Praise!

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 42:11 NIV

I wonder if the Psalmist had this present economic downturn in mind when today's extract was penned down. It has been one economic and political crisis or the other, and things seem to go from bad to worse. The effects are seen in the rising  spate of suicides and cases of depression. Reading today's extract, you get the feeling that there is something the Psalmist has experienced that he wants us to also know. He had seen the same issues we see now; he had also experienced depression and oppression in his own days, but the one thing that is critical to today's extract is that he made a decision on how to react.

You may not have a choice over the family you were born into, the schools you attended, the course of study and place of work, and so many others, but you can decide how to respond to the pressure. Like the Psalmist, questions will arise, agitating the mind, making you wonder where the help and hope will come from. However, one thing is sure from today's extract: you can only look forward in hope  when you are grounded in the God of hope. You can only look disaster in the face and overcome when you have the Lord of the storm in your life - boat. If you dare face life alone, without God and without his help, you are on a journey that will not end well.

Like the Psalmist, acknowledge the challenges; own up to the issues that you may face, but know that they would not end there. There is someone who is timeless, and who knows just how all will end, and what you need to end well. He has provided the resources in his Son, Jesus, and it is only as you trust in the Son that eternal hope is secured. Nothing else will cure the depression of this age. His time of favour is here.

Start Small

Train up a child in the way he should go [teaching him to seek God’s wisdom and will for his abilities and talents], Even when he is old he will not depart from it.
PROVERBS 22:6 AMP

You can't go to heaven on behalf of anyone; everyone of us has been mandated to work out his/her salvation with fear and trembling. However, there is a responsibility that has been placed on everyone of us, and it is to pass on the legacy we have received  of God to the next generation coming after us. But if you do not know where you are going, how do you lead others in the right path? If you are not sure what is expected of you, how would you pass on anything of note to other people?

The first step is to know who you are and who you belong to. When I have settled the issue of identity, the pursuit becomes clear. When I know who I am, where I am headed is also clear. When the Truth is the guide, I can clearly explain to others why the path is the right way.

The right way is of course linked to the Truth of God's Word. It does not matter how popular falsehood is; it will not stand the test of time. God's Word provides eternal direction for all generations, and is the right platform for the expression of talents, abilities and gifts given to anyone.  It does not matter if the world applauds you; if God is not glorified or happy with the expression of your gifts, you are not on the right path yet.

As you strive to plant eternity in the hearts of men, rest assured that you can only do your bit and leave the rest to God. How do I determine how long the seed I have planted will germinate and bear fruit? What if it takes 40years? What if I do not see the change in my lifetime? Fortunately, God is timeless and is not limited the way we are. His assurance is that when I do my own part, he is faithful and will do his own part. The seed sown will bear fruit when he pleases, not when I desire it. All I can do is to sow right.

Am I sowing right? Am I laying the right foundation? His time of favour is here.

Life - Thought

Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart]. PHILIPPIANS 4:8 AMP

Today's extract is addressed to believers first and foremost. Who you are will always determine your pursuits and priorities. The question of identity always answers the issues of thought and action.  What I do and how i think is a function of who I am and who I know. The world celebrates acquisition of possessions, degrees and other physical things; God starts from the heart, because  he knows that once the heart is right, the heart will understand the place of other physical distractions.

Today's extract emphasises the importance of the heart above every other thing. It is the heart that is the seat of decisions, emotions, speech and conduct. It is the heart that God searched out when he wanted a replacement for Saul. Others were physically well- built; God was looking for someone who had his kind of heart. Amaziah was a 'good' king as recorded, but the God who knows the heart of man inserted a record for the king: 'He served God all the days of his life, but not with a perfect heart.'. That is the testimony of the God who knows and reads  hearts, and cannot be deceived.

As you go out today, take out an audit of your heart. What are my priorities? What are the things that shake my heart or distract me from what God desires? Am I spending time and resources on the right things? Am I guided by the values of the only Truth God has established? Knowing who God is let's me know that any instruction he gives has eternal consequences. His time of favour is here.

Light and Life!

In Him was life [and the power to bestow life], and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness did not understand it or overpower it or appropriate it or absorb it [and is unreceptive to it]. JOHN 1:4‭-‬5 AMP

Talking about light and life, it will be difficult to understand these outside the one who personifies both. You cannot give what you don't have; therefore, if someone is referred to as light and life, it is clear that such a person is the one who can give both. In Him is life, as well as the power to bestow life. In him is light, which shines in the deepest darkness, which the world has not and cannot understand or respond to. This is the foundation of today's extract.

Forget whatever science may have taught in the past; there is something deep about creation that no laboratory experiment can explain. How do you use material made in the 20th century to sufficiently explain things that have existed since the beginning of time? What explanation can I give for the breath of God in me, which no experiment can replicate, and no human effort can stop when its owner calls for it?  A full realization of my limitations and God's amazing power and nature is the right balance.

True life has been sent to the world and he serves as light to the world. When the way is dark and uncertain, you find guidance only in him.  When evil or danger lurks, his light provides illumination and direction out of danger. Even when I do not understand what God does or directs, I can rest assured that if I am in him, he will guide my steps aright. The world will never understand or accept him, so I do not need to seek guidance from the world. The world will always work at cross purposes with the light, so I must make up my mind what I will accept as truth. His time of favour is here.

