Who/What are you waiting for?

Who/What are you waiting for?

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 KJV

As the year rolls on, it is important to take honest stock and know where we stand in the journey towards eternity. It is important to take stock of the experiences God has brought us through and the lessons he has taught us, so we can consider where we are now, what we need to be, where we need to be and who God wants us to be.

The world seems to be in a perpetual race towards a goal. The problem is that the goal is not defined and the target is not clear, so it is difficult to know when you have arrived at the target destination. The world teaches us haste without direction, wealth without accountability, wages without responsibility and bliss outside of God's blessings. The world has an invisible measure of success by which men are measured, and if you have not arrived in the eyes of the world, then the world will nor notice you. At least, that is what the world teaches. Man then keeps running, pursuing that invisible target, never sure when he has arrived and never sure when he can rest.

What does the Word teach?  The Word of God teaches patience and perseverance as parts of the fruit of the Spirit. The Word teaches man to wait for God instead of labouring in one's own strength; the Word teaches man that success is as defined by God, not man. The Word teaches man to seek for bliss in the blessings of God, not in the abundance of possessions. Unfortunately, because the world's systems are always loud and popular, these are the gauges by which we seek to measure ourselves.

Today, we need a different focus and direction. We need to change direction if we will get to the place God intends for us. We cannot continue in the wrong direction and expect that somehow, we will make it. No matter how far or fast you travel in the wrong direction, you are never going to get to the place of rest prepared by God. You are either with the Word or with the world. Because both are on different platforms and are guided by opposite standards, you cannot do both. You must make a choice.

What God offers are blessings the world may not reckon with now, but will seek out with money if possible. Haven't you see  rich men by the world's standards who cannot sleep?  Don't be deceived by high fences and muscle-flexing bodyguards; a fat bank account does not always equate to a good night sleep. It is not a crime to be rich too by the standards of the world, but let not what the world says be your life pursuit. What God offers are strength and vigour beyond our years. The world will run itself into the ground in pursuit of wealth, while God will graciously give it without stress to the one who has waited patiently for him. While the world measures success by the value of naira and kobo, God is already at work, blessing a man beyond what money can buy.

Wait on the Lord. He always comes good. God can spend 10 years preparing a man for the success ahead, and it is only when I cooperate with God that my manifestation will not bring about any molestation. When I allow God's process to work in my life, I will enjoy his promises. When I walk with him, he works out great things in me. When I walk with man, I can only go so far; when I walk with God, there are endless possibilities and amazing miracles ahead. His time of favour is here.

True Strength!

True Strength!

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

The world teaches and promotes self - sufficiency. The world abhors weakness and dependence, and seems to reward anyone who is able to get to the top, irrespective of how the person gets there. It appears as if there is gain to be made in striving to make things happen by yourself, since nobody will do the same for you. We have taught to labour for ourselves and not expect manna to fall from heaven. All these things have some truths in them, but this does not give the full picture of what God has in store for us.

God wants to be involved in our daily lives. He wants to be consulted on every step we desire to take. He wants to give the strength we need to make it,  and he is the One who knows what is needed for the assignments that are ahead. We must therefore seek him if we are to achieve all that we have been created to achieve. We must depend totally on him if our lives are to have meaning and impact.

God's grace isn't selective but is available for anyone. It is however enjoyed by only those who realise their weaknesses and inadequacies and come seeking God's help for the tasks ahead. God's grace is an enabler, helping you to achieve all that you could never achieve in 3 lifetimes without God. His grace is sufficient for whatever the world seeks to throw at you. If Paul could have a thorn in his flesh, and could still achieve all that we read about him, then trust me: my life is not determined by my effort, but by the grace of God. I cannot predict the future or adequately control the present,  but I can only hold on to the one who is in full control of everything.

I must therefore move away from an entitlement mentality to a grace mentality. I must understand that everything I achieve was never about me in the first place; it is always about God showing his power, strength and grace in my life. May I never lose sight of this truth, as I set out to achieve all that God created me to. His time of favour is here.

Joy and Pain

Joy and Pain

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James 1:2-3 NIV

It is only in God that both joy and pain can comfortably exist side by side. It is only in God that we are encouraged to view pain as an avenue to rejoice. It is a bit difficult for the carnal man to understand in what way pain can lead a man to joy, but what God says here is instructive for us, as we seek to focus on those things that are important for our present and our eternity.

God does not seek to make us comfortable.  That is not his ultimate goal; His desire is that we be like him everyday, through all the things he allows in our lives. His ultimate desire is not that we amass possessions and wealth,  but that we impact lives through the lessons we learn from his school. If wealth comes, good, but with wealth fro God comes a plethora of lessons that will teach you the purpose and application of all that God gives you.

When trials, tribulations and hard times come, what do you focus on: the pain or the lessons?  When things don't go according to plan, how do you pick yourself up and apply yourself to the lessons God intends that you learn from them?  How can you see joy when all that others see is pain and suffering?  One thing is clear: it is a focus on God alone that will influence what you feel or think; it is a focus on God that will get you through the pain into the purpose. It is an understanding of who you belong to that will determine how you respond and how you grow into God’s ultimate goal for your life. Joseph never forgot whose he was : whether in the pit, in Potiphar's house, in the prison or in the palace, he carried along with him the presence of God everywhere he went. It then means that it is not really about what you go through but who you go with that really matters. Man can only support and assist you within their own means; a man can only lift you to the level and length of his arms. God has everlasting arms, able to sustain us all through this present life and still guarantee us eternity.

Today, rejoice that you are in God. No matter what your externals say, your internal is the determinant of your attitude and outlook. His time of favour is here 

Proof of Life

Day 310- Proof of Life

For there is one God, and there is one who brings God and human beings together, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself to redeem everyone. That was the proof at the right time that God wants everyone to be saved, 1 Timothy 2:5-6 GNB

Where is He?

Day 305- Where is He?

The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him sincerely and in truth. He will fulfill the desires of those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him; He also will hear their cry and will save them. Psalm 145:18-19 AMP

Let it be fully understood that ALL of God's promises are qualified. His promises are for everyone, yet are really for all who come to him on his own terms, not at their own pleasure.  No matter what anyone says, there is a true Lord who has promised to draw close to all who call upon Him in truth, not out of selfish desires. You may have pressing needs or you may have scores to settle. God does not help you settle scores, neither does he help you get even. It is my responsibility to go reconcile with my neighbour before I come seeking God.

The desires of all those that reverently fear Him are also fulfilled. He also promises to hear them and save them. It is important to point out here that the promise is made by God on his terms, not on ours. What this tells me is that God decides how, when and where he will answer. He may not do things the way we expect but maturity in our walk with God requires that we walk with God as he walks and work with him as he works too. Our lives will be less stressful or complicated when God is at the centre of our desires, pursuits and labours.

Where does God fit into in your life schedule? Is he at the centre of all your plans and purposes, or you have found a convenient corner for him? Do you go to Him when all other viable options have been exhausted and there is nothing else to do and no one else to turn to? Is he your one and only option? Call on him on his own terms, in sincerity and in truth and in reverence, and watch him perform miracles on your behalf. His time of favour is here.

Day 302- Labour and Reward 

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.Hebrews 6:10 NIV

When you think of God, what comes to mind?  A God so high up, that mortal man can never aspire to reach him?  Do you see a God so big that feeble man dare not come near?  Or a God so fearsome, dishing out punishment for every rebellion and ruthlessly crushing any opposition?

From experience, I have come to learn that God's love is amazing. If a father can hold his own daughter in his heart for life, imagine what God would do. If I can cherish the moments spent with my kids, how much more the creator of every life and the Potter who makes all things beautiful?

Therefore, as I work and labour, I must keep at the back of my mind that nothing I do is in vain. God keeps records and he will reward accordingly, not as man expects. Too many times, we have allowed the world's values and opinions shape our understanding of reward. We see it as what we deserve for doing good and we fret when people do not seemingly appreciate the good we have done.

Rather, let us keep our gaze focused on God who sees all, knows all and will bless us as he pleases. As I spend myself for other people, the focus isn't what I stand to gain, but how God may be glorified. When I take care of God's business, he takes care of everything that concerns me. His time of favour is here.

Labour and Reward

Day 302- Labour and Reward

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. Hebrews 6:10 NIV

When you think of God, what comes to mind?  A God so high up, that mortal man can never aspire to reach him?  Do you see a God so big that feeble man dare not come near?  Or a God so fearsome, dishing out punishment for every rebellion and ruthlessly crushing any opposition?

