something that is yet unseen and in the future? 

Salvation is that change that God's grace has offered to all men. It makes no distinction between races, tribes or languages. It is just an offer of deliverance from judgment and the taking hold of eternal life. It does not consider the dirt of my past; the weight of my present, or the wiles, schemes or threats of the devil. None of these things can stop or hinder the amazing things God has put in motion for me, except my personal choices. This is where grace becomes careful; it does not force itself on anyone, and it will also not go against the exercise of my freewill. It is a free gift from God, and my response also must be a free gift from my heart. 

I could not do anything to add to, or remove anything from all that God has done and given to me. It has nothing to do with labour or personal striving, but as the verse above makes clear, it is the undeserved, gracious gift of God. This is what makes what God has done both sobering and amazing. It is sobering because there is no human value I can give to buy it, and there is nothing God demands from me, except total surrender of my heart. The rich, the poor, the influential and highly connected, the healthy and the sick all have access to the same grace and the same starting point. Now that you know what God has given, how would you respond? Would you surrender? God's time of favour is here.

God First!!

God First!

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1 Peter 3:15 AMP

[15] But in your hearts set Christ apart [as holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect.

In a world full of competing interests, the verse above reminds us of what is really important. In a world that tries to sell off greed and selfishness as necessary human attributes, I am reminded again that God deals by different standards. As it has always been pointed out, the messenger could also reflect the weight of the message. Peter was a disciple who didn't start off being strong and focused. There were times he was also caught up in the pressure of the moment, and he made rash decisions, but I am glad that Jesus told him He was praying for him, and that he would be strengthened to make impact. 

Also, the audience of the message also reflects the weight of the assignment. Peter was writing to the elect, spread across the Jews and Gentiles, with a common election in Christ; people chosen by the foreknowledge of God, the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit and the sprinkled blood, to be God's own possession. They did not have characteristics that would have made them acceptable to the world at the time, but they were chosen by a God who shows no favouritism or partiality toward anyone. What a joy to know that there is a God whose heart of love does not make any distinction based on race, tribe or language. 

If indeed I am chosen by this God to be His own, I must live to glorify Him on a regular basis. The heart is the foundation of all that I am and do. Whoever sits on the throne of the heart defines and dictates the direction of the person's life. I am encouraged to give God control. I must set Christ apart in my life, by totally surrendering to Him. He takes first place or nothing at all. He is Lord of all, or not Lord at all. It is the focus of my heart that will define my words. Even medical science notez that the vagus nerve (Cranial Nerve X) is the one that connects the brain to both the heart and the mouth. Whatever I say reflects the content and condition of my heart. 

Whether I like it or not, my heart's condition must be tested and it will be demanded for by people. If I claim to be light, I cannot get away with silence or compromise. People will see the difference in me, and they will definitely ask me what is the hope and confident assurance I have within me. Light cannot be hid; the impact of salt cannot be denied; the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a man cannot be covered. People need help; the world does not have the right answers. Those who know and follow God are the ones that God is counting on to impact the world for Him. Do I know this God? Does He also know me as His own? God's time of favour is here. 

Walk Right!

Walk Right!

Proverbs 13:20 AMP

[20] He who walks [as a companion] with wise men will be wise, But the companions of [conceited, dull-witted] fools [are fools themselves and] will experience harm.

It matters where you walk. It matters how ypu you walk. It matters who you walk with. It also matters who or what directs your steps. We are in an uncertain world; wars, rumours of wars, famine and earthquakes have changed the perspective, making us pause and really consider options before we act. The system of the world gives you options, many of which are unsafe. How do you determine the right way to go, or the right step to take? How can you be sure you are where God wants you to be, and doing what God wants you to do? You need to be sure, particularly when you consider the eternal consequences tied to your decision. 

I note that the verse above makes reference to the 'wise', not the 'smart'. The difference is in origin and purpose. Being smart can come from education or nature, but wisdom comes through life experiences, self-awareness and time. Also, being smart can be determined by knowing what to say at a particular time, but being wise is knowing if, when and how to say whatever it is that needs to be said. Being smart is about the short-term solution to an issue; being wise focuses on the long-term consequences of actions and decisions. It is in this light that the verse above should be considered. Am I focused on immediate reward, or on long-term benefits? 

Am I wise, or am I smart? I also note that walking with the wise as a companion makes me wise. How does this work? Walking with the wise means that I am careful to watch their lives in action. If I am walking with someone else, I keep in step with the person at all times. I do not jump ahead, and also strive not to lag behind. Like the disciples, access to the wise is a privilege not to be taken for granted, or treated with levity. There are life lessons that will not be learnt by words, but by observation. When you see a wise person respond to trials and tough times, you learn the value of patience and perseverance. 

