True Wisdom!

True Wisdom!

James 3:13 AMPC

[13] Who is there among you who is wise and intelligent? Then let him by his noble living show forth his [good] works with the [unobtrusive] humility [which is the proper attribute] of true wisdom. 

For everything that God promotes, be sure that the devil will also promote a cheap but inferior substitute. There is true wisdom that comes from God, which then means that the devil has his own false narrative that he will push out as wisdom. It is very important to define the source, because that will define earthly and eternal implications. The version of wisdom that the devil pushes out is based on human reasoning, experience and self-interest; God's version will always look like the source, and is based on Truth, as defined by God. The devil's version focuses on success, status, power and personal gain, whilst God's version focuses on righteousness, humility, love and obedience. 

Of course, whatever is of the devil will have to change with trends, opinions, and circumstances, because it has to find a way to keep being relevant to the world. It leads to pride and self-importance, but God's version does not need that kind of validation. Even when the whole world thinks it does not make sense, just give it time. God's wisdom will always prove right at the end. This is the distinction that must be made, so that the right decision can be made. This is the basis of the question asked at the start of the verse above: 'Who is there among you who is wise and intelligent'. Do you know who you are? Are you clear on the right pursuits and priorities? 

The answer to the question then defines the actions that must follow. If indeed I am wise and intelligent, as defined by God, then it will show in the quality of my life's choices. The verse above says that a wise and intelligent person will show this content by noble living and good works. There is a whole world of activities that can be defined as good works, and as Ephesians 2:10 says: 'For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them'. We were made for good works, which are the natural output of a life that God lives in. I must note that it is not automatic; no eternal good can come out of a life that God does not own and hold. 

It is also important to note that the good works referred to here are to be done with the right heart, which is with unobtrusive humility. It is the natural human reaction to want to be seen or heard, or to feel important. You want to be recognised, but one must be careful that it does not lead to pride. Pride is laid out as one of the things that God hates, which means that He cannot use a life that is under the influence of pride. No good works, as defined by God, can be produced by a life that He is not in charge of. It is a sign of surrender that God can speak, walk, and feel through me, and that His mark of ownership is evident in my life. Can the same be said of you? God's time of favour is here.

Guard Your Heart!

Guard Your Heart!

Luke 12:15 AMPC

[15] And He said to them, Guard yourselves and keep free from all covetousness (the immoderate desire for wealth, the greedy longing to have more); for a man's life does not consist in and is not derived from possessing overflowing abundance or that which is over and above his needs.

How did we get here? Jesus was speaking to the crowd that was following Him everywhere He went. There was so many people that the bible records that they were trampling on one another. In our own day today, we would see that as a sign of strength in ministry. We now equate numbers with divine approval, whilst forgetting that with God, numbers are not as critical as God's backing. Even with the crowd pressing against one another, Jesus took time to warn His disciples not to be distracted by the 'leaven' of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. These were leaders who spoke a lot but did very little to align with God's will. As it was then, so is it now. 

In the middle of such serious conversations, the one thing that matters to someone in the crowd was a share of his father's inheritance. I am not sure why this man asked Jesus to command his brother to share; maybe He knew Jesus had some authority, based on the way He preached, or how He commanded the crowd, but this is just a window into the lack of divine priorities that is plaughing the world today. Whilst lives are distracted and being destroyed by the devil, those who know God must be focused on the assignment and mission of evangelism. As the bible makes clear, God wants us to be prosperous, as it makes the message about Him attractive.

The world will need phyiscal confirmation that it pays to follow and serve God, but this can only be done as God commands, not as we desire. It does not mean that possessions are not important; as we know, the gospel needs financing but this pursuit of wealth must not be at the expense of salvation and eternal life with God. That which I desire must not be the same thing that can deny me a place with God. As the verse above says, riches and wealth are good, but one must be careful of their pull. Desire them, pray for them, but do not be distracted or deceived by them. As God has so planned it, nothing on earth, no matter how much of it you have, can take His place in the human heart. 

There is nothing of value down here that can sufficiently console you for the loss of eternal life. That is the message of the verse above: my life does not consist in the abundance of what I hold, but in who I know. Compared with the world, true value is not in how I am valued but in who I value in my heart. The world uses currency to judge net worth; God uses my surrender to Christ to judge worth. With Christ in my heart, I truly have all that matters. God promises me abundance, bssed on the need He wants to meet through me. May the Lord keep me away from covetousness. May He fill my heart so that nothing else can stake a claim to any part of me. God's time of favour is here.

Fully Satisfied!

Fully Satisfied!

Jeremiah 31:25 AMPC

[25] For I will [fully] satisfy the weary soul, and I will replenish every languishing and sorrowful person.

Context is relevant here. Israel was a nation loved and chosen by God as His treasured possession. A combination of assumptions, entitlement and downright rebellion against all that God had told them to do and avoid had brought the nation of Israel to its knees. This was a nation that God helped to bring down the walls of Jericho without lifting a single sword, spear or shield, but now, the nation of Israel had become confident in the might and strength of its army. It has to be said that this did not happen overnight; it was a gradual decline through the years. It does not go wrong suddenly. The clear warning is to avoid complacency. 