From experience, I have come to learn that God's love is amazing. If a father can hold his own daughter in his heart for life, imagine what God would do. If I can cherish the moments spent with my kids, how much the creator of every life and the Potter who makes all things beautiful?

Therefore, as I work and labour, I must keep at the back of my mind that nothing I do is in vain. God keeps records and he will reward accordingly, not as man expects. Too many times, we have allowed the world's values and opinions shape our understanding of reward. We see it as what we deserve for doing good and we fret when people do not seemingly appreciate the good we have done. Rather,  let us keep our gaze focused on God who sees all, knows all and will bless us as he pleases. As I spend myself for other people, the focus isn't what I stand to gain, but how God may be glorified. When I take care of God's business, he takes care of everything that concerns me. His time of favour is here.

None Other!

Day 293- None Other!

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12 KJV

The world loves having options. The world celebrates diversity -  in opinions, thoughts, approaches, ideas and application. We celebrate our differences and highlight the issues that make us different, while also assuming that the same should apply to our beliefs and faith. Unfortunately,  as much as we are different, God does not have a second opinion or an alternative to our channel of salvation.

Jesus was made the sacrificial lamb so we could be reconciled back to God. He was the one who paid the price so we could walk away with the prize of eternal life. He is the one through whom all people must come to God and be accepted. Every other option is the product of man's mind and will not work. Unless you seek something else different from salvation, Christ is the sole perfect choice for us.

Which one will it be?  Will I keep seeking other options or would I settle for the only viable option approved by God?  His name is the only one that guarantees victory. No one calls on it and remains the same. Nobody trusts in that name and is put to shame. Make sure you have that name. Without it,  all you have acquired on earth will be wasted investment. God loves you too much to let you waste away your life. His time of favour is here.

Love and Truth

Day 281- Love and Truth

Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. Proverbs 27:5-6 KJV

When I claim I love someone, what do I really mean? Is love really seen in words alone or by actions alone?  What is the place of truth and honesty in the reality of love and its expectations? 

Today's extract seeks to give answers to some of these questions. Atimes, out of 'love',  we overlook people's mistakes and offences, glossing over them. We do not want to offend so we avoid. We have children we love so much that we conveniently turn the blind eye as they stumble from one mistake to another offence. Later in life, when the children are fully grown in iniquity and have chosen the path of destruction, can we honestly say it was love that made us overlook their wrongs? 

Does love overlook wrongs to the point of being permissive about everything?  Is love so encompassing that it allows open and deliberate sins without punishment. I doubt it very much. Even God himself, the person of love himself, warns that as a father loves his children, so does he discipline them for their good. It is better to get God to discipline you now, than to allow you get away with deliberate sins and end up in permanent destruction.

When next someone pats you on the back for obvious sins, please run away from such a person. When you know you are doing wrong and someone is urging you on, not pointing out the error but encouraging the evil, know you are in trouble. Outward show of affection does not equate to true love. Kisses do not signify true love. Ask Judas Iscariot. Ask Abel. May I not be deceived by outward pretences. His time of favour is here.

Wise? Foolish?

Wise?  Foolish?

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. Proverbs 12:15 KJV

Are you wise or foolish? I think it is a bit too much to debate whatever your response is,  but one thing is clear: your response to today's extract will clarify where you stand.

As you examine your life today, who determines your path? Who decides for you what is important? Who sets the course for your life and the decisions that you make?  As long as you are confident in yourself, you are foolish. If you have built your hopes on the fleeting goods that the world promises, you are foolish. If your bank account balance is what makes you tick, you are foolish. If your degrees are your confidence and hope, you are foolish. If someone has made you a promise, and you have hinged your entire life and happiness on the fleeting and vain hope of man, then, you are indeed foolish.

Trust me, education is important. Having a plan for the future is good. One thing though: your plans only make sense when they are hinged on God's will and purpose. If God cannot disrupt your well laid plans, so you can attend to the things that he considers important, then you have not discovered your true essence. Can God count on you, your time, your resources, your home, your life?  Can he call on them and make use of them whenever he pleases?

If your way is the only way, you have not discovered the true source of life. If your way is the only high way, you are on the high way to trouble. Get counsel for your life from the one who has written down all your days. Get direction from the one who has the entire universe in his hand and can direct resources to you as he pleases. He is the Wisdom of God, the one whose counsel alone matters.

Be wise, get God on your side. His words are life to all who pattern their lives after his directives. His time of favour is here.

Unity!

Unity!

Now I beseech you, brethren, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfected together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 1 Corinthians 1:10 ASV

It is difficult to imagine how possible it is for the body of Christ to be truly united. We have several denominations emphasizing different parts of the Bible, giving the impression that Christ came to establish different versions of Truth. We now see church leaders and members quarrel over the interpretations of the truth revealed in God's word, as if the inspiration behind the words was confused and didn't know what he was saying.

Paul encourages us to be of the same mind. How is that possible? Only when indeed, we have the same person living inside of us. Church membership is not the same as heaven citizenship. Just as a passport on the face discloses the country of issue, so must the identity I profess be evident from my conversation, conduct and company. If I claim I am a citizen of heaven, how will I be quarreling with others who are fellow citizens, unless I do not know where I am from or where I am going. If I claim to know the head of the place I am going, how do I quarrel with his own children, of whom I am also one?

This is not a denial of differences in opinions or approach to issues; but we have matured enough to see that what lies ahead is bigger and better than what is between us. We must understand that the world is watching and waiting; it does not understand God, and we who claim to know God must bring his message to the dying world around us. If we then are already dead on arrival, how much impact can we then make? The world needs to see unity in diversity at its best; the world does not know how, Christ is the one who makes it possible, and only in him do we make our lives count in this present generation. His time of favour is here.

God

Day 127- God

REV 1:8 NIV

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

God introduces himself. He speaks in the present tense, which emphasizes that with Him, it is never too late to start anew. 'I Am' says at every point in time that you seek me, I am here. Even if a billion people call on me at the same point in time all over the earth, I Am. The past is irrelevant, because in me, there is a fresh start. 'Alpha and Omega' says he's the beginning and the end of all things. If he is so, then all things in between are also taken care of. He has taken care of the past, he's qualified to take care of the present and he's powerful enough to secure the future. He is the Almighty.

Do not let problems cloud your heart from seeking out this mighty God. Storms bow, winds obey and the heart is made calm when God speaks. It is not always done for our convenience, or our own comfort, but for his own glory. Trust and keep faith, for his time of favour is here.

Change Residence

Change Residence

Psalm 91:1 AMP

HE WHO dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].

Watch the words: He who dwells, not he who comes once in a while, or who rents a space, or who only consults when there is a problem. You cannot make God a spare tyre on your life's journey; he's got to be the steering wheel and control pedal of your life, determining direction, speed and impact. We love to claim promises but we hardly remember the conditions that lead to the blessings. Dwelling leads to stability.

You must also get the place of abode right. Some people have chosen to dine with the devil, or with mammon or other cheap alternatives. God does not poke his nose into affairs he has no business with; so if you want God to step in and take control, you have got to change residence. The secret place is not a place you stumble on by accident; you get there by a total dependence on God and a diligent study of his will and purpose.

When you have found the secret place, you have found the source of life. You have found the only truly secure place that exists. When you have found this secret place of God's favour, presence, mercy and grace, you have found stability. Why this is important is because I must understand that dwelling in God does not mean there won't be trials; you will surely get those in abundance. One thing is however sure: you are sustained by your residence status. You are either a citizen of God's residence, naturally entitled to his help and sustenance, or you are an alien, who would have to struggle for help and assistance. God will always help all, because he created all, but it can only be good for you to dwell with God on a permanent basis.

What is your residence status: citizen or alien? His time of favour is here.

Action and Reaction

Action and Reaction

Romans 6:23 KJV

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Indeed, nothing is done in vain,good or bad. There is a reaping for every sowing, a return on any investment. If people of the world understand how this works, how can the people of the Word expect anything less? There will be an accounting, a reaction to all that we do now. God has already revealed the results for either choice- death for sin and eternal life for those in Christ. One fundamental point- the results are eternal and permanent. As long as we are alive, we can choose. Once physical death comes, it is too late to change. Make sure you are on the right side of eternity. His time of favour is here.

Choices!

Day 84- Choices!

PSA 84:10-11 NIV

Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.

