How Do You Plead?

The Lord is near to all who call on Him, To all who call on Him in truth (without guile). He will fulfill the desire of those who fear and worship Him [with awe-inspired reverence and obedience]; He also will hear their cry and will save them.
PSALM 145:18‭-‬19 AMP

Man has standards for various aspirations. God also has a standard for l who will come to him: he wants men to seek him in truth. This may sound easy, but bible history tells me it is not. Recall Amaziah? Read God's verdict: "He did right in the sight of the Lord , yet not wholeheartedly. 2 CHRONICLES 25:2 AMP. Man may celebrate your commitment, but God judges on the basis of the heart. Do you know the danger? Mam can convince himself that his heart is right, whilst God is judging the heart on the basis of its secret intentions and motives. Check out God's verdict on man's heart: “The heart is deceitful above all things And it is extremely sick". JEREMIAH 17:9a AMP

When you are dealing with a God that cannot be deceived, should I not be careful to find out and pursue what he desires? He promises to be near to all who call on him in truth, not in hypocrisy or insincerity. When I fear God, I got nothing else to fear. When I discover the secret of worship and adoration, I discover the power of God to save, to deliver, to heal, to bless, to help and to uphold. When they cry, he hears.

Check your heart again today: don't let your heart tell you it's all okay; let the creator of the heart tell you its true state. Human nature will not admit to weakness; God tells you what is wrong, and he provides solutions to correct what is wrong. His Spirit shows the truth of the human condition, and as we listen and make corrections where necessary, we become what God intends and can use. His time of favour is here.

Who's He to You?

The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and the One who rescues me; My God, my rock and strength in whom I trust and take refuge; My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower--my stronghold.
PSALM 18:2 AMP

As I read today's extract, one thing that strikes me so clearly is the relationship factor. This is just one verse but there are references to personal pronouns (Me, I and my) occurring 10 times. What you get isn't so much about what you know or how you are able to manipulate the system, but about how much of God you know. Lives have been built and others destroyed on the basis of the understanding about who God is and what he can do.

As I also read, I am reminded of the futility of thinking that having or knowing God makes you immune to trials and difficulties. Today's contemporary Christian has been fed on wrong doctrines: nowhere does God promise us a trial-free life; what is guaranteed is his eternal presence, power and provision to meet every need that may arise. If everything was so good, why would the Psalmist see God as a rock, fortress and one who rescues? If you have never been in need of a place to hide, or in need of protection from danger, you may not understand what this verse is talking about. Every bit about this verse speaks on God's nature and the personal experiences we all must have, so we can fully understand who God is and what he can do.

Let me say this categorically: one of God's attributes mentioned is the fact that he is the 'horn of my salvation'. I consider his salvation to be his greatest endowment, because it guarantees my eternity. When you call his name in danger, it is his nature to deliver, but beyond temporary relief, have you considered the eternal? Is God your salvation or have you found other alternatives to what you need? Victory over sin and all its children is only possible when God is involved. He desires to give us that, along with every other blessing he has promised.

Turn to God today for his help. He is willing and able to save, deliver and protect, only if we decide to come to him. It is a personal walk, a personal decision but with eternal consequences. His time of favour is here.

Driven by Vision

Where there is no vision [no revelation of God and His word], the people are unrestrained; But happy and blessed is he who keeps the law [of God].
PROVERBS 29:18 AMP

Vision can never be understood outside of the God of revelation. We emphasize the importance of degrees and learning, and while these are important, all they do is to unearth information. You amass a wealth of information through diligent search, but there is a step further: the path of understanding.

When I have invested so much time in acquiring knowledge, and I have not invested any time in understanding what I have acquired, I do myself no good. When I have understood the import of all I have learned and acquired, the crowning glory is the application of them all, which is the path of wisdom. All three - knowledge, understanding and wisdom - form the fulcrum of today's extract.

I can never know what God wants from and of me unless I take time out to study his word, know what he wants from me, understand his purpose for my life, and pursue that which I am convinced is his perfect will for me. I may know all the Scriptures by heart and be able to recite all by heart, yet they will do me good, like the Ethiopian eunuch, unless there is understanding and application. When God is absent from a life, it does not matter if the world applauds you. When there is no order, direction or guidance from God for my life, then I will lack direction, impact or purpose. Destruction is the end of such a life.

The opposite position is also clearly stated: for all who will keep the law of God, their joy will know no end because they will be directed by God himself.  Faith, like vision, cannot be seen with the naked eye or touched by hand, yet you will know when it is lacking in a life. God would have me seek him and his perfect will, as this is the only way to making impact. His time of favour is here.

God's Nature

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

God is not unjust: a statement of deep conviction, borne out of experience. You cannot fully comprehend God, how he works or why he does what he does, but one thing is very clear: he is not unjust. It is in man's nature to be unpredictable, to sometimes pay back good with evil, to be insincere and hypocritical in his actions and intentions. Man can make promises and break them the next moment without a twinge of conscience. However, God is a lot different from this.

He asks that I live, walk and work for him and that he will bless me in return. His Word is eternal and forever settled, and like he affirmed to Jeremiah: he is "watching over his Word to perform it".  His promise is that he will guide me in the paths that I should go. His promise is that he will bless the work of my hands, done in line with his will. His promise is that every labour of love will not go unnoticed or unrewarded.

It is clear that people around me are the raw materials for my blessings and how I deal with them will determine if I get blessed. God expects me to be his hand, his eye, his mouth, his ear and his heart, extending mercy and grace to all who I come in contact with. Everything I do is done in his name and to him, and he will surely reward. Man may consider him to be slow; man may be tempted to speed up the process, but one thing is clear: whatever God has said is cast in stone, nothing can shake it or change it, because it is backed up by God's unchanging nature. Is there anything he has told you? Hold on tightly to it; the season of manifestation is  at hand. His time of favour is here.

How's Life?