The Conclusion

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. Ecclesiastes 12:13 NIV

It does not matter what you think you know; it does matter what you do with the Truth found only in God. There are various versions of 'truths' as defined by the world, but only one version is the Truth, to the exclusion of all others. In this world, you will hear, see and experience many things, but the final destination will be determined by what you do with the 'Truth'. Do you know this Truth?

After all has been said and done, this is the conclusion: I must fear God and keep his commandments. I have to understand that God is supreme and over all, and he is the righteous judge, who will judge all men according to the real version of Truth, not the various models that man has established. Fear and obedience are interwoven into one piece, and you can never separate one from the other. When I fear God, I will be quick to obey him. When I lose my awe of him, his words make no impact on my heart.

Indeed, the whole essence of my creation is to give God glory. I was made in his image, so that my life would reflect his glory and virtue. If I do not act true to that nature, I give the wrong impression about who God is. When I do not obey the one o look like, then, I give the world the impression that I do not know who I belong to.

Whoever you are, whatever you are doing, pause for a moment and ask yourself: "Am I living true to my identity and ownership?". " Do I know who and whose I am". Your answer according to the only version of Truth that matters will define both your earthly impact and your eternal destination. His time of favour is here.

Right Storage

Your word I have treasured and stored in my heart, That I may not sin against You.
PSALM 119:11 AMP

Wherever your treasures are stored, that is where your heart will be focused on. When your attention is caught up with the basic, ephemeral things of this present world, then those things will determine your pursuits, priorities and the determinant of your eternity.

To get things in the proper perspective, a few things must be settled: the right material or content, the right storage place and the right motive for the pursuit. Let's look at these things. First, the Psalmist focused on the Word of God as the right material/content. Yes, life requires the application of so many things, but you can never define true success outside God's view. The world could celebrate you, but you will be headed for eternal doom if God does not approve of your pursuits. God's Word has been in existence long before the world as we know it now was created, he holds it all in place, and he will continue to  reign long after this present world ceases to exist.

Second, the Psalmist got the storage place right. You can commit verses to memory and be able to recite all by rote, but it will do you no good if you cannot apply them at the heart level when trials and tribulations come. Jesus had the Word at the heart-level, and was able to defeat the devil. We cannot afford not to do the same.

Third, the motive for the pursuit must be  right. If you will live right, please God and be used of him, you just must avoid sin. God and sin cannot coexist in the same heart. When you consider your eternal destination, you will do well to remember that God considered sin as a major issue when he sent his only son to die in our place. He didn't treat sin lightly; we had better not do same.

Focus on the Word; read, meditate on it, commit  it to heart, and apply it to your daily walk. His time of favour is here.

Defining Love!

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 1 John 3:16 NIV

There are more than 14 different definitions of 'Love' in some English dictionaries, but it is difficult for English to truly define love from God's perspective. The world would see love as something felt, something touched or something experienced, but for God, it is first someone before we experience what he has done for us.

When you read passages that say 'God is Love'; 'Love is patient and kind'; 'The fruit of the Spirit is Love....', you get the clear picture that love is actually deeper than just the feeling and the emotion. Love is first an experience of a person and then what the person has done for us. From today's extract, we see this love defined: Christ  laid down his life for us. That is deeper than anything you could have ever imagined before. At the time he did it, we weren't good in any way. We didn't deserve it, we didn't even acknowledge him. Yet, he did it all the same, and today, we have been challenged to do the same.

You may think it is hard, but when I am fully aware of who I am and who I belong to, life becomes less complicated. When I know the sacrifice made so I could walk in this new life, it should encourage me to embrace God and seek to do what pleases him. As I live from day to day, I put other people's interests above my own. I seek to plant eternity in the hearts of men. I strive to deal with men with the same heart of love that I have received. What if all my efforts are rejected? What if I am put to death for the sake of who I know and hold on to? Would I still surrender? Can I lay down my life, allowing others to walk all over it, simply because of the sake of the love of Christ which I have received? Deep words. His time of favour is here.

Hold On!

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 NIV

In this season of depression and recession, it is difficult to preach or teach or believe the message of hope. Men  live by what they can see, feel, touch or taste. However, for all who have come to the saving knowledge of the God of hope, you just must have a different experience of what holding on means. When you come to God, you don't come expecting that all the problems are gone forever; in fact, some of them become seemingly bigger. You don't come thinking that Jesus is the magic wand of provision, set up to meet all your needs. That was not the principal reason why Christ was sent.

We are encouraged to hold unswervingly to the hope we profess. The reason for the adverb is that there is a danger of falling away if you do not hold tightly or understand the reason why you have to hold on tightly. All around us, there are pressures to compromise and to give up, but the encouragement is that you have a faithful God in your corner. When all around you is sinking sand, God promises a stable ground for your feet.