Life is all about choices and results. We all have choices to make as we run the race, fight the fight and walk the walk that has been set before us. Each choice has a consequence so you will do well to weigh and be ready to live with the consequences before you make the choice. God is waiting and willing to bless, and he is seeking those who will walk blameless before him. His resources, though inexhaustible, will not be wasted, so if you are interested, your choice to walk blameless before God is your application for favour and honour. His time for favour is here.

Examples

Examples

Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. Philippians 4:9 KJV

Until my life is Spirit-auditing, it cannot be earthly relevant. I wonder if I could say the things Paul says here with conviction. What he says in effect is this: through the help of the Spirit, I have become an example you can emulate, and as you do so, the peace of God will be your experience. These words are not careless, they are spoken out of a deep conviction of how far God had brought him. See the consistency: the things he taught and the things they saw him do were consistent, not contradictory. Do my words match my actions? Does my mouth confession match my life profession? Does my life preach a consistency that only Christ can birth and sustain? Questions only the Spirit of God can help to answer.  His time of favour is here.

All Good!

All Good!

Romans 8:28 KJV

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Easy to quote, difficult to accept. How do you see good in the evils that seem to prevail around us? How do you see good in a land that celebrates, promotes and rewards those who do evil? Do these things change the fact that God is sovereign? Absolutely not.  The presence of evil does nothing to reduce the power of good, because the all-powerful God is the one who is in charge. None of his plans will fail, no matter how strong evil seems to be. Remember, he created all, and all must answer to him, no matter the noise that is made now. His time of favour is here.

True Strength

True Strength

Philippians 4:12-13 NIV

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

This is not one of the most popular of messages in the Bible, but for the sake of balanced teaching, it will be good to learn a few lessons from the life of Paul, which will aid our walk with God and our understanding of his purposes. Paul was never a man to settle for the mediocre or the ordinary; whatever he was asked to do, he did it fervently, either initially out of misdirected zeal or ignorance, and later out of directed focus and spiritual energy. He was hardworking, he was diligent, he was a tentmaker. Even while preaching the gospel in faraway lands, he kept on working, supplying his needs through the skills of his hands. You would then wonder why he could talk about going hungry, or being in want. It just did not gel with the picture we have of a fervent, hardworking man.

If there's anything I have learnt in my life, it is that all the circumstances that would come my way must have one end-purpose in view: the glory of God. All that I seek, pursue or labour for must bring glory to God. All that he allows or permits is for his glory, not my own lifting.  It therefore means that even in lack or in need or in abundance, God is always at work, seeking to show off his glory in any life totally surrendered to him. He determines the course of the journey and the events along the way, and any lessons learnt is a message to the world that God is at work. Atimes, God speaks loudest in lack, and atimes, you hear him clearly in the midst of plenty. Ultimately, what is important is what God says about what he has allowed, so that the lessons he desires to teach are learnt, and the lives that require to be impacted are impacted. If I understand that my life is not my own, then all that God brings my way is acceptable to me, and I work with him to bring his message of hope, life and live to a sick and dying world.

It is hard to hear this in the midst of all the 'prosperity' that we hear about in the church these days. God is a God of riches and wealth but he is also a God of accountability. He does not give his resources to people who will waste them, because he has a world he needs to reach. There are times he will take you through lack so you can understand the world he is sending you to, and there are times he will take you through a season of harvest so you can touch the world with his blessings. After all, it is his world, his assignment, his mission field, his missionaries, his resources, his message, and his direction. We are just vessels that will give account of all that has been entrusted into our hands.

As we go out today, let us remember that God always has a message for someone out there in the world. How he seeks to preach that message is his prerogative, all we can do is to be available. God is looking for lives surrendered to his leading and direction. Can he count on you? His time of favour is here.

PRAYER- Lord, help me seek after your glory in my life. Let your grace and mercy speak through me, so that he world can see you in me. Amen.

God's Searchlight

Day 46- God's Searchlight

Jeremiah 17:9-10 KJV

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?  I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

I think we have been deceived by the devil into thinking we can do evil and get away with it. We have been told that we own our lives and we can therefore choose how we want to live. One of the cardinal results of Adam's sin was that he chose human wisdom and intellect over and above that which God could give. God himself testified in Genesis 3:22 NIV:  And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” if God could talk about man's rejection of true wisdom as far back as Adam, I wonder what he would say about this present generation.

We have found new and novel ways of committing evil: we have found a substitute for Godly marriages, and we call them trial marriages, cohabitation or friends with benefits. We call adultery mutual attraction or sex with 2 consenting adults. We refer to fraud and corruption as 'cooking the books' or being sharp, smart and savvy. We seem to have lost all fear of sin and its consequences.  Homosexuality, inordinate desires and other vices have been made to look better than they really are; the world is teaching us that these things are acceptable, after all, we are humans and perfection is not possible.

Unfortunately, the ultimate decision on what is right and wrong lies with God alone, and not man. We do not own the standard, God is the standard. We do not dictate life's terms and conditions, God does. We cannot cleanse our hearts by ourselves, God alone can. He is the one who knows our hearts and can make us pure without and within. He is the creator of our hearts, and he alone has what it takes to give us what we really need, so we can be all that God intends for us to be, and at the end of our lives, be where God ordained for us to be. Do not be deceived: Galatians 6:7 NIV:  Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

People of God, take stock today and ask God for his help so you can live life according to his terms. All the people we seek to impress today will be gone tomorrow. The people we wanted to copy or emulate will also receive their own judgement. The things we thought were okay by the world's standards will face the judgment fire of God- the true and only Judge. God knows our deepest motives and intentions, and while we can deceive the entire world, we cannot deceive the one who created us. He owns, holds and knows the manual for our lives. It will do us good if we found out what this God wants and pursue them. At the end of our lives, a reckoning will be done and a reward/punishment will be given. Which will be yours? What you have done in the past can remain in the past if you choose a new start with God. What you are doing presently will determine how you will end up. Make sure it is what God approves.  What is found with you when he returns determines what you will get. His time of favour is here.

PRAYER- Lord, help me live in the light of your commands and instructions. Let my life seek after your pleasure, so that I may enter into eternal life with you at the end of my life. Amen.

True Love

True Love

John 15:13 NIV

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

In all the experiences I have seen in this life, there is no other word, expression or truth that has been badly misinterpreted, maligned and abused as much as 'love'. Everything around our lives seeks to find the true meaning and essence of this 'love'. Movies try and explain it, and because they do not understand its true meaning, every act of illicit and illegal sexual activity is defined as 'making love'. Novels try to explain it, but because they also do not know what it means, what they refer to as  'love at first sight' is actually a physical, natural attraction that usually leads to the faulty 'making love' that movies promote these days. Friends try to define what they share as true love, but because the foundation of the understanding of what love means is faulty, they replace true love with 'deep friendship', until a terrible quarrel comes and separates them, sometimes permanently.  We now use the word 'love' interchangeably with like, appreciate, and friendship, among other similar expressions. The issue is: if all these were true love, why are our lives still empty and devoid of direction, impact and effect? Why are we still struggling to accept the other person, with his/her imperfections and all?

The fundamental answer is a fundamental understanding of what 'love' really means. Today's extract answers this question, as it gives us the source, meaning, impact and essence of love. First of all, the greatest example is as this passage has laid down: Christ gave his life for us. Time will not permit me to fully expand on this, but this love was not expecting anything in return when it was given. There was no expected reward, no forced response. The objects of this love did not even appreciate what had been given, but the love was shown all the same. This is true love, a love that does not do things because it wants to be paid back, or because the target of the love is 'lovable', but simply because love had to be shown regardless of the response. This love was also shown in action, not in words. I know ladies who will literally 'die' if they were to hear the words: 'I Love You' from someone they have been secretly admiring for a long time, but remember talk is cheap. Most men, forgive me for this, but we are quick to talk and slow to act. We calculate and rationalize before we do anything, because we cannot give something for nothing. That was not the example that was laid down for us; Christ said it and did it. He backed up his confession of love with a life of showing love. We ought to do the same if we claim to follow Christ.

This is getting really long so let me just conclude here: Love is not just an act, or a process. One of the gravest mistakes we make is seeing love from the basis of an act. We explain love from the angle of its target, or the source of the action itself,  instead of the true source. We see the action or the outward expression and we define what we see as love, forgetting that what we see can be polluted by the wrong motive or intentions. True love is God-personified, not man-made. Man, in his fallen state, is not capable of true love. He can only truly show it and receive it in the right context: when his heart is ruled by true Love Himself -Jesus Christ. He has shown us true love, and he has taught us how we can truly love. All we can do is live and love like him. Beyond Valentine's Day and all the noise that will be generated today, your show of love can only make sense and impact when you have understood the true source of love. Get the source right and all the fruits your life produce will be right. Get the origin wrong, and everything else will be a waste of space and resources. Remember-  You cannot give what you don't have.  His time of favour is here.