This, in essence, is the message we heard from Christ and are passing on to you: God is light, pure light; there’s not a trace of darkness in him. If we claim that we experience a shared life with him and continue to stumble around in the dark, we’re obviously lying through our teeth—we’re not living what we claim.
1 John 1:5‭-‬6 MSG

It all starts with a personal encounter with Christ. The power of your testimony and the strength of your witness is tied to your inner content. The apostles and Paul who wrote almost the entire New Testament met with Christ, and it showed in their entire lives. In fact, the Pharisees and Scribes at a point claimed that these men were  turning the world upside down. A life that has met Christ must have the same effect. Light is so clean and pure that the smallest trace will light your way even in the deepest darkness. You can't explain its power but its effect is seen everywhere you find it.

If I have truly met and known Christ, his life will be lived out in me. I cannot claim to know him, yet live a life of darkness and sin. I cannot have God living in me and still make space for sin in me. I would have to step out of Christ if I am to engage in sin or acts of darkness. I would have to deny that inner voice if I am to satisfy the flesh and its desires. You can't sit on the fence, or take a middle course; you are either all in or all out.

When a man comes to Christ, the promise is that the old life is taken away, and a new life imparted. His Life, Light and Grace become visible in that life. That person becomes a living, breathing testimony of the grace and power of God to all men. That life becomes a message of Christ to a world struggling for identity and direction.

Do you know Christ? Does he know you as his own? Carefully consider your life's focus and contents; eternity is tied to the truth of your response. His time of favour is here.

Located Right!

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous [be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy]; I have overcome the world.” [My conquest is accomplished, My victory abiding.] JOHN 16:33 AMP

Jesus warns us ahead of time of what we are getting into when we decide to follow him. He's not like the modern preacher: giving out well - constructed sentences to lull you into a false sense of prosperity. He does not promise to supply ALL we ask for, but all that he determines that we need. Nothing in the world, no matter how lovely, can give you peace; only the Prince of Peace can guarantee you that.

The world may not get better, but I can grow deeper in my walk with God, so I can be all that he has purposed for me. Even when things fall apart around me, God picks up the pieces and puts them back together again. My inner man determines my external status; I don't allow the uncertainties of life determine my joy; I rejoice in God because I know that his presence is key to my joy.

This has always been real to me: God is more interested in building my character than in giving me comfort and convenience. He wants to wean me away from self-sufficiency into a state of absolute dependence on God alone. He wants me to focus solely on him, because only as I focus on him can he guide my steps away from every snare of the enemy. As I trust him completely, I walk into his permanent victory, secured for me long before I was born. His victory is abiding, his conquest already accomplished. He is God, not because I call him so, but because that is who he is. Long after I have ceased to exist in this life, God will remain God. He knows what he is saying, as he is the ruler over all things. His time of favour is here.

Call!

I love the Lord , because He hears [and continues to hear] My voice and my supplications (my pleas, my cries, my specific needs). Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call on Him as long as I live. PSALM 116:1‭-‬2 AMP

I am because God is. All I could ever become or do is tied to God's nature and power. One of the things that God has proven himself to be is a God who hears all prayers. It does not matter how the prayers are said; the key factor is the heart where the prayers proceed from. When you pray from the heart that loves God, the words and the attitude will always be different.

Check out today's extract again. It does not say that the writer loves God because he gives him all he wants. He simply loves God because he is one who listens. His response to my prayer is a function of who he is and his plans and purposes, not what I can give him. God hears and continues to hear, and because he is a God of mercy, his answers will always line up with his nature.

It takes maturity and a deep understanding of who God is to keep calling on God all the days of your life. Can you hold on to God in trouble like Daniel, in exile in a strange, godless land? Can you dare trust God totally for his strength like Paul, even when there is a thorn in the flesh? Even when you know that a brother and fellow disciple like James had just been killed, can you dare sleep in prison like Peter, even when you know that execution is just the next day?

God is not a magician. His plans and purposes are eternal, and I can only express my love for him when I cooperate with him. His plans are always good, no matter what they look like now. I learn to hold on, confident that God will sort me out and work out that which is his good, pleasing and perfect will for my life. His time of favour is here.

Get the Life!

Jesus replied to them, “ I am the Bread of Life. The one who comes to Me will never be hungry, and the one who believes in Me [as Savior] will never be thirsty [for that one will be sustained spiritually].
JOHN 6:35 AMP

It is easy to be deceived by man's obvious sincerity. We can pretend to be sincere, we can pretend to be serious about spiritual things. But there is a God who sees beyond the obvious into the truth. He is the one who reads hearts and motives and knows when we are pretending or when we are sincere.

Recall the background to today's extract: people had just ate bread miraculously provided and they needed a regular supply. Who wouldn't want that? So, a search for Jesus began. When the people found him, they exclaimed: "When did you get here". Someone else would have taken the pains to explain himself, but Truth will never hide. Jesus challenged them, just as he is challenging us today: " Do not labour for food that perishes".

This truth applies to all our lives. We seek out tokens of success; we seek out temporary solutions to eternal questions. We come to God expecting quick fixes and we leave disappointed, because God is not a magician. He's not interested first in your comfort but in your character. He wants to build us up to depend totally on him, not on created things like us.

He calls himself the Bread of Life. Bread sustains, it must be eaten daily if it is to sustain life. He satisfies both hunger and thirst, and sustains all through life. He is not a temporary fix; he is not an emergency application; he does not force himself into us. We must seek him out and hold on to him daily for all that we need. Our greatest need is the eternal, when that is settled, every other thing is settled. His time of favour is here.

Action and Reaction!

But as for me, I will sing of Your mighty strength and power; Yes, I will sing joyfully of Your lovingkindness in the morning; For You have been my stronghold And a refuge in the day of my distress.
PSALM 59:16 AMP

It does not matter what has gone before or happened before: it matters what I do in the present. The power of the present is this: that is the only time you have control over. You cannot predict the next minute, but as long as you have breath now, you can determine what your life choice will be.

The Psalmist here had enemies on every side; in fact, the introduction to this psalm made reference to Saul's pursuit of David. However, he made a choice of focus: he would rather focus on God's mighty strength and power, than on the enemies' feeble attempts to kill him. It's all a matter of perspective. You can be so focused on enemies that you miss the greatness of God's power and might. We can celebrate the impact of the enemy around us by talking so much about him, or we can celebrate the eternal power and greatness of our God. It's all about perspective.