Imagine the effect and impact of silence all through the centuries; a parent neglects to pass on the knowledge snd experience of God to the next generation. You raise children who have no knowledge or regard for God and His directives and instructions. Of course, God will not just let go; His love and judgment make it  impossible for Him to look the other way. As we also know, God does not do evil. He makes it clear what His instructions are, as well as the consequences for flouting His instructions. He will also not immediately destroy, but His discipline and correction are geared towards restoration and renewal.Know this: God will not condone sin, but will punish it, no matter in whom it is found. 

God's people may have thought that the covenant of circumcision gave them concessions from compliance with God's clear commandments, but we now know that God does not lower His standards for anyone. If I do wrong, I invoke God's permission to apply the punishment for what I have done. That is His version of justice. However, as the verse above makes clear, this is not the final word. If God were to mark iniquity, none of us will be alive. It is amazing to note that even in punishment, the love of God shines through. Even when I do wrong, God does not give up on me. When sin comes, and punishment has been applied, God still steps in. 

That is the context of this verse, but I also note that life will happen to the best of us. Whatever tbe reason may be for the weariness, God has a word. He promises full satisfaction to the weary soul. Yes, life may have hurt you, and maybe it was your choices and decisions that brought you to this point, but God does not stay angry forever, as long as there is true repentance. His mercy steps in, and seeks to restore and renew. If I am truly sorry for my sin, and I seek His help to live right, He wi definitely help me stand. His promise is to replenish every languishing and sorrowful person. Do not settle for anything less than God's best. God's time of favour is here. 

Power and Glory!

Power and Glory!

Ephesians 3:20-21 KJV

[20] Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, [21] unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen 

The story of the church in Ephesus did not start on a high note. Back in Acts, when Paul journeyed to Ephesus, he met a city that was steeped in idolatry and careless living. He stayed for some time there, teaching the word of God and raising disciples. There were also times that he was attacked and almost killed, but God spared his life. Ephesus later became the city for which the ministry of Timothy was known to start, and it later became one of the churches that were commended for their faithful service to God in Revelation. We serve a God who knows us more than we could ever think; there is nothing that escapes His attention. 

In this letter, we see Paul describing himself an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God. When you also consider the past of Paul, it was nothing compared to what he was at this time. Again, in the hands of this God, no life is so far gone that s/he is beyond the grace of God. As long as the life was made by God, even what some of us may call mistakes, God has an eternal plan, and He will move heaven and earth to bring His plan to pass. The major challenge with all that God can do with me is my availability and surrender. As we have said quite consistently, God does not force Himself on anyone, and He will not 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.

This letter was written to the saints which were in Ephesus, described as the faithful in Christ Jesus. This is the position that is safe: in Christ Jesus. The world can make empty promises that it cannot keep, and you cannot hold the world to whatever it says, because the world system is not able to comprehend the eternal purpose of God. Reflect on the parts of the earth that your eye can see, and consider if all the knowledge of science that you have or heard is able to truly help you understand all that you see. This God does as He pleases in all the earth, and He answers to no one. My acceptance or rejection of His power does not in anyway change or limit who He is. 

He is the Authority, both on earth and in heaven. When the Lord’s prayer asks that His will be done on earth, it is because heaven has no such contention. For as long as the earth has been in place, seasons come and go, and nobody has been able to stop it. We may have made clones, but nobody has been able to fashion out a soul. This is the God that Paul knew, and the same One he wants us all to experience personally. He is able to do so much more than my human mind can fathom, but I must let Him work as He pleases. He deserves all the glory and praise. Let it come from a place of willing surrender today, because, one day, all will bow, either by freewill or compulsion. God's time of favour is here. 

Speech Power!

Speech Power!

Proverbs 18:21 AMPC

[21] Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life].

Matthew 12:37 AMPC

[37] For by your words you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced.

When the wisest man on earth at the time,  and you can say, the wisest man on record, speaks on a matter, we will do well to listen. Solomon speaks about the features, benefits, blessings and curses that may arise from the use of the tongue. This was a man whose very first assignment as king was to settle a dispute that involved life and death. If not for wisdom from God, how could he have known which of the two mothers owned the living child? As the life of Solomon has shown, man is limited in exposure, experience, knowledge and power. There are limits set around mortal man; only the Omniscient and Omnipotent God is beyond limit. 

When He counsels us to take heed on any issue, we will do well to listen. Thr focus here is on the tongue, a small part of the body, but one that has been found to be at fault for many destroyed lives and destinies. Wars have been fought, lives have been taken, and many homes irretrievably broken up simply because one person said the wrong thing. The bible also warns us about the power of the tongue, calling it a fire that is able to contaminate the whole body, a restless evil,  and full of deadly poison. What a way to describe a part of the body that is not even visible; if I do not open my mouth at all, you may never see it. 