PRAYER- Lord, teach me what true Love means. Help me know you truly, and live my life as you direct. Amen.

Keep Doing Right

Day 44- Keep Doing Right

Galatians 6:9 NIV

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

So many lessons here, but a few will be sufficient for our thoughts today: First of all, we must settle on what God says is good, not the things that customs, traditions, conventions and the nature of man say are right. One of the gravest dangers we have exposed ourselves today is that we have allowed the fear of man guide our actions. We want to earn man's respect, we want to be accepted, we want to move in the 'right' circles, we want to be loved, so we blend in, compromise and stand for nothing. Our principles are on shaky grounds, our foundations are faulty and our 'faith' is tied to the things we can see. God is the ultimate decider of what is good and necessary for us to do, and he has made this known through his Word. As we read and seek his help to understand, we know what he expects and we are quick to obey because it is in obedience to his word that our lives can make impact.

Secondly, there is no guarantee that you will always enjoy doing good. There will be times you will wonder why you brother at all, there will be times that you will have no motivation to keep doing 'good', there will be times when people will pay you back evil for the good that you have done. What do you do: how do you react? God's Word here makes something clear: my doing good is not because I want you to reciprocate by doing good back to me, but I do good because the good God, who has himself been good to me, commands that I do good to others. I do good, not because of earthly reward, but because of eternal rest. I do good, not because it is always convenient, but because when I weigh what God has already given me, nothing is too much for me to give back to him.

Thirdly, everything has a reward, good or bad. Once our focus shifts from the right foundation, everything else that we do is warped and crooked. We do 'good' sometimes, expecting to be paid back almost immediately, or within a specific period of time. We do 'good' and when it appears as if the 'reward' delays, we become weary and de-motivated. We do good atimes, so we can feel good about ourselves. Let me remind you: your doing good is not because of others, but because God commands it. Whatever he commands, he will reward obedience to it 'at his own time', not ours. We have a sense of timing that God has no respect for. We look at our 'mates' , expecting that we should be at par with them. I hear people sing songs, praying that they will always be equal to their mates. People, life is not a competition or a comparison; it is an individual race, a personal relationship, a unique lifestyle. God does not call in groups, or equip in groups. He calls us as individuals, equips us and puts us in the world where we can be blessings, or he brings other people who are similarly gifted to assist or complement us, and he brings such people our way for a reason or a season. Never run ahead of him, or think that he is slow. Everything works out in his own time and in his own way. All I need to do is to keep doing 'good'. The rewards are sure if we do not give up it give in to discouragement. His time of favour is here.

PRAYER- Lord, keep my focus solely on you. Help me keep on doing good, even when there seems to be no reward or nobody is taking notice. You are the Righteous judge, and at the right time, you will abundantly bless. Amen.

All Safe.....

Day 43- All Safe

John 10:28-29 NIV

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all;  no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.

Indeed, your location determines your allocation. Where you are determines what you get, and your family lineage determines your inheritance. For as many as are in Christ, they are safe in the Father's hand. Nothing, nobody and no situation can be so powerful that it can snatch anyone from the Father's hand. The Bible calls those hands the everlasting arms, the ones that have held the world as it is all these centuries, and still continues to hold everything by his awesome power.

Please check your present standing. Are you in the world, striving to live by the world's standards, or are you located in the Father's hands? Can you say, without a doubt, that God led you to the place where you stand presently, or have you been led by the world's expectation and definition of success? The greatest gift a man can get is eternal life, not success by the world's standard. Everything we see now is bound by time, but eternity itself beats time. Time as we know it, will cease to exist one day, and all that would matter is where I am found when the trumpet shall sound and the owner of my life shall make a demand for it. What would my answer be? Where would I be found? His time of favour is here.

PRAYER- Lord, may I be found in you when you return a second time. May l live my life in full consciousness of eternity and your expectations for my life. Amen.

Choose Life

Day 42- Choose Life

Deuteronomy 30:15-16 NIV

See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.

There is always a choice to be made. Every day that we live is a summary of the decisions that we make in our lives. Every choice also has an end, a destination, a consequence. Nothing is in vain, and nothing is futile. Everything counts, because we are eternal beings who must give account of our stewardship before God. Moses here teaches us the same lessons that God seeks to teach us today: by our actions, words, conduct, company and conversation, we are already making choices.

The choice has to be made today. It cannot wait till tomorrow. Today is the day of decision. No where in the bible does God promise us forever on this side of eternity. What he says is that our actions and decisions now will shape the future we will have as eternal beings.  And as we walk, work and run in this Christian journey, we are reminded of the command and the blessings that are attached. The command is to love God, obey him and keep his commands, laws and decrees. You cannot obey someone you do not love, neither can you claim to love someone that you consistently disobey and disregard his directives. If we claim we love God, it must be seen in our ways and actions. Our lives must be a constant testimony to the values of our confession. If I claim I love God with my lips, but my actions deny that truth, I have only made myself out as a liar, but if by my life, people can see that I truly love God and obey him, then my life will speak and attract others to God.

There are blessings attached to obedience. There is no command of God in his Word without a corresponding expectation from us and an attached promise. God has not asked us to seek him in vain, but he is looking for people he can entrust with the deep riches of his kingdom, people who have made obedience a lifestyle. Can God count on you? Can he find you faithful, willing and obedient? Remember,  Isaiah 1:19-20 NIV:  If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land;   but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the Lord has spoken. The choice is before you. Consider well the end of both choices, and choose well. There is no middle ground; no sitting on the fence. You have to commit to one. His time of favour is here.

PRAYER- Lord, help me choose you, so that my life can truly matter and make impact for you. Amen.

True Life

Day 41- True Life

1 Samuel 2:30 NIV

“Therefore the Lord , the God of Israel, declares: ‘I promised that members of your family would minister before me forever.’ But now the Lord declares: ‘Far be it from me! Those who honor me I will honor, but those who despise me will be disdained.

When God called Moses, Aaron was chosen as a spokesman to speak on behalf of Moses, his brother. Aaron saw all the miracles that God did through Mises' rod and words, and he knew that God is indeed powerful. In the course of their journey in the wilderness, God instituted a new form of worship for Israel, and Aaron was expected to be the first priest to serve in that first tabernacle to be built. God made a promise go to Aaron- Exodus 29:9 AMP: And you shall gird them with sashes or belts, Aaron and his sons, and bind caps on them; and the priest's office shall be theirs by a perpetual statute. Thus you shall ordain and consecrate Aaron and his sons.

True Power

Day 40- True Power

Hebrews 4:12 AMP

For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.

I have seen the power of God's Word at work in various areas of life and endeavour. I have seen lives changed and destinies restored through the power of the Word. But I have also seen opposition to the Word and I have seen what that has led to in the lives of those who resisted. It would be a grave mistake to belittle the Word and words of God and call them mere words; everywhere you see God's Word being mentioned, you will always find it starting with a Capital W. We all known by the rules of grammar that nouns are always capitalized when used anywhere in a sentence. It then shows that the Word of God is a person, a living, breathing being, who is the embodiment and the reality of the words that have been written. He is the One said to be in the beginning with God, through whom all things were made. He is the One who holds all things together, who was the power behind all that we see today as creation.

One of the greatest mistakes man makes is to fail to equate the written words with the person of the Word himself. We read the bible and apply reason, logic and brainpower to what we read, thinking that we can rationally process what we read. We read so as to obtain head-knowledge, not heart-knowledge and a relationship with the Word Himself. We spend a long time looking for inconsistencies in the words written, or we seek out portions that support what our sinful hearts want to do; forgetting that the Word of God can only be properly understood, processed and applied with the help of the One who authored it.

If you want to unearth the resources and wealth of the Word, you must come to the Author. You must apply his rules and listen to Him for guidance and inspiration and teaching if you really want to know what He wants for you. The Word is so powerful that He knows our innermost thoughts and desires; He can reveal even the deepest secrets of our hearts, things we thought we had buried deep enough.  He is the one that can take the worst of sinners and make him the best of saints. He is the one who can give you a word that will change your entire history and destiny. He is the one who can establish a whole nation on the faith of just one man who believed with his heart what the Word himself had promised.