Your relationship with God will determine how you react in the face of the devil's attacks. When you are not sure of your stand in God, or you are distracted by the cares and worries that the devil magnifies before you, you will likely pursue options. But when you are like the Psalmist, sure of your stand, confident in the knowledge of God's greatness and certain about his power to preserve and keep, the only certain response is praise.

Hard days will come; distress will knock on the door; tribulations will sweep in, but when God is your refuge and praise is your lifestyle, you are founded right and you are bound to overcome. Don't let the world's view of success fool you; outside of Christ, nothing lasts. His time of favour is here.

Stand Fast!

It was for this freedom that Christ set us free [completely liberating us]; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery [which you once removed]. GALATIANS 5:1 AMP

As i read the context of the extract above, i am reminded of what waiting for God's promise looks like. Abraham was promised a son, but like all of us humans, he just had to speed up the process. He got a son by his own effort, outside God's original plan. Yet, God's unshakable promise stood. That's how it has been since creation: 2 phases, 2 laws at work. I have a choice to make: do I hold on to the promise of God, or do I go after my own devices?

Holding on to my own devices is telling God that I can take care of myself. I am sure that Abraham never grasped the eternal implication of what he did. Self-help or self -sufficiency can never lead to the new freedom in Christ, because both are founded on different covenants. You don't come to Christ on your own terms; you come seeking Christ as he commands.

Christ did his bit so I could enjoy the benefits that his life guarantees. Nothing else can secure eternity for me. I can't bribe him with possessions; he already owns the heavens and the earth. I can't offer him blood of animals; the precious blood of his Son has been shed once and it is valid for all time. I can't plead good morals; it was not enough for the rich young ruler, it was not enough for Nicodemus or Paul, it was not enough for Cornelius, and if it is the same God, it will never be enough for me.

I do have a part: standing firm, not subjecting myself again to slavery. Standing firm here does not connote my own strength, but standing in the One who can sustain me. I will never succeed on my own, or make it on my own, or secure myself by myself; I must keep depending on Christ alone for help. He alone can hold me up, even when everything else around me is falling to pieces. His time of favour is here.

Get the Son!

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.
John 3:36 NIV

Can we indeed be selective about what we believe about God? Can I pick and choose what I want to believe, while i reject every other inconvenient truth? If I really want to have a full and complete life, what is fundamental is to first uncover the sincerity and truth of the person making promises or making statements, and test if he is trustworthy or not. When I have settled that, then I can stand by whatever decisions I make.

I believe God is the Creator of the whole universe. Everything I see around me points to the wisdom and craftsmanship of superior wisdom. I believe God is the sustainer of all that has been created. We sow, and reap later, not knowing how the process of growth and increase occurs,  but yet, the cycle continues. I believe that God gives life. Everyone existing on earth was made from a mold known only to God, and with all  the knowledge and 'wisdom' circulating everywhere, man has still not be able to make an exact clone/representation of himself. I also believe that God can take life, after all, if it belonged to him in the first place, then he can choose when it will end.

If i accept the truths above, can i then doubt what today's extract says? If the owner of life says that true life is found in his Son, do I have a superior argument against this assertion? It is not enough to know about the Son, or to have heard about him. The distinction is that you must 'believe in' the Son. Life has been offered fully and freely, and the gift still keeps on giving. It will not be withdrawn until it is fully withdrawn and all men would have to give account on their decision about the gift.

True Love will not let you go without reminding you again of the futility of this life. We acquire possessions, yet cannot possess eternal life outside the Son. We strive for position, yet do not bother about our eternal position. We labour for power and impact  here on earth, forgetting that it profits a man nothing if he gains the whole world yet loses his own soul.

God calls out today in love now, reminding us to accept his gift. He is Life, and all who come to him receive life in abundance, both for this present phase and the one to come. His time of favour is here.

Do Good!

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Galatians 6:10 NIV

The admonition to do good here is not a strange one; it is steeped in history. From the story of creation, we see good woven into every aspect of life. God himself, being a good God, created all things as a function of his nature, and when he had finished, he saw that everything was very good. He then commanded man to continue in that good work and improve on what he had done. That is the foundation of our lives.

Sin tried to tamper with that template. With sin came several other evils, such as murder, adultery, hatred, jealousy, homosexuality and the like. At that point, good became less attractive and evil easier to engage in. We were helpless and hopeless without God. However, God, being good, always had a plan of restoration. He wasn't going to allow the devil win. So, he put his eternal plan in motion, made a way of reconciliation and restored the original plan.

Now, we are asked to do the same good that we were mandated to do from creation. If I have been rescued from evil, I owe it to God to spread the same benefit to others. If I appreciate that God has given me life, the best I can do is to share that life with other people.

This is the key thing: the greatest good you could do is to plant eternity in the heart of man. You must meet needs where they are, you must extend love where hate exists, but the greatest good is to ensure that the good God, who you have come to know and receive, is also known by all men. Would it profit any man anything, if all his needs were met down here, but his greatest need was not met? No matter how much good you receive or do down here, it is for a while.

So, let's do good to all men. It does not matter what their reactions may be; it does not matter whether they repay me evil for the good I do. What is key is that I understand what God expects, and I keep at it. Good retains its nature, irrespective of the reactions against it. Even in the house of God, men may reject you and what you do, but keep at it. Reward is not tied to other people's response but to the sincerity of my own action. His time of favour is here.

Non-Negotiable Life!

And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among people by which we must be saved [for God has provided the world no alternative for salvation].”
ACTS 4:12 AMP

Names are important. In every culture, in every tribal leaning, what you are called is a function of how you were born, or a prophetic utterance into your future. I recall Ichabod, born to one of the sons of Eli, meaning "The glory has departed" and indeed, the glory had departed. The story of that birth was the first and last time in the bible that both mother and child were mentioned. I also recall Jabez, born in pain, and named after pain. He had a fundamental understanding of who God is, so he took his case to God in prayer. Of course, God heard his prayer and changed his destiny. His name didn't change, but a whole lot did.

Here is another name, one that is not given by man. A child whose destiny was prophesied long before he was born; a child whose name and purpose was settled even before creation began. His name is Jesus, and he is the one approved by God for the salvation of man. Just as today's extract says, God has not provided any other alternative, and he has not given any man the power to save. All that man needs has been put in that name and as man calls on the name and believes in the Son, he receives salvation and eternal life.