Another reason why this charge is important is because there is no guarantee that you will ever get God to do things the way you expect. Did Stephen ever think that ' in spite of my holding on to God, here I am being stoned to death'. James the apostle was killed, nothing happened. John the Baptist was beheaded, nothing happened. Was it that God was losing touch, or was it that a bigger plan was unfolding? Dealing with God strips you of all sense of entitlement and makes it practically impossible for you to trust your instincts. God is the determinant of all that is called life and I can only enjoy the ride when I trust his wisdom and grace. He is faithful; that is an eternal truth. His time of favour is here.

Living Right 2

But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Jude 1:20‭-‬21 NIV

There is an unbreakable link between faith and the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of all who have accepted Jesus as Lord. Power exchanges hands at the genuine conversion of the heart, as there is a change of command and a new owner. It is a life- long journey, and a constant walk of dependence on the Holy Spirit for his help. You don't get to the final destination overnight; you keep walking, working and striving towards the goal.

The Holy Spirit is the one who makes everything tick; the One who ensures that the journey is worth it. How do you pray aright if you don't have God's presence to guide your words and thoughts? How do you pray in line with God's purpose and plan if you have no idea what God desires or expects? The journey ahead is far, has dangers and uncertainties and definitely requires the expertise of a guide who knows the terrain and the destination. That is the work of the Holy Spirit.

He is also the only way I can be sure of my eternal destination. I remain in God's love, as I keep depending on the finished work, nothing else. I can't trust my instincts; they could be wrong. I can't trust my heart; it could lead me astray. But as I depend on the help of the Holy Spirit, I receive daily insight on what God wants per time. I am never out of tune, no matter what the world says or thinks.

Eternal life is the end of all labour, so I must labour the right way and in the right direction. His time of favour is here.

Good Thoughts!

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord , thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11 KJV

God speaks here again. The context of today's extract is not so good. How do you hear God's voice when everything around you is falling to pieces? How does God catch and hold your attention when you are busy minding other 'valid' cares of this life? Here were people who had been warned by God not to delve into idolatry, but comfort and convenience had made them careless and carefree. Now, they were in exile- lost, hopeless and depressed. However, there was one thing they had that no circumstance or situation could take away from them - God's unending love.

I am where I am today because of that same love. Things may have gone out of  control, but the One who is in charge cannot be overthrown or thrown off balance. When all around me is sinking sand, He is the Solid Rock. You see, God's nature is not defined by my own inconsistent standards but by God's own unchanging standards. He is God, not because I say he is, but in spite of what I say.

I could be in trouble, yet God will be just a prayer away. I could be in a foreign land, unknown to anyone,  yet God would know my next steps. His thoughts are always good, because he is a good God who does good things. Even when things don't go the way you plan, God remains good. When you have prayed, like the Jews here,  expecting a miracle, and it appears God is saying something different, his plans are all good. The fact that I do not hear what I want does not mean that God is not speaking. The fact that God says 'Hold on' when everything around me is screaming 'Run", means that God is seeing something I do not yet see. The fact that God says 'Stay here' does not mean that God cannot move me from here to there in an instant. Joseph the dreamer is a classic example.

The next time the devil brings thoughts of your not being good enough for God, remind yourself that you have a good God as Father, one who keeps the good end in view, even as he works all things around you to that good end that he planned. His time of favour is here.

Definitely Final!

“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your own hand we have given to You. For we are sojourners before You, and tenants, as all our fathers were; our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope [of remaining]. 1 CHRONICLES 29:14‭-‬15 AMP

David speaks here at the 'launch' of the proposed house that he was planning to build for the ark of the covenant. He had made arrangements and collected various materials of precious value. However, God had other plans. Can God disrupt your 'well -laid' plans, just to get you to do what he wants?

Giving to God isn't so much for God's benefit than for your own good. Already, God owns everything I hold, so giving back to him must teach a few lessons. I believe that one of the greatest lessons in giving is that it frees me from self-sufficiency, selfishness and greed. When I learn to give, I have learnt how to be free from the 'acquisition' mentality.

For all things come from You, and from Your own hand we have given to You. Deep words. All things belong to God, and whatever I own or hold now wasn't mine from the start; they all belong to God. Whatever I give out, I take it from God, the owner, and give to others. Whatever I hold now is temporary; it will not last because it was not made to last; only God does.

We are tenants here. A good look at the way some of us live gives the impression that we will live down here forever. We are here for a reason, and a season, at the conclusion of the reason & season, we will be going home. There is nothing I hold now that will speak for me on  the day of God's wrath. There is nothing I own now that will make a difference if I do not know Christ. I am a stranger here on earth, here for a while, and will be going back when God determines my end. I had better be sure I  am on the right path. I had better be sure of the place of possessions and property, even as I seek the hope that does not die or fade away.

Is that hope the same as the one you presently hold? Are you living as one who knows his days are numbered, and that eternal redemption is the end of our walk with God? Think on this, and may the Lord lead us into his will. His time of favour is here.

Due Praise!

Thine, O Lord , is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. 1 Chronicles 29:11‭-‬12 KJV

What deep words. It takes a man who has drunk deeply from the well of God's greatness to appreciate who God is and what he can do. Earthly men want to have glory, power and greatness, and they seem to think that something as ephemeral and untrustworthy like money can buy it. Man sacrifices his peace and joy in the pursuit of comfort, forgetting that nothing works outside the one who is defined as Lord.