What have you received from the Word? Does it appear as if the promises are failing and you just don't know where the fulfilment will come from? God never fails, his Word cannot fail because He is God and is fully in charge of the affairs of man. All we need to do is to hold on to what we have heard and believe in Him who has promised. If God cannot fail, then his Word, which is He himself, cannot fail. Hold on, hold fast that which you have heard and received. May his plans and purposes come to pass in our lives. His time of favour is here.

PRAYER- Lord, help me trust your Word. In these strange, faithless times, let my soul be firmly anchored on your Word. Amen.

Comfort, God's Way

Day 38- Comfort, God's Way

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 KJV

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

As we run this race set before each of us, we need to be reminded of God's expectation and demand for and from our lives as we run. Let us quickly establish something: God never promised us an easy race; in fact, everywhere he spoke about what to expect, he kept using words like 'burden', 'cross', 'yoke', and related words. These words do not connote an easy ride, so I wonder where else in Scriptures people find words from God that promise a smooth, trial-free race as they run.

Today's extract highlights a few lessons for us as we run: God is a God of mercies and comfort. This shows that when you are in God, you enjoy benefits and blessings that the world cannot comprehend or understand or explain. There are so many kinds of mercies that we enjoy; so many benefits, so many blessings. We travel and turn safely, through routes that others had perished in, we enjoy miraculous provisions, we enjoy healing in our bodies, we have peace in the face of the most trying circumstances. These are just a few of the numerous blessings that God gives. Did you notice that there is nothing mentioned about the world here? There are many things of God that the world cannot comprehend, because it does not know how God works it out.

How does a woman who has lost a child rejoice and remain faithful? How does a man who has lost everything rejoice and sing songs? How do you explain a man's strength in the midst of the most trying circumstances? It then shows that what man needs most is not what the world can give. When it matters most, and troubles come, the world will have no answer because it does not understand what is needed. When troubles come, you can only find help in the person who has fought the system and triumphed. He says in John 16:33 NIV:  “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” If you are looking for comfort and convenience in the world, then you will have to live on the terms of the world. If you are looking for comfort God's way, then you have to seek God on his terms, not yours. Job faced things that the world could not prepare him for. His friends came and in ignorance, said a lot of things. Job held to God and eventually, received back all that he had lost and more. What lessons can the world teach you about coping with loss and death?  Daniel was an upright boy but he found himself in captivity along with other Jews of his generation. There was an easy way out: blend in and feast, or stand out and maybe die, or slim down and waste away. He took a risk on God, stood by God, and we read about him centuries after. It all came down to a decision not to seek the world's comfort, but to seek God first.

That is the summary of our thoughts today. Seek God first. It is not about what I can get, but what God wants for me. It is not my life anymore; God now lives through me and I must surrender all to Him if indeed I understand what it means to trust Him. Whatever direction he takes me, i know that he is with me and will not let me go. All that I need, not what I think I want, will be provided by Him. The world does not have what I need; God alone does. The world cannot understand why, only God answers those questions. What we need, the world does not supply. Let us therefore seek God out today, so we can enjoy what he has for us. His time of favour is here.

PRAYER- Lord, help me depend on you for everything I need. The world has nothing I need, you alone have all that life needs. Help me trust you and hold on to you for all situations that will come my way. Help me overcome. Amen.

Priorities and Pursuits

Day 37- Pursuits and Priorities

LUK 12:29-31 ASV

And seek not ye what ye shall eat, and what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: but your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. Yet seek ye his kingdom, and these things shall be added unto you.

We live in strange times indeed. The world has taught us many things: how to get the best education, how to amass wealth, how to enjoy what life has to offer. It has not however taught us how to trust God for the core things that we need; it cannot teach us this because it does not know how to. It is a basic principle of life that you cannot give what you do not have.  The world has principles, processes and procedures, yet people in it still lack direction, focus and integrity because the world's principles are founded on the wrong premises. The world emphasizes labour, strength and intellect; God just asks that I believe in Him. That is hard, especially when everything around you is threatening to fall to pieces.

It would appear strange that the Bible is asking us not to worry about basic necessities of life. We all know how important food, clothing and shelter are to our lives. We cannot do much without these, yet God is asking me to leave the details of that to him to work out. All he needs me to do is to seek his kingdom here on earth, and he will sort me out.

This extract teaches a few lessons: it is important to be fed and clothed, but it is more important to understand that nothing you do by your own power can guarantee the provisions of these things. Our salaries and savings deceive us, and we think that these will help us in the day of trouble. Believe me, trust in God and his power is absolute; you cannot trust him in part, while checking your bank balance secretly. You cannot confess your trust in God, while having a backup plan in case he fails. The other extreme is to worry so much about where the next one is coming from that we do not see when the present happens. We are so focused on the next meal or the next provision that we have forgotten to thank God for present blessings. Both extremes are outside God's divine purpose for our lives.
What should I do? I must see and seek  God in all that happens around me. An understanding of God that I have is that he's interested in my daily life, no matter how boring. Why would God feed people for 40 years in the desert; people without jobs, farms or houses? They fed everyday, without fasting. In fact, they were so spoilt that at a point, they complained about the monotony of the food. May God open our eyes to the need to understand that God is interested in our daily living and in our eternal life. Everything he does, gives and says is tailored to be a seed sown towards our eternal existence. No wonder then, that he needs me go seek his kingdom.

When I seek his kingdom, I'm asking that he comes down and reign in the affairs of men. I'm asking him to be King and Lord of all. I'm asking him to establish his Righteousness in the earth, so that the inhabitants of the earth will see what they are missing. No wonder the people of the world have to pursue these things for themselves, as nobody will do it for them. We have a God who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think. The way? - Seek his kingdom. When you take care of God's business, God will take care of your own too. His time of favour is here.

PRAYER- Lord, help me trust you completely. I reject every temptation to trust in human structures and efforts, and I focus only on God and his power. Amen.

Christ Alone

Day 36- Christ Alone

Colossians 2:8 NIV

See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.

There is a trend that is going on now that is frightening and is slowly gaining ground in the Church circles. I used the word "Church" carefully, so as to distinguish between the real depth and the surface of the issues we are dealing with. Our experiences have made us lazy and fearful, and we have contracted our security and peace into the hands of mortal men like ourselves; men who cannot help themselves in the day of trouble. We have allowed the fear of the unknown lead us into bondage of the present, thereby mortgaging the unsure future into the hands of an insecure god. Men who are to show the way to Christ have shown that they themselves do not know where they are going, but because they must keep body and soul together, they gather together gullible and impressionable minds together, tell them what they need to hear, and keep them in continuous bondage so that they can keep coming for more.

We listen to convenient messages that make us comfortable, not convicted. We are okay with words that stir us our emotions, not our consciousness of sin and its evil. We want to hear that God is a God of prosperity, not a God of Righteousness; we want to hear that he is a God who has all we need, but not what we have to give so we can become what he wants us to; we want to hear that he is a God of mercy after we have wilfully sinned, but we do not remember he is also a God of judgement just before we wilfully commit the sin. Actually, God is both and much more, but unfortunately, we have chosen sides with convenient truth that we are comfortable with. He is a God who has everything you need and has promised to supply everything you need. Nowhere did he promise that everything you want will be given to you when you want it.

The Bible declares in John 8:32 AMP:  And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free. Truth is a person, not an idea or a concept, or something a man of God tells you it is. If what a man tells you is contrary to what God has said, know that it is falsehood and a deception. Even if it looks and sounds 'spiritual', look it up in the Word of God and let the Truth himself lead you aright. Most times, we are too lazy to search for truth, and a starving, empty man will grab whatever is offered as food, poisonous or not. There is a God-shaped vacuum in every man created by God and something must fill that space, good or bad. You have a choice as to what or who will fill that vacuum: God or the false teachings of man.

Make up your mind today to seek God for yourself. Man is not the standard, God is. Man is not the determinant of truth, God is. Man does not have what you need, God does. Seek him out today, for his time to favour you has come.

PRAYER- Lord, help me to seek you out as the only Truth that I need. Keep me away from false and deceptive teachings, and help me focus only on you as the Truth that sets free indeed. Amen.

Peace!

Philippians 4:6-7 NIV

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

We live in a world of ever-changing values and standards. The world never seems to know where it is going or what it wants; that is why trends come and go, fashions come and go, and sin always seems to become more and more daring. We live in a world of darkness, a world that is comfortable with evil because its prince himself is evil. This is the same world that God has asked us to live in and make an impact in. How do we do that? How do I live as a sane person in a crazy world?