Here is the dilemma: can I trust God partially, holding on to one promise, and rejecting his other words? Can I trust God to protect me, provide for me and guide me, simply because he says he can, yet reject his words that say No other name can save? Can I choose and drop whatever is not convenient for me, forgetting that believing and accepting God is not on my own terms, but on God's own terms, and he has stated clearly what he wants from me. What will be your decision? Accept or reject? Remember - every decision has eternal consequences. Nothing of the world can guarantee you safety from the world; only God can. I know my decision. His time of favour is here.

STOP! No Worrying

“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
MATTHEW 6:34 AMP

I am once again reminded of the futility of worrying about tomorrow. It has become obvious that there is nothing I can do to change what is happening presently, or what may still happen, but the one thing that is expected of me is what has been outlined in the verse before today's extract: "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His Righteousness".

The world has created an image of success and led us to think that you cannot be reckoned with unless you conform to that image. Men are on a constant pursuit of 'success', not even sure how it is defined, when they have had it, or what it looks like. We just keep running, pursuing and fretting. Today's extract encourages us not to worry about tomorrow. Very easy to say, but the realities facing us daily prevent us from taking God at his Word. We want the convenient, the comfortable and the predictable, but what would be the basis of faith if all we desired was  predictable?

It is a walk of faith, a race of faith and a fight of faith. There are times when it will look like stupidity to keep holding on, but hold on all the same. There are times when letting go and giving in will look like good options, but stay the course. God has so planned it that every day's provision has been keyed into it, so all you have to do is to show up. If God wants you to have it because it is tied to his vision for your life, he will provide it. If it is not, no matter how hard you try, you won't get it, and if you get it by foul means, it won't do you any good.

So, I leave the uncertainties to God to sort out. I trust him in the present and for the future, knowing that he is able to do all he has promised. What of you? His time of favour is here.

True Friendship!

Better is an open reprimand [of loving correction] Than love that is hidden. Faithful are the wounds of a friend [who corrects out of love and concern], But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful [because they serve his hidden agenda]. PROVERBS 27:5‭-‬6 AMP

What kind of friend are you? God's divine arrangement is that nobody exists on his/her own, and nobody has everything s/he needs for life. There is an amazing interdependence between man, with one person helping up another in an area of weakness, and the person also being helped in an area of weakness. That's the picture of a body, as Christ explained it in detail.

I can claim to love someone, but how I handle the pressure of compromise or complicity in wrongdoing speaks a lot about my sincerity. Love they only speaks and is not matched with corresponding action is empty and vain. I can talk all I want, but if I keep quiet when there is a need to speak, or I blend in when I  expected to stand out, then what I have is not love as defined by God. Open reprimand is better than secret love, but there are times when love too can be private and its effects are seen in public. The Holy Spirit's leading is key in this  regard.

Am I a friend who is interested only in the gain of friendship, without any corresponding plan to be a blessing to others? Am I so focused on material gain, instead of eternal value? I have come to understand that investing in my eternal destination and in the eternal destiny of others is the best way to spend life. Possession, power, privilege and position are all transient; the people God places in your life are the ones with eternity at stake. Can I dare speak up to correct a wrong? Can I take correction when I am the one in the wrong? Am I a mouth-confessor alone and not a life- professor? His  time of favour is here.

Reflections!

The way of the [arrogant] fool [who rejects God’s wisdom] is right in his own eyes, But a wise and prudent man is he who listens to counsel. PROVERBS 12:15 AMP

Quick evaluation: have you recently reviewed your life and priorities? What conclusions did you arrive at? What was the basis of the review? Did you subject the review to the test of Truth as defined by God or as defined by your own subjective standards?

As we walk from day to day, we show to the world proof of our foundations. Today's extract talks about two sets of people, and all of us fall in one category or the other. There's no middle ground. The fool is the one who rejects God's wisdom and thinks he is wise in his own eyes. He does not need to say so; his life's fruits will show it. Sin also blinds; it seeks to keep you from seeing yourself as God wants you to: helpless, blind and hopeless without him. As long as you can help yourself, as long as you can sort things out, as long as you can make things happen as you want it, you will never admit your need for God.

The wise one is the one who knows s/he is nothing without God. He's wise and prudent, not because of educational degrees or positional advantage or an ability to plan, but because of his relationship with God. Trust me, degrees are good, position is good,  possessions too have their uses, and well laid out plans are awesome, but at the end of the day, these will not help you, if you go on without God.

Life will throw you curve balls. Life will threaten the foundation of your  faith and seek to test what you claim to have. Would your foundations stand the test? His time of favour is here.

Located Right!

What a God he is! How perfect in every way! All his promises prove true. He is a shield for everyone who hides behind him. Psalm 18:30 TLB

Let met introduce to you the God that I have come to know. I confess that I can only speak on what has been revealed to me; God can choose to reveal himself in over 7 billion ways to each of the over 7 billion people on the face of the earth.

He is perfect in all his ways. The world's view of God isn't the right opinion; God's revealed truth is. He works from his determined end to where I am at the moment, meaning that everything I am going through now MUST end as he has planned.

All his promises prove true. The challenge is whether I trust him enough to wait for him. As someone said, we are a 'microwave and cosmetic generation', always interested in the quick-fix, the fast and the furious, we quick and the easy. Unfortunately, I have not seen the man God uses without first testing and proving him. His resources are precious and invaluable, and will not be wasted on a life that will not work it as He determines.

He is a shield to all who hide behind him. Check out God's position and your own location. You don't determine where you want to stand; you seek out the right place and hide yourself there. God is a  shield, yet he does not go imposing himself on people. He makes the invitation, and waits for a response and reaction. Don't think that because you know God well, and he has committed some great things into your hands, you can now run ahead of him, even where he has not sent you. You are only asking for trouble. The right position is to hide yourself behind him, nowhere else. Not even beside him as an equal, not in from of him as a superior, but in him, behind him. When troubles come, they must go through him to get to you. When things don't make sense, you don't have to worry about the facts, just make  sure you are located right.