Of course, the opposite too is true. If I choose to walk with the opposite of wisdom, I get the opposite of the benefits of wisdom. If I am a  companion of conceited, dull-witted fools, what else can my life produce, except what looks like what I have spent time with? That is another lesson for me: I look more and more like whatever experience I spend time with. If it is with the wise, it leads to good outcomes. If it is with fools, it leads to harm. Consider the eternal consequences of your actions: it is not something to leave to chance. Be very deliberate about where you walk, and who you walk with. Your eternity will be glad you did. God's time of favour is here. 

Guided!

Guided!

Psalms 32:8 AMP

[8] I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you [who are willing to learn] with My eye upon you.

For the versions of the bible with titles over the chapters, you find these words captured at the top of the chapter from where the verse above is taken: 'The blesssedness of forgiveness, and of trust in God - a psalm of David'. It becomes clear what the focus of the entire chapter is. David was a man who could relate with the title of the chapter or song. We do not know the particular event of his life that led to this song, but we know David was a man who experienced mercy almost like no other. There were events that could have taken the lives of other people, but his life was spared for a purpose. Sin must not be excused, but mercy also cannot be explained. 

David was referred to by God Himself as a man after His own heart. There were things David did to get to this point; he praised God continually, finding times and seasons to sing songs of praise and worship to God. Whether in the valley, at the point of despair or death, or even when God had given him victory all around, and there was no war, he found time to praise God. Can the same be said of me? Can God count on me to be faithful to service and sacrifice, even when things do not go my way? This is the advanced level of God's dealings with man: even when I do not fully understand what is going on around me, I still praise. 

Even when I sin, there is mercy and grace to forgive, convict and restore me to fellowship with God. When I know that there is abundant grace in God, it must keep me humble and fully dependent on God. There is no room for pride; there is no room for self-sufficiency. It is the man who trusts in the Lord that can be guided continually by Him. God will not force Himself on anyone, or go against the exercise of my freewill, but be sure that He will show Himself strong in the lives of all who are fully committed to Him. The verse may appear as 'counsel', and indeed it is, but the eternal  consequences of rejecting God's guidance make this a directive.

He wants to instruct and teach me. As He is the Omniscient God, He knows the end from the beginning, and knows the path I should take. As the Wisdom and Power of God, He wants to show me the path of life, and the way I should go. If I want to end well, it will do me good to walk in that path. I am limited; I am not strong in and of myself. I cannot see beyond this present second. As the verse above makes clear, for as many as are willing to learn, God is willing to counsel. Note that no one will have an excuse on the day of reckoning: guidance is available to all who seek it. God wants to guide; God wants to help. Would you submit to Him? God's time of favour is here.

Trust!

Trust!

Isaiah 12:2 AMP

[2] “Behold, God, my salvation! I will trust and not be afraid, For the Lord God is my strength and song; Yes, He has become my salvation.”

You do not usually associate Isaiah with songs or words such as the ones in the verse above. He was a prophet known for pronouncing the judgment of God upon the nation of Israel, and he was also privileged to speak about the coming Messiah. God is not the One to be put in a box or fully understood; there is an experience of God that is both personal and exclusive to everyone who seeks to walk with Him. Isaiah also had to have his own personal encounter with this God, and we know the impact this made to the ministry of Isaiah. If I will make impact and affect my generation, it will only happen on the back of this undeniable encounter. 

It was this personal encounter that made it possible for Isaiah to refer to God as his salvation. That was personal. There is a level you get to that you can no longer rely on another person's encounter with God. What do I know about God? When all else fails, and it appears I am on my own, what is the comfort I have that God never leaves me alone? Not only did Isaiah know this God; he was also willing and ready to draw the attention of his audience to this God. Am I proud of who I am, whose I am, and who I work for? Am I proud to be associated with a God whose power is undeniable, and whose wisdom is beyond searching out? 

Isaiah went on to speak about his response to this God. He said he will trust and not be afraid. Again, you do not pull these words from thin air; they come from a place of personal conviction. In a world that is becoming increasingly paranoid, it takes grace to look life in the face and be normal. So many things are going wrong around us, yet we are reminded that it pays to trust God. Trust is not easy; I am asked to trust the conviction in my heart that God can take care of any matter relating to me. Even when I do not understand the WHY behind WHAT I am experiencing, I still trust. Even when things do not make sense, God on my side is the only fact that makes sense. 

It is not a wonder, then, that Isaiah could sing about this God. Even in pain, can I sing? When things do not go according to plan, would I still sing? When tough times come, and it seems like I am beating against a wall, do I remind myself of the past goodness of God that I have experienced? Calling God my salvation means I have seen Him at work, and I am convinced beyond all doubt that He has got my back. He is my strength and song; He holds me up when everything else around me falls apart. He is and offers salvation to all who dare to surrender their lives to Him. How do you respond to this God? God's time of favour is here.