Today's extract seeks to help us focus on the important things. There will always be distractions, but the quality and target of your focus determines the quality of the output of your life. If I focus on what the world has, and I pursue its allure and attractions, then I have opened my heart to a lot of heartache. No matter how much you have, you are never satisfied because the focus, target and pursuits are all wrong. It does not matter how much you justify the pursuits, as long as they are done outside God's prescriptions, all you have amassed will fall away with the test of time. 

So, what is expected? There is a strong advice: there is something I must avoid, and something I must do. I must avoid anxiety, and I must pray about everything. I cannot do one without the other. Many times, we do the opposite: we talk a lot about the issues, we complain a lot and grumble about what we are passing through, but we do not do the needful: Pray. Until we do that, we are not entitled to the blessings that come from obeying these instructions to pray. But as we pray, we are telling God that we cannot help ourselves, and we depend on him absolutely to help us, we tell God that we have no strength in ourselves, but we depend on the grace of God for everything that we need.

As we go out today, let us remember that we are not equipped to fight life's battles by ourselves; God wants to help if we will allow him. We must be willing to let go and let him work. As we surrender to him, he fights on our behalf and does what we could never have achieved, no matter how hard we tried. Pray today, his time of favour has come.

PRAYER- Lord, help me to put everything that is bothering me on you today. I have no power of my own, but I depend on the grace that you alone can give. You have all power and all strength, and I know you will help me even as I pray. Amen.

Grace, Grace

Day 30- Grace, Grace

ROM 5:20-21 NIV

The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Oh, what an amazing grace we have received from God. Indeed, sin came in through Adam, and all generations of men since Adam have been born in sin. We could not do much about our birth status, but the gift of Christ has settled our life status.  We did not know too much about Adam's sin, but we know all about the free gift of life that God has given us through Jesus Christ.

Basic foundation- God needed to regulate the affairs of man when man had sinned. He gave us laws and rules to govern our conduct and conversation, but because there was a sin-problem, obedience was difficult. The law itself did not have a problem, but because it was given in a regime of sin and rebellion towards God, it was not possible for sinful man to willingly obey the rules. We established yesterday that a man under the control of the flesh can never please God. No wonder laws have not been able to successfully modify man's behaviour or compel him to obey God of his own free will. The more laws we have, the more lawless our society has become. This is because the law does not and cannot address a problem that it does not understand. Sin was in the world long before the law was given. Only an offering that was before sin could solve the problem of sin, and only the son of God himself fulfilled those conditions.

No wonder, then, that it is only through the grace of God that we can overcome sin.

Walk Worthy

Day 29- Walk Worthy

Ephesians 4:1-2 NIV

As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Romans 8:29-30 NIV

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

There is indeed something peculiar about the faith that we profess; there is something deep about it that cannot be understood on human terms or with human wisdom. For all who have been born of a woman have received a call to work for and with God. It doesn't matter into which family you were born; as long as you are human, you have received a call from God that nothing in life can take away or dispose of until you have died physically. Its not, really first of all, a matter of salvation; it is a matter of birth and an investment of God in eternity. There is a supreme knowledge of God that is seen in the pages of Scriptures like  Psalm 139:16 NIV:  Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. This verse points to the fact that God's call is not really about our choice of salvation but first of all, our choice of birth.

It is when we have accepted him as Saviour and Lord that the call finds true expression. The call has always been there but whatever God has put in us will only answer to his voice in us. We can't discover the call of God or his purpose for our lives outside of him. We cannot force it out, neither can anyone tell us what it is. We can only discover what it is when we come into the saving and liberating knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Paul's charge here, therefore, will make no sense to the man who is yet to know Christ. The call is there, but he has not yet heeded. But for all of us who claim we have known him and experienced him, are our lives showing proof that we are headed in the direction God wants us to go? Can we claim that we are truly working worthy of the call we have received? It is a call by God, not by man, and it is a call to work for God, not man. The standards we are to follow are therefore, not man's, but God's. It is a call to an unusual life, one that the world does not understand or comprehend. It is a call to service to God on his terms and time, so that the world will see the greatness and the glory of God in and through us. The question is: are you walking worthy of God's call?

As we go out today, let us remember that we are on duty for God, not for ourselves or to please man. Our terms of our calling are determined by God, not man. Fear God, not man. Remember that every man will himself stand before God for judgement. His time of favour is here.

PRAYER- Lord, help me walk worthy of your call upon my life. May I live in your fear, so that my life will be a message to my generation. Amen.

The Battle for Your Soul

Day 28- The Battle for your soul

Romans 8:6-8 NIV

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

As we have established yesterday, there is no sitting on the fence when it comes to light and darkness. The light and darkness are governed by two different laws and lords, and they were not created to co-exist in the same space at the same time. No wonder at creation then, that the first thing God did was to speak light out of the darkness that covered the earth, separating light from darkness. There were lights created to rule the days, while other lights were created to rule the nights. 

The same picture is applied to the spiritual here. The Flesh and the Spirit are two very exclusive powers and realms, with their own laws and powers, and we all must fall under the control of one of them. Before you make a choice between two opposites, you have the power to choose; you can take your time to choose, but as soon as the choice is made, the end-results or consequences of your choice begin to follow you. That is established in the extract above. The end of flesh's control is death, while that of the Spirit is life and peace. Fortunately, the choices we make are not permanent; we are free to switch allegiances as often as we like, as long as we are alive. Unfortunately, because the effect of our choices are not immediately visible and apparent, we keep thinking we have much time and we can switch allegiances anytime we like. By the time reality dawns, we have crossed into immortality and the consequences of our choices on earth will determine where we spend eternity.

Make no mistake: the flesh can never please God. There is no sacrifice, moral living, alms giving or physical show of piety that can make up for the lack of substance that the Spirit gives. Just ask Cornelius of Acts 10. In the old testament, the people had to offer the blood of bulls and goats so many times, just to cover up their sins. The blood could not wash sins away, so the sacrifices were grossly inadequate for the remission of sins. Christ's sacrifice, however, was a once-for-all offering that took away sins permanently, and is a free gift we are invited to take advantage of. No other offering can please God, because the best and the greatest offering has already been made. If a man would therefore seek to please God, he must take advantage of this free gift on offer. The Spirit gives life and peace to all who accept this free gift, and at the end, eternity is secure. Let nobody deceive you into thinking that we were made to live forever on earth here. Yes, we will live forever, but the choice of residence is determined by the choice of masters we make while on earth here.

People, the choices are laid before you. Men like Joshua, Moses, Samson, Judas Iscariot, Demas and Alexander the metalworker all made their choices at different times. The results of their choices are seen in the stories we read in the bible. The world is reading us today. What are your choices? Who is in charge? His time of favour is here.

PRAYER- Lord, help me decide for you. The world holds no attraction for me, and I know that you have the best plans for me. Give me grace to follow you and depend on the help of the Holy Spirit every day of my life. Amen.

Living in Light

Day 27- Living in Light

JHN 3:20-21 NIV

Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

Indeed, the extract above rings true in our generation today. We have mastered the art of walking and working in darkness, while convincing ourselves that we are not too far away from the light. We have learnt to silence or ignore the voice of our conscience, while telling ourselves that 'It doesn't matter'. The more you live in darkness, the more light becomes strange. I have noticed that the standard is not based on what we think but on what God says. As long as you cannot hold your deeds, thoughts and lives before the light, then it means you are comfortable with darkness.

It is not about what you tell yourself is right; the standard has been laid out by God and if anyone will make an impact, he can only do so according to the standard God has already laid out. Sometimes, it is good to ask yourself: If I knew that Jesus was physically standing beside me, and I know that he is God, would I still do what I am about to do? The disciples in Antioch did not call themselves Christians; their neighbours and friends looked at what they did, how thy talked and how they lived, and they knew that something was different about these disciples. If your present life is not bringing glory or pointing to God, then your life may still be in darkness.

What you don't have, you cannot give. A man who is in darkness will keep running away from the light, while the man who is in the light will keep himself from all the works of darkness. The two cannot co-exist; you cannot have a hand in both. You are either in the light or in darkness. You cannot sit on the fence between both, because there is no middle ground.

As you go out today, work out your allegiances and priorities. Where do you stand? What are your interests? What are your pursuits? The answers to these questions will give you an idea of where you stand: either in light with God or with the devil in darkness. A warning though: both have eternal consequences. No earthly life was created to live forever in this human form; we were created for eternity, and our lives here and now are the preparations for our eternal home. Where will you spend yours? Decide today, for his time of favour is here.