Have you met an earthly king? Do you  appreciate the sphere of influence, control and ownership within his domain? As mighty as a king can be, his sphere is limited to his domain, his own people, his town, his community. Another king rules in the next town. Not so with this Lord. He owns and holds everything. He is exalted over all. Riches and honour, the right kind, come from him. In his hand is power and might, not by the  fiat or command of men. His hand makes great and gives strength to all who need it.

That is the Lord who David invites us to worship today and always. The same Lord who made Joseph sleep one night as a chief prisoner and the next night as a Chief Prime Minister. The same Lord who turned a fiery furnace into an air - conditioned room, simply because his children were passing through. The Lord who turned a fish's mouth into an ATM for payment of temple tax, and the same Lord who wipes the slate clean with his blood, and gives all who come to him a fresh start. That is who this Lord is. The one who does not define me on the basis of where I am coming from or where I am now, but by who lives inside of me.

Do you know him? Better still, does he know you as his own? It is not what earthly, ephemeral men tell you that matters; it is what God says that is fundamental. The verdict is clear; the Lord is the one who deserves all we can give.  His time of favour is here.

The End of All Things

Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:  Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:8‭-‬9 KJV

When dealing with God, your physical senses can actually deceive you. Science teaches us to trust our senses, to depend on them to make informed decisions. Please tell me: is there a way to love someone you have never seen with the physical eyes? Is it natural to believe everything someone says, without any physical, empirical evidence to back it up? Have you ever wondered if all that you have heard about God is indeed true? Welcome to the realm of faith, where everything you hold on to is a function of the testimony of someone you have never seen or met, yet your heart tells you that something about him is just right.

When you read stories of people like Jeremiah, cast into prison,  yet holding on to a God he had not seen physically, when you recall the 3 Hebrew men, daring a mighty king because of the God they had come to know, when Paul tells us to rejoice in all circumstances, even in suffering, something tells you that there  is a knowledge and experience deeper than what words can express. You don't laugh in the face of storms unless you know the master of the storm. You don't smile through tears unless you know the end of the story.

There is an end to all things, including this present life. There is an end to all things bright and beautiful in this present life, and one day, either by physical death or rapture, we must receive the just reward for our present life. If the reward were to be determined today, what do you think you  would receive? The end of faith in Jesus is the eternal salvation of my soul. I do not want to trade that for any temporary comfort. I may not fully understand it now, but my heart is convinced that he is Life indeed. When this present life ends, true life begins, and only those with true life in them enjoy this benefit.

Have you received this life? His time of favour is here.

Living Right!

For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 1 Peter 2:15‭-‬16 KJV

Have you known the will of God for your life? Are you patterning your life after someone else, trying to be like another person? In the context of today's extract, one of the things God desires for us is to do what is right. His word clearly states what is right for us, and as we read a d obey, we bring glory to God and silence the evil talk of ignorant men. When a man does not know what is expected, anything goes. When there is no guide, anything is permissible.

You must have a reason/basis for everything you hold dear. You must know who you belong to, which determines who you are and what you do. If I know I am free, I do not need to be afraid of doing good. If I know I am free, I do not enslave myself to the dictates or desires of men. If I know I am free, I do not live as one bound to  the principles of the world anymore. It boils down to my understanding of my identity and place in God.

Natural man will never understand or tolerate the spiritual man. Both answer to different masters and dance to different tunes. The natural man needs man's approval; the spiritual man only  needs God's approval. The natural man is ignorant of God's desire and will; the spiritual man lives for God's clear purpose and direction. The natural man submits to no one but the flesh; the spiritual man submits to God and is therefore a victor over everything that belongs to the flesh. Where do you fit in? What are your priorities? His time of favour is here.

Balanced Living!

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Philippians 2:3‭-‬4 KJV

All actions, thoughts and words must be done/spoken out of a right heart. It does not matter how you convince yourself that what you do is right; it does matter how God interprets what you have done. When you are dealing with the creator of the heart, you have got to stop the deception and own up to your weakness, so you can receive strength.

It takes a broken heart to esteem others better than oneself. It takes a heart that has drunk deeply from God's well of grace to extend the same grace to other people.  What you have not tasted or felt, you can't explain it to others. In a world that seems to be on a constant race towards something, it is hard to imagine someone placing other people's interests over and above your own. The world rewards coming first, but the world does not define what coming first means, or how to get to the right destination the right way.

I have my own needs, got a family to take care of, got a business to run, got fees and bills to pay; these are a few personal things. Do I then leave these and focus on other people? I believe today's extract strikes the right balance. It encourages me that as I look to my own things, I must ALSO look to the things of others. As I seek to provide for my family, I must see ministry opportunity through what God has given me. As l work daily to make ends meet, I must be conscious that what I have is a privilege, and I must be ready to share with others, in obedience to God's Word.

When the heart is right, it sees possessions as channels of grace. When the heart is right, it sees people are God's greatest investments. More than physical possessions, personal needs and emotional demands, God expects me to be his hand, eye and heart to a world in need of his grace. Can he count on me? His time of favour is here.