So, where are you? Do you know this God? Does he know you as his own? Have you found in him a resting place, not a rented space? His time of favour is here.

Come One, Come All!

Now the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles (Booths) was approaching. Now on the last and most important day of the feast, Jesus stood and called out [in a loud voice], “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink! He who believes in Me [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Me], as the Scripture has said, ‘From his innermost being will flow continually rivers of living water.’” JOHN 7:37 - 38 AMP

It was festival season, a time of merriment and rejoicing. You can get so caught up in the festive spirit and forget the essence of the celebration. All Jewish feasts were a reminder of what they had experienced in the journey to the promised land,  but after a while, the essence was lost. I must watch myself, lest I also become like this: holding on to practices and conventions, not sure why but doing them anyway.

Jesus had to take time out again to remind the people that it is only in Him that true fulfillment exists. You can adhere to rules and still not rule with Christ. You can hold on to a form of power, and still lack the Power of the Holy Spirit. Don't focus so much on the outward; pay attention to the inner.

The invitation is for all men to come to the true source of life and take of him freely. It is an open cheque, but only those who write their names on it, take it to the bank of God's mercy and cash out will enjoy the benefits highlighted above. You can sit down all you want and talk of the good days, but you will not experience any outside of the only one who does good. It is open to all, but unfortunately, it will only benefit all who will come.

Of course, with God, you always get a glimpse of what is ahead. The decision to come and partake of the offer will open a wellspring of life, which seals your present redemption and eternal salvation. That simple acceptance of the offer and inviting Christ into your heart guarantees permanent residence with God. Life down here may be tough; but as you know, it was not built to last forever. Only God does. Trust him. His time of favour is here.

You are Your Strength

My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.
Psalms 73:26 NLT

In the  light of the new school messages that claim that everything has to work right when you are a Christian, passages like these are not popular. These days, we feed and thrive on messages that underline our new status as Christians, people who are free from everyday stress, regular trials and life-defining experiences.

Paul, a man used mightily by God in the new school of faith, lived a life of balance, because he knew God for who he is and what he could do. He wasn't following God because of a feel -good experience or the promise of a better physical life. Here is a man we quote a lot, when issues of provision, protection and vision cone up, yet we forget he wasn't always so strong. He had a 'thorn in his flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment him', yet he stood by God, walked with him, worked for him, lived for him and died in him.

God does not settle for just our physical comfort; he wants us to have an all -round experience of who he is. When I know God for who he is, the experiences he brings my way will make sense. When nothing even seems to work, I am reminded that God is still there for me. In the extreme,  what if God decides not to heal, but to prove his power and might through the illness, would I let go? If God decides to 'keep quiet' over my struggles, can I trust his wisdom, knowledge and timing over my life?

The conclusion is just key: it does not matter what the NOW looks like; the eternal is fundamental. I must not lose sight of what is truly important, which is God's purpose and plan. He can use whatever means he pleases to work out his purpose, all I can do is to trust him. I confess that I may struggle sometimes, but I am learning to let go. I am learning that God's purpose is bigger, better and deeper than what my mind can fathom, so I just must let go and allow him do as he pleases. His time of favour is here.

Know Where You Stand

For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.  But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. James 3:16‭-‬17 NIV

It's time for a review, not by human standards but by God's own standards. Man has the tendency to deceive himself, and by his own strength, may not be able to handle the Truth. We can convince ourselves that our way is right or our choices are the best but one thing is clear - it is not what I say that matters; it is what the Truth says.

Let's review - does my heart envy others? Do I think I am better than others, maybe because my gifts are visible and people can easily point them out? Do I look down at others who are less gifted, less talented than I am? Do I push myself forward, striving to be at the top of the line, not minding how I get there or who I have to step on to get there? In a world of competitive advantage, it is difficult not to be ambitious, but what price am I willing to pay to get to the place I desire?

Or is my heart the one that first seeks purity and peace in relation to all men? Am I considerate of other people's interests? Am I willing to ever suppress my own desires for the sake of the advancement of someone else's? These are deep questions, but it is important that I consider my heart and answer truthfully, in the light of eternity.

Both conditions would  bear fruit that will look like the investments that have been made. When my life is examined, in the light of the Truth that cannot lie or be deceived, what would be the verdict? Would my life produce disorder and evil or would it produce good fruit, the type heaven alone can inspire?

The world is evil, it does not consider any one's interests but its own. Those who claim to know God must however follow higher standards and strive for heaven's priorities. What would it be for me? His time of favour is here.

Empowered Right!

In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might.
EPHESIANS 6:10 AMP

After encouraging various classes of people, including children, parents and servants, he concludes with the extract above. Why is my source of strength important? This is because whoever is holding me up will determine how far I would go. It does not matter how well I have read the situation, or how prepared I am for the challenges of life; I can't know more about tomorrow than the One who created it, therefore I need to consult the author/creator if I am to navigate properly.

Strength can be sourced from various places: man has found inspiration from power, position, possessions, privilege, and others. Some have found strength from false tokens, trusting in men's lies and placing their hopes on things that cannot save. The word for today is: 'be strong in  the Lord'. You cannot be strong anywhere else or by any other means. Nobody can provide you with the resources you need or the inner core of courage that you need to face life's challenges. These are bound to come, but whether you stand or fall is dependent on your inner core, the One who is holding you up.

You are empowered in union with Christ, not outside of him. You only matter when he is all that matters to you. His strength and might are available for all who will come to him as they are, conscious of their inabilities but full aware that God can deliver.

What would it be for me? Would I trust completely or do I want to try other options first? He is waiting, arms open wide, to receive me, if I only trust him completely and give him all I am. His time of favour is here.

It's Official!

If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 1 John 4:15 NIV

What it takes is first a heart that believes that Jesus is the Son of God. If I do not believe anything, I can at least believe the testimony of the One who calls himself God and has provided testimony about the One called Christ. In one place, heaven opened and God publicly declared: 'This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased'. At other times, men and women had met with this man, and the clear conviction is that indeed, this is God's son.

Our greatest asset is our brain, but it could also be our greatest limitation. Most times, we strive to explain certain things with our thinking abilities, forgetting that what is created can NEVER understand the purpose, logic or reason of the Creator, without seeking to know more from the Creator himself. If I must know and understand the reason why I am, or my place in the scheme of things, I can only find out that truth from God, the Creator.