That is why the counsel in the verses above become critical. We have a part of the body that is able to impact eternity, not just for us, but even for those around us. When the wise men came to Jerusalem, their enquiries about the king that was born led to the king Herod slaughtering many children at the time. It was not done with evil intentions, yet it led to great sorrow and death. There are times when a gentle answer will turn away wrath, but the same word, spoken harshly, can stir up even more anger. Abigail used words to calm David down, who was on his way to destroy the house of Nabal. Words are not ordinary; they can shape or shred lives and destinies. 

It is the use of it that defines whether life or death flows therefrom. We all have the power to choose HOW we use it, but we have no power over the consequences that follow. As Solomon and Jesus say in the verses above, if I love to use my tongue, I must also be ready for the output that is tied to its use. There is no fence to sit on; I am either promoting life, or pursuing death. It must be noted that the best use of the tongue is to subject it to the control and influence of the One who made it. He is the One who knows the right word for the right season, so that life becomes the norm. Remember: surrender is a choice I have to make. Would you? God's time of favour is here. 

Well Presented!

Well Presented!

Romans 12:1 KJV

[1] I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 

As we know, Paul was writing to the saints in Rome, and the message was for tbose who had come to the saving knowledge of Jesus. It has been consistently established that there is a message for the crowd, and a different message for the disciple. The demands from both classes are different, and destinations for both classes are also different. It is also important that I know which class I belong to. The danger of indecision is in the permanent nature of the consequences. You do not get a second chance to make up your mind, or to make any other impression, once eternity has been settled. Do I know who I am, whose I am, and where I am headed for eternity?

In the chapter before the one from where the verse above is taken, Paul talks about the engrafted wild olive branch, which now enjoyed the supply of the vine. The vine will always support and supply what is required for any branch connected to it to grow. This was how Paul viewed the Gentiles, even though we know that God's plan of salvation was for the whole world, and not just the Jews. For those who are not Jews, we have tbe encouragement that the same opportunity given to the Jews has also been given to us. God has not lowered His standards for anyone; He included us in His plan, but things happened according to His timing. 

If we know now that we are privileged to be part of God's plan for salvation for the whole world, how do we show gratitude? If I know that I could not earn or deserve all that God did for me, how best can I show and live a life of gratitude? The verse above lays it all out: it is first an inner consciousness of who I am and what I have received, before it then becomes an outward presentation of a life that is marked by God's mercy. We are saved by grace, not by entitlement. God's mercy reached out to us, even when we did not know that we needed help, and He made a way for us to be reconciled to God. In Christ, the brokenness introduced by Adam is redeemed.

Those who know the value of what they have received know that there is nothing else is too much to give up. This is the message in the verse above. If I know what Jesus gave up to redeem me, I know I must present what He has redeemed back to Him. It means my life is no longer mine to deal with as I please, but to please the One who now owns it. A living sacrifice is strange: dead, yet alive: dead to sin but alive to righteousness. It does not respond to the devil the way it did before, as it is now under new management. It is this new life that drives my pursuits and priorities. This is the only service that God reckons with. Am I truly His? Are you? God's time of favour is here.

The New!

The New!

Revelation 21:4 AMPC

[4] God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more, neither shall there be anguish (sorrow and mourning) nor grief nor pain any more, for the old conditions and the former order of things have passed away. 

As we read yesterday, the host of heaven do not have any doubt as to who is in charge. The host of heaven spend all time, however it is measured, in worshiping the One who sits on the throne. If heaven knows who is in charge, and we pray that God's will be done on earth as it is done in heaven, then be sure that God is able to bring this to pass in His own way and at His own time, as determined by Him. When we refer to Him as Omnipotent and Omniscient, it means that He can do all things, He knows all things, and He will work out all things as He pleases. That is power and authority that cannot be contested or limited.

This is what makes the God who makes the promise in the verse above quite special. He not only takes care of the present, but He also seals the future. None of us can predict the future as accurately as God can. We can try, using what He has created to make a fair guess, but if you are seeking certainty, God is your sure confidence. The first promise in the verse above is that He WILL wipe away every tear from our eyes. This tells me that the old order that brought tears will be completely done away with. Whether it is pain, loss or death, all of these ends once the old gives way to the new. The verse above says that death shall be no more, neither shall there be anguish, sorrow, mourning or grief. 

The fallen human nature has made these part of our existence, but a day comes when all of these will no longer apply to us. What a life it is to look forward to. What a state to look ahead to, and hasten its coming. Let us not forget that, as was mentioned yesterday, this is a vision that was given to John as he was on the island of Patmos. If all of the things written in Revelation are still coming to pass, be sure that this too shall happen. We have this assurance about the immutability of the Word of God. It does not matter what the generation or dispensation is; as long as He has said it, be sure it will come to pass. God has staked His Name and Nature on His Word and He cannot lie.

What is expected of me? One thing that has been clear is that God does not force Himself on anyone, and He will not go against the exercise of our freewill. He lays it all down on the table, and asks me to choose my eternal destination very carefully. I also do not have forever on this side of eternity to make up my mind. The changing times and seasons, as well as the verse above, make it clear that the old order of things will definitely pass away, and give way to the new. There is no force on earth that can stop what is coming; the only thing I can do is to surrender to the God who can secure eternal life with Him. Have you surrendered? God's time of favour is here.