Fact and Faith!

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:   And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? John 11:25‭-‬26 KJV

Just as these words were spoken more than 2,000 years ago, so are these words coming back to us again. We were created to live forever, in close fellowship with God and other men, but sin came to tamper with the original template. With sin came death, destruction and eternal damnation. But one thing is clear: no force on earth can defeat God's original intention. His death and life sealed our own life. Physical death has become just a channel into God's unending life. Death has lost its power and effect; all I need to have is life in me, and death becomes just a phase, an event, a passage into eternal life.

However, it does not just happen. Jesus introduces himself to us as the Resurrection and the Life. Both events are important. Only in Him does everything dead or dying receive life. Only in him does eternal life exist. This present life is a phase, and all I may hold or possess is just a myth that will burn eventually. Jesus must be talking about something deeper than what man can give me, or an assurance that no man can guarantee. The dead receive life only through him, and one who receives this life can never die again.

Key to this is to believe in Jesus. Sounds easy but reality points to the difficulties in accepting this truth. In this world where we have been taught that you have to earn everything, this message sucks. We have been nurtured on the message of effort and qualification. Unfortunately, with God, these things don't count. You can't earn it, you can't add to it. You just must accept it the way it is offered.

As Jesus asked then, so the question comes again to me: "Do you believe". Be sure, because eternity rests on your truthful response. His time of favour is here.

Victory

He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it. Isaiah 25:8 KJV

This is not inspired speech; this is direct reporting from the mouth of God. His actions and promises underscore the fact that whatever he says can be trusted. Death, the natural consequence of sin, has so much power that it can destroy the strong, the mighty and the weak. It doesn't matter what the world calls you, as long as you do not live in Christ, then the end of such a life is death. You only get victory from death when you believe in and accept the free gift that has been given in Christ Jesus.

We may cry now, but the promise is that he will wipe away all tears. There may be pain now, but the promise is that all reproach and shame will be taken away. It may look like mission impossible, but if I can believe God at all that any of his promises will come to pass, I can also rest assured that ALL he says will come to pass.

This Easter season, God wants us to live in the victory that his life has sealed. His life guarantees our own life; his death and resurrection has opened the door for our own eternal life. Picture a warrior who is dressed for battle, who fights death, sin and the devil on your behalf. You couldn't do this by yourself; Jesus already sealed the deal for you. Before you were born, victory had been obtained. Have you identified with this? Does Christ know you as his own? His time of favour is here.

Love Proven!

But God clearly shows and proves His own love for us, by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
ROMANS 5:8 AMP

I don't know what kind of love you have been taught or brought up to know. Some have defined love as a reciprocal feeling, something you give in order to receive. Love is seen as an active word, given to deserving people, and a foundation for the good that you will also receive in return. That is how the world has always seen things: from the narrow prism of give -and - take.

I introduce you to the God-kind of love, one which is personified in the person of Jesus himself. It does not matter how educated, learned, outspoken and liberal you are; love is only truly seen when it is seen from God's perspective. How does God define it: 1. it has nothing to do with who I am, but everything to do with who God is. If man, his creation, was lost forever to sin, without remedy, would that not have been defined as failure? If God could not save those he had created, then he could not offer anything tangible to anyone.

2. His love didn't remain a true confession; it was a life - profession. He backed up his words with requisite action, and sent his one and only son to die for the sins of the whole world. 

3. He gave this sacrifice at a time when the beneficiaries couldn't care less. We couldn't be bothered, yet he died all the same. That is love: shown not minding the reaction of the recipient, but doing it because it is a function of nature.

God is by name and nature the definition of love. He has done his bit, and he challenges us to respond to him. He's not asking for our perfection; that is his job. All he asks is that we come to him; he will perfect the rest. His time of favour is here.

Paid Up in Full!

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God [that is, His remarkable, overwhelming gift of grace to believers] is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
ROMANS 6:23 AMP

With God, the law of action and reaction works like magic: you cannot do anything to change/stop it. Since the days after Noah's flood, this law has been established by God  - as long as the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, amongst other things, would never cease. If this works for natural things, then you can trust that it also works for the spiritual.

Sin came into the world through the free choice of man to disobey God. We left God's life model and sought out the devil's cheap alternative. We gave up daily, close fellowship with God for a lifetime of separation from God. Physical death did not come immediately, but like all things God, the wages for our actions are assigned immediately, and will remain so until there is a change in decision.

So, death came in immediately sin showed up. From the garden of Eden till now, the wages of sin is still death. No modernity, legalistic grammar or contemporary preaching can take away that truth. At all times, a price is paid for sin. Someone came, paid the full price for sin once and for all, and offers freedom from sin to all of us free of charge. It could only come free to us because the price has been paid. It is offered full and free; all I need to do is believe and accept that gift.

This free gift is a remarkable, overwhelming gift of grace. It does not consider a man's past; it only focuses on his eternal future. There is nothing so bad, so grimy, that this grace cannot clean. The reason why it is so powerful is because it is backed up by God's overwhelming love. He does not desire the eternal death of anyone, but he wants all men to come to him, just as they are, and receive a change of destination, which he only can give. Nothing else will guarantee life for you, except the gift that has been given: Jesus Christ.