So, it all starts with the heart. It searches, it questions, it seeks to discover and understand. If it does it right, it will find out that without a doubt, God is who he says he is and he can do all he has said he can do. When the heart has found the truth, it must just acknowledge that indeed Jesus is the Son of God. Any discovery that nullifies that truth cannot be from the God who says Jesus is his Son. Of course, the heart, mouth and life can never be in disagreement for a long time. What the heart believes is what the mouth speaks, and it is what the life produces. You can only pretend  for a while or try to deceive others for a while; eventually the truth of your  heart's condition will manifest. When you believe and confess right, God dwells in you and reveals more of himself to you. The greatest discovery in life is that of purpose and it can never be done outside the One who designed the life and determined its purpose.

What do you believe? What are you holding on to: truth or other options? His time of favour is here.

Set Right!

I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Psalms 16:8 KJV

In the scheme of things, it is important to lay out your priorities and know where each fit. How you handle your life is a function of the order of your priorities. Life will always want to throw you off-course; distract you from the necessary and occupy you with the important. Oh yes, there is a difference between the necessary and the important. Ask Jesus, when talking with Mary and Martha. You can be busy, focused on what is critical and key to life, yet God would have you focused on something, maybe less significant, but in God's opinion, fundamental to life.

It is therefore important to set the priorities right, so I can stay the course, irrespective of what comes. What I set before me as important will keep inspiring me to be remain committed. Today's extract says the writer had set God always before him. It is not a temporary arrangement, or an emergency protocol; God was always going to take first place with him every time. Is this the same about me too? Is God the sole focus, or is he one of many options? Is he always the focus, or he is only considered when things get tough and ignored when things don't go well? It really does not matter to me what answer you give; it matters to you what priorities you pursue.

I also see that the reason why a man will not be shaken isn't so much about outer strength, physique or build, but about location. You can build the highest fences and buy the latest in security gadgets, yet the next storm will wipe you out because you are not located right. God's right hand is so big that it can take every single one of us on earth - over 7billion people, yet we don't come to him because we do not want to lose our false sense of Independence, which sin awoke in us, but cannot cure.

The world will shake all who are in it; only in God can you be truly safe. If God calls himself a rock and refuge, it means that whatever is coming to you must pass through him and overcome him before it can come to me. It then means that whatever he allows is programmed to do me good. It does not matter how long it has stayed or how deep it has gone; it is God's tool to shapen, sharpen and smoothen me into what he can use for his glory.

So, where are you? Your location determines your allocation. Your pursuit of vision will determine the provision that will be made available. His time of favour is here.

It's Personal!

Permit the length of this piece, wish it could be shorter.....

They called them back and warned them that they were on no account ever again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus But Peter and John spoke right back, “Whether it’s right in God’s eyes to listen to you rather than to God, you decide. As for us, there’s no question—we can’t keep quiet about what we’ve seen and heard.”
Acts 4:18‭-‬20 MSG

Deep words that go to the root of who we are and our understanding of who we belong to. When powers that be want to dictate what you should do, how you should behave and where you should go, how do you handle such? This warning to the apostles was given by authority, backed up by law. You can argue for respect for constituted authority but when the choice of life and death, or standing and compromise come up, how would you react? If a law is made today that goes contrary to all you have held on to, what would you do?

You cannot determine what kind of rules authorities would make. You can only pray for Godly leaders. What if you get leaders who don't know how to lead right? We are in a godless world, daily moving to the precipice of destruction. At a time, it was not permitted to talk of homosexuality: now the law of some countries back it up. If you can't support, then you must not oppose it. Slowly and steadily, we are breaking the bounds of morality and decency, and authority is backing up this abnormalities. In the face of all these, what should I do?

Peter and John gave a response that is eternally significant: we won't legislate for you what you should do. We won't tell you what kind of laws you should pass, but the one thing you cannot keep quiet or kill is the strength of a personal experience of God. When you meet a man or woman who has met with Christ, nothing you do or say can shake that experience. Check out the response of the three Hebrew men to authority: 'we are not careful to answer you on this matter.' We have made a choice to follow the God we know, you can choose to make the laws you please. Daniel knew a law on godless prayer had been made, yet as was his custom, he opened his window and prayed, inviting doom. These were men who had experienced God firsthand, and knew that governments come and go; only God remains. Daniel served at least 3 kings, yet remained unshakable, because he had met God. Recall that both Daniel and the Hebrew men were in a foreign land, in captivity. Who would know if they blended in? God would know, and that was all that mattered. You must get to a point in your life when people's expectation of you is not as important as nurturing your relationship with God. You can speak well, be moralistically upright, yet be empty of that personal touch that makes all the difference. Remember the testimony about these same apostles earlier in the same chapter: 'Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.' Acts 4:13 KJV. You cannot hide the experience; it is a personal one first, but it becomes a loud testimony of who you know and who you belong to. When the issue of your identity is settled, the question of your impact is also settled. Whether you are on the far side of the desert like John the Baptist, or you are the city slicker like Paul, a man/woman with the right message will always command an audience. Whether you are banished to an island like John, or constantly residing in prisons like Paul, be sure of the contents of your life. When God knows you and calls you his own, you carry within you every PROVISION you need for the vision God has given you.

I must be able to answer this eternal question: have I met with God and has he met with me? It is not a question to be answered flippantly; it is not a question to be trivialized. You don't give an answer that pleases the crowd, or one that is deceptive. Forget the world and its allure; forget power and its transient deceit of grandeur; forget education and its inability to provide simple answers to the complexity called earth; forget possessions and their inability to fill that God-shaped vacuum that is in all men. Until God fills it, you will make noise and the world will applaud; but when God fills it, even your silence will speak and testify that indeed, you have met with God. Peter and John were unlearned, ignorant men who shook the world of the Pharisees, Sadducees and the teachers of the law in their time, not because they knew much, but because they knew the only One who mattered. Do you know Him? Does he know you? His time of favour is here.

Personal!

Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see— how good God is. Blessed are you who run to him. Psalm 34:8 MSG

It is all personal. The walk is personal, the race is personal, the fight is personal and the choice of eternal dwellings is also personal. Nobody can walk your walk, run your race, fight your fight or settle eternity on your behalf; you will have to do all that by yourself, leaning on God alone.

Today's extract underscores that personal touch. By yourself, with your own mouth, you will have to prove that God is who he says he is. By taste, we acknowledge the quality of what has been cooked, and if something is not sufficient or too much. By yourself also, you will open your eyes to see and prove who God is. It is a personal thing, never a joint effort. When you know from taste, nobody can offer you anything of less quality. When you know from sight, nothing else will look like it if it is not the real deal. However, when you depend on other people's testimonials about their own personal taste and sight experiences, how would you prove who God is? When trials and difficult situations come, how do you find God in the midst of the distress when you have never really known him? If all you know about God is what others say about him, you have a long way to go.

You can only do yourself more good when you run towards God. He is always there, with open arms, seeking to lift us up and uphold us with his power. However, he does not force himself on anyone. I must seek him out, though he is not far. That is the way to true blessings. Whether you crawl, limp, walk, stagger or run, find your way to God. The benefits are eternal. His time of favour is here.

Total Package!

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock. Isaiah 26:3‭-‬4 NLT

As it has been established, knowing God does not prevent you from being shaken. The Presence of God in you is not an insurance policy against trials and tribulations; you only have a sure place of refuge, protection, guidance and safety.  How do I know this: first of all, there is something called perfect peace. On this earth, outside of God, you really cannot have it. The world cannot give it because it does not have it.

Also, for you to enjoy that peace, you have got to trust in God completely and totally, with no room for doubt or anything else. Today's extract says 'whose thoughts are fixed on you'. As long as you have a second option, you would not totally depend on God. As long as you allow your thoughts to venture into the realm if alternatives, you may not enjoy the fullness of this God. Even when your thoughts wonder about the enormity of your problems, remember the nature of the God you have- the One called the eternal Rock. Trials have expiry dates; problems would always come and go, but the one thing that remains constant is that Rock, that God who is the same throughout all generations.

Trust isn't easy; it is built over time. Fortunately, all I have is time. God has given me time, and he has constantly proven himself to be trustworthy. His handling of my life shows his power; the impact of my life shows his investments in me. The best I can do is to ensure that my life testifies daily to the power, nature and grace of God. His time of favour is here.

Bridging the Divide!

The Lord is far from the wicked [and distances Himself from them], But He hears the prayer of the [consistently] righteous [that is, those with spiritual integrity and moral courage]. PROVERBS 15:29 AMP

One thing is clear: there is a big difference between God's ultimate purpose and desire when creating the earth and what we find now. There was a testimony then that at the time the earth and all its contents were created, God himself testified that it was very good. If I call God good, then all he does is coloured by his nature. Sin came in and distorted the original plan, but God, being who he is, made a plan for the restoration of his original purpose and desire for the earth.

So the battle rages on, between God's good and the devil's evil. The seat of the war is man's heart, and all you see around is the effect of sin, as well as the amazing dispensation of grace for all who will accept it. God's nature abhors sin, so anyone living in it can only access the grace of God that leads to salvation. Today's extract says that God is far from the wicked. All who live in sin are outside God, and all who reject God's mercy and grace are termed wicked. The other side of the divide is the consistently righteous, not because they know how to live right, but because they know who can help them live right and have put their absolute trust in Him. You don't become righteous by effort or labour; you can't add anything to the finished work of Christ. You can only accept it as offered, and enjoy the benefits that accrue from that relationship.

Check your residency status: are you dwelling in the camp of the righteous, people who totally depend on God for grace to walk well, or are you still fighting in your strength and wisdom, self-sustaining  and self-sufficient? Your location will determine your allocation. His time of favour is here.

Right Mix!

May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance. 2 Thessalonians 3:5 NIV

Life is a mixed grill. It brings you a fair amount of what we term the 'good' and the 'bad'. At least, that is how we interpret our experiences. We call something good because it appears good at the start, and we call something bad because our limited understanding sees it that way. I have come to understand now that God's way of seeing things is very different from ours. With him, nothing is bad, because for all who belong to him, all things work together for good. For all who have surrendered control to Christ and accepted his Lordship over their lives, everything that happens to them will be a testimony to the power and wisdom of God.

No wonder Paul was praying here that God would direct our hearts into God's  love first and then his perseverance. His love is what makes the experiences bearable, but you have got to know his love before you can stand for God in all the experiences. God's love is not like man's: just interested in pampering and shielding. Whilst God also pampers and shields, he brings in experiences that will teach us perseverance. You see, God's primary desire is not to make us comfortable, but to build our character. He wants to test what is in us, so he can entrust himself to us. When he knows my life will glorify him, he will spare no expense in teaching, grooming and preparing me for impact.

I must therefore prepare my heart for his love and his perseverance. Both are a complete package, needed to make me complete and  perfect. In both, the nature of God is revealed in me: God wants the world to know and experience his love through me, and he also wants the world to know that in Him, life may not always go the way you plan it, but at least, you have the confidence that the love of the Master of the Universe would not let you go to waste. His time of favour is here.

Matching Lifestyle!

As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should! Psalms 119:7 NLT

I can only live out what I have invested time, resources, effort and labour in learning. What is visible in my life is a reflection of life investments; if the investments are right or wrong, my life will be the loudest testimony.

There are many teachers out there, willing and ready to teach all who will listen. If you are interested in the wayward and the perverse, there are a lot of teachers who will teach the wrong. Like as being said, you must invest time in learning the right things. They don't come easy or cheap; you don't stumble upon truth by accident; you learn truth by careful study of the truth and you live right by aligning your life with the truth that has been revealed to you. So it is with God.

God's righteous regulations lead to a full life. His rules are not cumbersome, burdensome or stressful. They teach the way of life and also show the way, so we can decide right and enjoy what God has made available. When I have learnt what I should, the only way I can show appreciation for all he has taught me is to live right. What would it profit me to learn truth, know truth, yet practice falsehood? Why would I invest time and resources on what is right, yet refuse to live out that truth in my daily interactions?