PRAYER- Lord, help me decide for you. Keep me in the light of your Word, so that everything I do, say or think will bring glory to your name. Amen.

No Doubt

Day 26- No Doubt

James 1:5-6 NIV

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

Wisdom is a necessary tool for life. A lot of the issues we face today are the results of the application of head-knowledge rather than heart-knowledge. We read a lot, but we read more of the wrong things; we go to school to get educated, but we are not enlightened. We spend a lot of money on the external, forgetting that an investment in the internal will sort out the external. We spend ourselves on the things that do not last, forgetting that the important things are the eternal things, the things that God is and gives. I do not belittle education, but our seeking knowledge must be purposeful, and with eternity in view.

Let us sort one thing out immediately- true wisdom is not found anywhere else but in Christ. Every other knowledge you could have outside of Him is just knowledge;  anyone who reads anything has a knowledge of that thing. It is one thing to know, it is another thing to understand, while it is yet another thing to be able to fully grasp the importance, understanding, function, timing and application of what you have known. It all starts with knowledge. How do you know God outside of his word? How do you understand what he demands of you if you do not study his life-manual? How do you know how to apply what you know if in the first place, you have not even taken time out to find out what he wants you to know. God's Word is life but until it is read, studied and applied with the help of He that inspired it, it will remain a mystery or at best, a story.

This extract is important, as it establishes from the very start, our need for absolute dependence on God. Wisdom cannot exist outside of Christ himself, as the Bible has established in 1 Corinthians 1:24 NIV: but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  True wisdom is found in Christ, because he alone is the way to the Father. God is ready to give to all men, no matter the generation or the age, as long as we ask without doubt. Doubt, in itself, is a sign that you don't believe that what you are asking for is possible, and that God is powerless to keep his promises to you.

God, who owns everything on earth and in the heavens, has told me to ask. I have nothing to lose, I will just ask God for wisdom. Our walk and work on earth require wisdom; our living and breathing require wisdom. Only in Christ do we find all that we need to make a success of our lives. Ask God today, for his time of favour is here.

PRAYER- Lord, I ask for wisdom today, give me in accordance with your promise in your Word. Direct my steps, my words, my conduct and my life so that I can be a blessing to my generation in Jesus' name. Amen.

Stand Firm

Day 25- Standing Firm

1 Peter 5:8-9 NIV

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

There is a war going on everyday in our lives, whether we are aware of it or not. The war is spiritual but its effects and results are always physical. The war is not fought on physical grounds or with physical weapons, but in our minds, hearts and lives and with weapons that the human mind cannot fathom. No wonder the Bible says in  2 Corinthians 10:4-5 KJV:  For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.... It is a spiritual war, fought with spiritual weapons and fought daily and regularly while we are on the earth.

The warnings above are therefore apt and relevant to our generation today. Somehow, we have watered down the fighting part of our walk and emphasized more of the comfort part. We have told people that our God is a God of prosperity, without reminding them also that he is a God of war. Have you seen anyone dividing the spoils of war without fighting a single battle? We have told people to come to Christ, and all their problems will be solved, we have forgotten to remind them that there is a yoke that Christ expects me to bear, with His help.  Little wonder we now have 'Christians' who think it is a jolly ride, who are in it for what they can get out of it, and will walk away when the heat becomes unbearable.

Paul warns here that we have to be alert and sober. These remind me of a watchman on duty: he cannot associate with frivolities while on duty; he dare not sleep off while on duty, it could mean death; he must be on patrol, alert to any danger and ready to fight off any evil. There will be fights, there will be attacks, there will be opposition. That is the picture of our walk with God. Whoever says that Christianity is 'easy' has either be lied to or has not fully grasped the expectations of God for the new relationship s/he has with God. The devil is never sleeping or resting, neither are we allowed to do so. He is looking for people to devour, we are to resist him, by standing firm in the faith.  There is an assurance of victory because He who leads us has defeated the devil once and for all, and he alone is capable of granting us continual victory over the devil and his wiles. The devil has been defeated, but we must stand firm and secure that victory every day of our lives. One joy also is that it is not peculiar to us alone; the entire body of Christ is at war but we are led by a captain who has already won.

As you go out this week, remember that the battle is not fought on physical plains but is fought in the spiritual. Victory has been secured but we must fight to secure it in our lives. We are never left alone to fight, His presence is an ever-constant part of our lives. Victory is assured, because his time of favour is here.

PRAYER- Lord, help me depend on you totally as I fight the good fight of faith. All I need has been provided and secure in you; may I constantly trust in your power and grace for constant, daily strength to secure what your death and life have established for us. Amen.

Walking in the Spirit

Day 23- Walking in the Spirit

Galatians 5:17 NIV

For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.

If you thought that your Christian race was a walk in the park or a stroll of comfort, you need to read and internalize the words above again.  There is a running battle for your soul, and there will always be a struggle between the flesh and the Spirit as long as you live. No amount of Christian maturity ends that struggle; it is your surrender to and reliance on God that gives you continuous victory over the power of the flesh. Paul was the one writing these words, and for a man who had experienced God and seen him at work, you would think that some struggles were beneath him. Fortunately, God does not save us so we can become superhumans, but so that the supernatural God could show forth his awesome power and grace even in our weaknesses.

When Adam sinned, he died, even though not physically. There was unbroken fellowship with God before the fall, and there was work to do. Adam and wife needed to tend the garden, take care of God's creation, and avoid the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They had a choice to make: obey and retain the fellowship, or disobey and lose the relationship. We are where we are because of the choices they made, and the world is what it is because of the choices it keeps on making. The devil knows that the man without the Spirit is open to whatever the flesh suggests, and he also knows that the man who is under the control of the Spirit may one day show some weakness, and then he will strike. He can't allow the 'flesh' man to come in contact with the Spirit, and he will ensure that the 'Spirit' man comes in contact with a lot of 'flesh' temptations. Therein lies the battle and the struggle.  No matter how hard you try, it is not in your own power to overcome the flesh, but it is total reliance on the Spirit that will give you victory. You do not fight the 'flesh' with 'flesh' weapons or on its own terms; a higher power, a greater force is required to conquer the flesh. You don't fight the 'flesh' once, conquer it and go to sleep; it is a lifelong battle, a continuous one that only ends when there is a translation into eternal life. There is no retirement, no graduation and no experience in fighting that can help; only a daily, continuous reliance on the Spirit will guarantee you daily continuous victory.

As you go out today, remember that the world has its power and allure, but the Holy Spirit is the Presence that makes all things right. Rely on him today for victory. His time of favour is here.

PRAYER- Lord, help me depend totally and absolutely on you. As I fight the good fight of faith with your help and your weapons, I know that victory is sure and secure only in you. Keep my gaze only on you, so that I may endure to the end. Amen.

Fear of God

Day 22- Fear of God

Ephesians 5:3-4 NIV

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

In this season of favour God has called us to, we have established that there are rules guiding operations and persons in that season. God has called us on his own terms and we cannot run our own agenda on his own watch. We must do what he has asked, because in his wisdom and power, he has called us into a new relationship with Him. The world has its standards, and it holds its own people accountable to its standards. Unfortunately, its standards are never firm or certain, and are subject to varying conditions and circumstances. God's standards, however, are stable, firm and consistent, and will not bend to accommodate any person, no matter how gifted or talented. It does not matter what age, grade or generation that you apply it to, God's Word remains true and right because they are older than time and man.

From the extract above, one thing must be established- identity. Until you know whose you are, or who you belong to, this passage will make no sense to you. For you to live according to the demands of this passage, you have to be God's own person. You cannot mix with the world and live for God at the same time. You were called out of one to live in the other, so you cannot be in both at the same time. Because I am a city set on a hill, whether I like it or not, everything I do or say or however I act will be interpreted in the light of what I have confessed to follow. If I claim I follow Christ, believe me, the people of the world know what a Christian looks like or must act. I will definitely be held accountable to that standard. If I am of the world, then the world knows and appreciates its own.

This decision will determine what you pursue and what your priorities are. God says there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, no impurity, no greed, no foolish talking, no coarse joking, among others. I see here a lot of things we explain away on the basis of our humanity. We claim that because we are social beings, we cannot but share in these things. This argument may be the reason why the world cannot see any difference. We don't stand out because we fear the world and its judgement, forgetting that it is the true and righteous judge that has called us and he will demand an accounting of our lives from us one day. The world will not be there that day to defend us, so why do we act as if we cannot live outside the world's standards?