Have you received this life? Have you received this grace? His time of favour is here.

Justice Served!

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was crushed for our wickedness [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing]; The punishment [required] for our well-being fell on Him, And by His stripes (wounds) we are healed. ISAIAH 53:5 AMP

We serve a God of justice. This justice is not the kind the world dispenses: with favoritism and hypocrisy attached. God is a just God, who  established the consequences of our actions long before we were born. The consequences of all sin is death, and has been so since the days of the garden of Eden.

Sin came, man fell, God stepped in. Could God have broken his Word, and allowed man a free passage into life, without bearing the consequences of his actions? Would his love overlook offence of sin just like that? Would the same God we call just show favoritism to some people and gloss over their sin, while he would still punish others for the same sins?

A price must always be paid for sin. In fact, blood had to be shed for the remission of sin. The one who sinned had to die, the God who is just had to exact the just punishment. In steps the perfect sacrifice, the universal leveller for all men. Where we were supposed to be punished for our sins, Jesus stepped in and was beaten because of us. Where we were to be lined up and flogged, Jesus took those stripes. Where we were to be crushed, he took our place, so we could walk away 'free' from punishment. He was discomfited, so we could be comfortable.

The cross seals our eternal blessing. Every benefit and grace we receive flows from the cross. It is God's way of reconciling man back to himself, and the offer stands for as long as I am alive. Do not ever think that this sacrifice is for nothing. If God could give up his son, and then abandon him when be bore the sins of the world, two things are clear: God takes sin very seriously to have paid such a high price for it, and he takes his love very seriously, to have given up his precious son for our sake.

The warning: the price is paid, redemption and salvation assured. Eternity has been offered, and will not be available anywhere outside the one God has chosen. He has sealed the way back to God, and he stands at the door of our hearts, knocking. Will you let him in? His time of favour is here.

True Life

And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you. ROMANS 8:11 AMP

It is the season of Easter, when the greatest sacrifice was made and hope was sealed. It is a season to remember what was given up so we could take hold of God's original plan, which is to be like him, live like him and reign with him. Sin was the master who came to tamper with the original plan, and it is still at work today, turning the hearts of men away from God to their own devices. Man is still seeking other ways to lay hold of life; unfortunately, nothing and no one else will work, except he who has been made the sacrifice for sin.

That sacrifice was offered for sin. A price had to be paid. The pain ahead made his pray that the cup pass over him. Rather than the cup pass over, he was given strength to go on. He died alone, bearing the sins of the whole world, abandoned by even his Father for a while, who could not behold sin. If the story had ended like this, we would have been miserable today.  There is a power that death, sin and the devil cannot hold or restrict; that is the power of God. If death could bow to the power that raised Jesus from the dead, I do not know of any other power that can compete with the power of God.

It must not end there. The power is available, living and active, but it does no good on the outside. Today's extract emphasizes that this power must live IN you. So many people know about the power, have read about the power, can even speak about the power, but there is no personal experience of that power. The power that was alive to raise Jesus is still available today. He is able to give life to my mortal body, making it alive to do God's bidding. That life does not make room for sin, and sin cannot overcome that life.

What Jesus offers today is that I open my heart to him so he can come in. He comes with everything he is and has - power, grace, love, peace, eternal hope and true life. He is the real deal, the complete package. Do you have him? Does he live inside of you? His time of favour is here.

Purpose!

just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many [paying the price to set them free from the penalty of sin].”
MATTHEW 20:28 AMP

As I examine my life, so many questions find answers from what God has revealed through his Word. His Word is the person of his Son Jesus, through whom ALL things were made, and for whom they all exist. He spoke everything we see today into existence by the power of the Word, and everything is being sustained by that same power.

Sin had tampered with the original template, but God, being who he is, sent his Son to redeem man back to God. There was a price to pay for sin, because sin, like a debt, just had to be settled. The Son could have chosen to come with all his might and glory, but he left that in heaven, and came in the likeness of man, so he could feel what we feel, and we could find strength in his humanity. He could have found a way to deal with sin, maybe with a wave of his might hand. He didn't come with a superiority complex, laying down a law he could not comply with, but he came to help us live right, not by our own power, but by the same power that raised him from the dead and continues to give life to all who come to him.

Power is a funny thing: with man, it gives him a false sense of security and invincibility. Power compels people to be subservient and submissive. Jesus had power, and he could have gone the same way, but today's extract teaches one other lesson: when you are confident in who you are or who you belong to, you will understand the Power of service. Jesus could have commanded service, but he chose to serve. He could have ordered submission, but he continues to knock, waiting for us to open the door of our hearts to him. He has paid the price for our sins, and that sacrifice is the way back  to God.

There is power in service. If you are saved, you have been called to serve. Just as the new master gave an example, so does he call us to the same service today. Would I answer him when he calls? Would I obey as he commands? His time of favour is here.

Walking Right!