So, am I living as I should, as determined by God? Am I grateful to God for his grace upon my life, or am I still living as I please? Irrespective of what answer I give here, the truth is known by the One called the Truth, and he alone will reward all men according to the truth. His time of favour is here.

Here and Now!

I’m not just saying this for some future generation, but for all of you. This age continues until all these things take place. Sky and earth will wear out; my words won’t wear out. Matthew 24:34‭-‬35 MSG

I assure you and most solemnly say to you, this generation [the people living when these signs and events begin] will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth [as now known] will pass away, but My words will not pass away. MATTHEW 24:34 -35 AMP

As God gives me grace to live from day to day, I am reminded of my earthly residency status and the inevitability of my eternal residence. I am constantly reminded of the futility of power, position, privilege and prominence. It does not matter what the world tells me or how it seeks to convince me that wealth matters and makes you a force to be reckoned with; realities have shown that the argument is baseless.

In light of the above, what do I do? How do I live? Do I fold my hands and do nothing, or do I just keep doing what I know best and how I know best? Today's extract underlines a key focus for us, and should serve as a guide to us: nothing you do here is in vain, but is a preparation for your eternal dwelling. Everything you engage in here is a seed that will  bear fruit eventually. As I observe all the things happening around me, I realise they were spoken of long before this generation. As far back as Jeremiah, Daniel and other prophets, God had always established the fact that nothing down here would last in eternity.

In the here and the now, what do I do? I must live daily in preparation for eternal tomorrow. I must work hard, conscious of the fact that life now is a preparation for life hereafter. I must not be so heaven- conscious that I am earthly irrelevant. I must work hard but note that my work must be one inspired by and will be blessed by God. I must plan for the eternal future, whilst taking care of the present. It is a balance I must seek and maintain.

May I not get to the end of my life to discover that I had focused on the wrong things and prepared nothing for my eternal dwelling. May I not be applauded here on earth for impact, while heaven does not know me as God's own. His time of favour is here.

Right Connections!

Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. John 14:22‭-‬23 KJV

What you get from God is a reflection of your connection with him. From the story of creation, God has always been big on relationship and connection with man, his greatest creation. He wants to sit with us, talk with us, cry and laugh with us, because he created us and identifies with us in all experiences. However, just as it was in Eden, we must make a choice: respond or reject.

A disciple, not Judas Iscariot, wondered why Jesus would reveal himself to his disciples, and not to the whole world. The key word for me is "US"- those who followed Jesus closely and truthfully, seeking his perfect will for them and content to trust him, no matter what happens. Even among the disciples was Judas Iscariot, a disciple by name but a thief by nature, and who missed out on the amazing promises made here. It goes beyond being called the right names or doing the right works; does Jesus know you as his own?

Jesus' response is instructive: IF a man loves me...... It is a choice still. I must decide what is important to me and pursue it wholeheartedly. My choice determines my pursuits and priorities. Love for Christ equals obedience and is rewarded with the abiding Presence of God himself. This is deep. Imagine the King of the universe making his 'permanent' residence in your heart. You only rent out a space which you do not intend to stay in beyond a certain period. The Trinity will dwell where the heart is right, not where there are uncertainties, doubt and double standards.

So, how's your heart? What are its present priorities and pursuits? Can Christ find your heart a conducive place to stay? His time of favour is here.

Staying Connected

constantly rejoicing in hope [because of our confidence in Christ], steadfast and patient in distress, devoted to prayer [continually seeking wisdom, guidance, and strength], ROMANS 12:12 AMP

Foundations are important. They determine the type of structure that becomes visible to the eyes. The earth itself has foundations as established by God and everywhere you turn, the earth reminds you of the greatness of the One who established it. The same way it is with every other thing.

Faith is also built on foundations. It does not matter what you tell yourself; your belief system is founded on something. Even if you claim there is no God, that belief is founded on something. Your life will always bear testimony to the quality and depth of your foundation.

When you are founded right, your life is lived right. It is not a function of having everything you want; it is a function of knowing the One who can do everything you need and much more. You are rest assured in God's power, so nothing you face can faze you. How do you explain joy in the midst of suffering and pain? How do you hold on to God even in distress, remaining steadfast and immovable? It is not such about personal determination but the stability of the foundation of your life. Even if you are sure of what you believe, can you hold on when the choice of life and death comes? The 3 Hebrew men, Daniel, Joseph in Egypt, Jeremiah are some of the men who had their foundations right. Life didn't treat them 'fair'; one was sold as a slave, at a time imprisoned for what he didn't do; another ended up with lions because he dared to identify with the right foundation. Another set ended up in fire because they knew who they had believed, while another was treated very badly simply because he spoke God's truth to power.

The same challenge goes out today: would you choose the easy way or the right way? The easy way is popular: no problems, no resistance, no hassles. Compromise is the name of the game. However, the right way is God's way: total trust, complete surrender and absolute confidence that God us who he says he is and he can do all he has promised. Check your position today; are you standing right? His time of favour is here.

All In!

I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. 1 Corinthians 1:10 NLT

It is a queer world. It teaches that to get ahead, you have to be smarter, better, more educated, more connected, stronger than any other person. The world teaches that life is a race, and that only the one who crosses the line first wins all. So, we fight, we burn bridges, we struggle to beat others, thinking we find fulfilment when we are sitting on top of the pile. Unfortunately, with God, this does not work.

Living in harmony with others does not deny your individuality; it means that you can rise above the things that emphasize the differences and focus on the things that connect us together. God made over 7 billion people, with peculiar characteristics and traits, yet put us all in his earth, asking that we live together as one. Do you think that God does not know what he is doing?

Just one small clarification: until you identify with Christ, you really will not understand the need and path of harmony. This advice was given to the church in Corinth, and is also given to us too, who have identified with the true body of Christ, not the contraptions set up by man. We are to be united in thought and purpose, which means that though we are separate and distinct as individuals, God's purpose is the connecting theme that gives our lives meaning and direction. It does not matter what your physical location is; in Christ, distance doesn't matter. His blood paved the way for us, his life flows through us, and the world is waiting to see the difference that his life can bring. Are you a vessel that this life can flow through? Are you all in? His time of favour is here.