God calls us to dance to a different tune, to speak a different language, to live by different standards. His prayer in John 17:15-16 NIV makes sense:  My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.  They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. We are on assignment, not for ourselves, but for the God who loves us and gave his life for us. He alone is the One whose word counts, because he alone has given all of Himself to save us. No other person, no other idea, no other god can boast of that. I have made a decision, how will you decide? His time of favour is here.

PRAYER- Lord, help me live for you on your own terms. The world is indeed distracting and alluring, but eternal life is my goal and my pursuit. Keep my eyes focused on you so I can reign with you at the end of my life. Amen.

True Life 2

1 John 4:13-15 NIV

This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God.

In our last discourse on the subject of knowing God, we asked a question: Do I know God? That must be the lifelong pursuit of any man who would make impact in his generation. If you have known God, there would be evidences in your life confirming that. If indeed God is known by you, your life will be a living, breathing testament to the greatness, power and favour of God. One way God places a claim on who he owns is by giving his Spirit to that person. It is amazing to consider the exploits and miracles done by mere mortal men, simply because they surrendered themselves to the control of the Spirit of God. The Spirit does nothing of his own accord, he simply glorifies God by working out the miraculous and the extraordinary through an ordinary life.

Because of the work of the Spirit, we have seen men come to Jesus and obtain eternal life. We have seen the worst of sinners become the best of tools for the spread of the gospel. We have seen men confess Jesus as Lord, and testify to the amazing grace that the knowledge of God brings. What other proof do we need? What else needs to be said? Faith in and acceptance of the finished work of Jesus on the cross is the ticket to eternal life. Confession with the mouth and belief in the heart are all that counts. Every other thing is a waste of time. You can talk about it, you can read about it, you can hear the testimonies of others who have received it; it doesn't make it real for you until you truly experience it.

Jesus is the only way. I have experienced it but you don't have to take my word for it, because my own faith cannot save you. You must find God for yourself and accept him, so you can fully enjoy the benefits and blessings his life has sealed for you. His time of favour is here.

PRAYER- Lord, as I decide to follow you today, cleanse me from sin and make me thine alone. Let me life be an acceptable offering to you, a life that will show forth the glory of God. Amen.

True Love

Day 20- True Love

Luke 6:35-36 NIV

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.  Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Anytime i have to I read the verses above, I keep reminding myself that Jesus is asking me to treat my enemies this way, not my friends.  The world has taught us the principles of sowing and reaping, so that we are conscious of what we do to others so we can expect much more from them. God's Word however teaches the same sowing and reaping, but on broader terms than the world's. The world asks that I sow, so I can reap from where I sow, God teaches me to sow, because he alone can cause seed and fruit to spring up from places I never even sowed in the first place. The world asks that I sow seed into grounds that are prepared and favourable to the seed, so that naturally, the seed will bear fruit, God teaches me to sow seed into grounds that does not look favourable or attractive. This is because he is the One who produces bread for the eater and seed for the sower, and he has not run out of ideas on how to make the grounds of our lives bring forth increase beyond our investment.

I have learnt that God's principles and lessons run deeper than the world's expectations. I cannot run my life on the world's terms and expect heaven's blessings; I cannot run with the world's rules and demand heaven's prizes. I must walk, run and live according to heaven's standards and expectations if I'm to really enjoy the fullness of the blessings that heaven has for me. One of heaven's standards is to love regardless of the response and reaction. Love does not act simply because it is appreciated; love acts because it is in its nature to act. Love does not wait for an appropriate or equal response; love acts, no matter who the target is or what s/he has done. God sent his Son to die for us, not because we had done him any favours or we were good people then, but his love looked beyond what it could get to what it could give to make a difference.

That is the love God has called us to. It is the loudest message we can preach to the world through our lives, conduct, conversation and company. It is the kind of love God showed and is still showing, and all who claim to know God must love the way he loved. We cannot do less and we cannot hide. The moment I gave my life to Christ, I simply asked God to make me a city set on a hill, whose light cannot be hid. I must shine His light to the world and make him known, and love for all, no matter what, is the way to go. His time of favour is here.

PRAYER- Lord, teach me to love others the way you have loved me. Help me be an effective witness for you through my life, words and conduct. Amen.

True Life

Day 19- True Life

1 John 2:5-6 NIV

But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.

There is a grave danger in our world today and it is hypocrisy. We have mastered the art of deception, where we have learnt all the posturings and practices of Christianity without any knowledge of the Christ in it. We can mouth all the confessions and flow with the in-crowd in church; in fact, we can do everything church-goers do we sing, we dance, we jump and generally flow with the mood of the people around us. There's no distinguishing factor, no motivating experience, no peculiar relationship with the God of the church himself. How, then, can I introduce to someone else, a God that I have not met or known, with whom I have no relationship? How do I show forth the life and light of God when I do not have either in me?

Today's extract seeks answers to one fundamental question, one that we must answer if our lives will make sense and make impact in the world we have been put. The question is: Do I know God? It is not about reading about him in the bible alone or listening to sermons about him in church. These are good but they are not sufficient. After you have read and heard, what do you do with the knowledge? Does the word fall on fertile ground in your heart, where it can grow to full maturity, or does it fall on the unprepared and unwillingly heart, where nothing can take root or bear fruit?  Your answer to the question above is a function of what you have done with the knowledge of and about God that you have.

If indeed I know the Lord, love for him and what he demands will not be difficult for me. If he says I should love my enemies, it is because he has released the grace to make that kind of love possible. If he says I should walk in his steps, it is because he has walked my way before and he overcame, therefore he is capable of seeing me through whatever situation that may arise as I walk in obedience to him. I must live as He lived, I must love as he loved, I must walk as he walked and I must speak as he spoke. My life is no longer mine to hold and control; Christ paid the full price for my sins and gave me a fresh start in Him. He has become the guide, the leader and the way I must go. My life must find direction, purpose and fulfilment in Him alone. Can i truly say that this is true in my life? His time of favour is here.

PRAYER- Lord, help me live for you alone. The world has various offerings and distractions, but I choose to follow you alone. Help me to be all you have created me to be, so that my life can make the impact it was created to make. Amen.

Whose Side?

Day 15- Whose Side?

Isaiah 26:9 CEB

At night I long for you with my whole being; my spirit within me watches for you. When your judgments are at work in the earth, those living in the world learn righteousness.

I have seen the great deeds that God has wrought on the earth and in the lives of those who daily seek him. I have also seen the wickedness of man at work, where man lives lives and acts without accountability, living in sin without a thought for eternity. The conclusion I have built over the years is this: God is a Righteous God, even though it does not appear as if he is quick to punish sin or deal with offenders. He is still in charge of world affairs, irrespective of the issues and problems the world is faced with presently.

Today's extract underlines this truth, and I see the verse above in two parts: a personal search and decision, and a worldview and conclusion. If my life must make meaning and have impact in my world and generation, I must settle the issue of my personal relationship with God. God is always looking for someone he can use to advance his purposes on earth and he will not force anyone against his/her will. We must come to Him of our own accord, willingly surrender to his leading and work with and for Him. Whatever you are searching for with your whole bring takes paramount interest in your heart and life. Nothing else matters until your heart's desires have been met. In the same way, we must seek God with all our hearts and being, if we must indeed impact our world for God. Only a man that has been molded by God in the secret place can be used to build up his world for God in the public domain.

Secondly, when we all have been dealt with by God in the secret place, then our lives can become visible testimonies and worthy examples in our world. People who have taken God's corrections, discipline and instructions to heart and are living right on His terms are the people who can impact their work and world and teach the world righteousness according to God's standards. Many times, the world does not care about our lip-confession because our life-confession does not match what we profess. We act as hypocrites, thinking we are deceiving people, forgetting that there is a standing promise from God- Galatians 6:7 CEB : Make no mistake, God is not mocked. A person will harvest what they plant.

As we go out today, remember: you are the loudest message the world can read and learn from. When I live right and you also live right, God's righteousness and judgements are established in the earth and the world will notice the difference. We are the city built by God, set on a hill. We cannot be passive or sit on the fence. God is counting on our decision to live for him and work with and for him. Would you? His time of favour is here.

PRAYER: Lord, help me live for you. Make my life a visible testament to your grace and mercy, so that through me, your righteousness and judgement can be established on the earth. Amen.