Therefore see that you walk carefully [living life with honor, purpose, and courage; shunning those who tolerate and enable evil], not as the unwise, but as wise [sensible, intelligent, discerning people],  making the very most of your time [on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence], because the days are [filled with] evil.
EPHESIANS 5:15‭-‬16 AMP

We are indeed in strange times. Evil seems to be more attractive than good, and the man who breaks the law and makes gain is celebrated and held in high esteem. The man who does good is seen as old-fashioned and archaic, and the world's system would of course cater for its own. However, Truth has a funny way of showing up the foolishness of this course.

Today's extract has deep lessons that this space cannot fully expound: first, in the midst of the pervasive evil, God expects me to walk carefully, in line with his will. He does not take me away from the world as soon as I declare for him, but he leaves me here so I can make impact for him. The question is: whose interest am I serving: God or the world's? When I claim to know and follow God, does God know that I am indeed his own?

Secondly, It is one thing to stand with God, it is another to shun evil or speak out against it. Most times, we acknowledge we are followers of God, but our stand is not known on any issue. We simply blend in as occasion demands. With God, there is a time to keep quiet, and a time to speak up or speak against evil; God is the one who gives wisdom to know what is appropriate. Joseph knew God and could have stood his ground against Mrs. Potiphar, but at that time, a good run was better than a bad stand. Ask Samson, and you would appreciate this better. Wisdom is not what I determine it to be; it is what God determines per time. What worked for Abraham did not work for Isaac, because God had a different plan per time for each one.

Thirdly, everywhere you turn, God is at work, and he is seeking people who will be his eyes, his hands, his mouth and his heart to touch the people in the world. I have very limited time on earth; I was not made to last forever in this physical, earthly body. I must work as God directs, when he directs, how he directs, and where he directs. Anything else, I am doing my own  thing, and no reward is tied to self -appointed assignments. His time of favour is here.

Standing Right!

The man of too many friends [chosen indiscriminately] will be broken in pieces and come to ruin, But there is a [true, loving] friend who [is reliable and] sticks closer than a brother. PROVERBS 18:24 AMP

Is there anything bad in having a lot of people around you as friends? I believe a review of biblical experiences will help clarify this. Firstly, Jesus needed to bring in a few people to join in at his work. He prayed all night and chose 12, yet one of them was Judas Iscariot. Was it a mistake? Did he pray amiss? Even for a man with only 2 friends, God allows some things to teach lessons on fundamental dependence on God alone.

Secondly, Abraham was asked to leave his father's house and go to a land he would be shown. Nowhere was Lot mentioned until it was time to go out. We know how Lot ended - Wifeless, father to sons from his own daughters, and completely broke. I do not know if it would have been different if he had stayed back in Haran, but not everyone you know now is part of your eternal walk. Some friends are there for a season, some for a reason, some for a lifetime. You have got to know where each person's influence stops.

I do not know why David and Absalom's friendship did not last. God must have seen something not revealed to us, but the lesson is this: get direction on your God- ordained purpose. No man can choose that for you; you have got to know God's mind on it. Choose your friends very carefully; get God's direction on this. Your eternal life may depend on the associations and alliances you form today. Too many 'friends' make it impossible to know who is sincere. Too many 'friends' make it difficult to discern God's will, especially of those friends do not answer to the same master you answer to.

If you would have companions, make sure you get guidance from the one who determines destiny, and knows who is suitable for the journey he has given you. Don't let friends dictate your life; the owner of life itself is the only qualified consultant. Seek him today. His time of favour is here.

Testify!

For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.
1 Timothy 2:5‭-‬6 NIV

Truth may have many variants, but it does not change form or fact; it remains what it is. Truth is not what I think or claim it is or affirm that it is, but what the Truth himself says it is. The reason why it appears that there are many variants of the Truth is down to one fact: man always seeks the easy way out, seeking alternatives to what has been confirmed. I take stock of my life again today, and I ask the same question: am I holding on the Truth or a convenient version of what is being passed as Truth?

God here speaks and affirms that there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind: the man Jesus Christ. That is the testimony of the father himself, and if there is proof of his consistency, you can trust that what he says is true. You do not take God at part of his Truth and reject the rest; if he says something is a complete package, then, I must accept all he offers, and not what is convenient for me.

Jesus Christ too has been given as a ransom/sacrifice for us, so we could be restored back to fellowship with God. When you seek admission to a school, do you decide what is required, or you comply with the minimum requirements set by the school? How much more God? He has laid down the channel through which all men must come, young and old, rich and poor, man and woman. All are invited.

The testimony of that life which was given has been made clear. His life keeps producing life in others. Man is being reconciled to God through that ransom,  and God's Truth is being established in the hearts of men. Have you responded to this Truth? One big lesson: there is nothing you hold now, that will be important when the question of eternity is to be answered. Be sure you have the right answer: God's own Truth. His time of favour is here.

Choosing Right!

The ear that listens to and learns from the life-giving rebuke (reprimand, censure) Will remain among the wise. He who neglects and ignores instruction and discipline despises himself, But he who learns from rebuke acquires understanding [and grows in wisdom].
PROVERBS 15:31‭-‬32 AMP

All around us, we see examples of lives that have learnt from discipline, and obvious cases of those who have also ignored counsel and instruction. The fruits of our lives cannot be ignored, and all we are today reflects all we have listened to and imbibed. Whatever you may be looking for - good or bad -  you will find answers. Everywhere you turn, you find words of counsel and instruction, as well as a critical mass of wrong doctrine and heresies.

It then falls on me to sort through the whole mess and discover truth for myself. There is a truth that no situation or circumstance can deny, and that truth is tied to God. True wisdom cannot be accessed anywhere else except in God. God also disciplines those who he calls his children, while those who reject counsel and discipline are already making a decision on their priorities and eternity.

So, what are my pursuits? Can God catch my attention long enough so I can listen to  what he has to say? Do I pause long enough at the start of a new day to receive instruction for that day? Do I take my time to glean from the treasures of truth daily, so I can be properly guided and directed in my daily living? God is always speaking, directing, guiding, leading, strengthening, correcting, training and teaching. Am I listening?

There are eternal consequences for either side of the decision. God has made his purpose clear, and has also informed us about the eternal destination choices for all men. I have a choice, and it is to listen to God and what he has to say. His time of favour is here.

Offering All!

Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. ROMANS 12:1 AMP

The charge by Paul in this passage goes out again today to all of us: present your bodies as a living sacrifice to God. It is a personal decision, an "I" decision, not a "we" decision. I will be the one to decide that I will give my all to God. I can't be saved simply because I believe someone else's experience or testimony of salvation; I must take the step to accept the gift that has been offered.

I must offer my life to God; he will not force himself on me. A central theme about God's identity is seen in the passage where God stands "at the door of your heart and knocks". Imagine the creator of the life seeking permission to enter into the heart of his creation.

A living sacrifice is dead, yet alive. It is dead to all things that God disapproves and alive to those things that please God. If I have offered my life to God in truth, then I live for the pleasure of my owner, not my own self. I cannot claim to know and follow God, yet I am living for my own pleasure and purpose. I cannot offer God a part of my life and keep a part to myself; I either give him all or nothing. Halfhearted devotion is more dangerous than no devotion at all.

As I set out today, I must keep at the back of my mind the essence of worship: it is not an act, usually done on Sundays or during mid - week services, but a daily consistent lifestyle. It is not a product of the lips first of all; it is a product of the heart. Where do you stand? Have you accepted him as Lord? Is he in control or you are? Eternity rests on your truthful response. His time of favour is here.

Keeping it Real!

Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant. Galatians 1:10 NLT

In this season of convenience and compromise, it is becoming difficult to find truth. Man seems to now find comfort in falsehood and holds on to a false sense of security based on lies. Either out of greed, or a lack of self -worth, we avoid telling people the truth about life and eternity. God has laid out the truth, and for all who will follow him truthfully, there are no other alternatives.

Paul was clear about one thing, and he would also that we be clear about it also: winning man's approval does no good for you. Man has always been fickle and unpredictable; shouting "Hossana in the Highest" one day and "Crucify Him" a few days after. Man will always flow towards his area of comfort and convenience, and would not stand anything that tampers with these. That is man.

What of God? Here is a God who holds up his Son as his standard, and all who come to him must come through the Son. It does not matter who you are, what you have, what you don't have, or what people have said; all that matters is that God invites you to come to him, just as you are, and he will accept you. No true follower of God lives by the praise of other people; no true follower of God lives on the applause of men.

Take stock again: who/what determines your priorities and pursuits? Is it man's opinions or God's clear directions? Remember, you cannot serve two masters; you can't commit wholeheartedly to two differing positions. You can't even stand in the middle. At all times, you are either following God wholeheartedly, or you are committing your life into the hands of unstable, uncertain man. Both ends have eternal consequences, so decide wisely. His time of favour is here.

Attitude Adjustment

O come, let us sing joyfully to the Lord ; Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with a song of thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with songs.
PSALM 95:1‭-‬2 AMP

We all could use a little bit of attitude adjustment. The Psalmist here must have had some nasty experiences, but the only worthy response was joy and praise. It is hard to keep your cool when everything around you is falling to pieces. It is hard to keep a heart of joy when the very foundations of life are threatened, but one key lesson is this: the state of your inner  man is what determines how you react in all circumstances - good or bad. When you have gotten the inner man right, every other thing will fall into place.

The Psalmist invites us to join him to sing, praise and rejoice before God. It is not a denial of present realities; it is a loud testament that God is indeed greater than the experiences. It is not hiding your head in the sand, it is looking up to God alone for help, confident that he is able to deliver to the uttermost. Praise and joy are not the natural consequences of receiving something from God; it is the state of a heart that knows who God is. Easy to thank God for blessings, but what happens when you look around and nothing' is happening? What happens when like Job, all that you see and have is lost? Will your attitude remain the same?

Notice that all the Psalmist talks about  here is first about who God is, not what he has done or given. He is a Rock, one you can run to for protection. defence and salvation. So, he gives you whatever you have first because of who he is.

Praise God today. He is consistently faithful and trustworthy. Nothing I say or do will change his nature, and people's opinions do not change who he is. I must know him personally, and it is my understanding of who he is that will lead to the right response of praise. His time of favour is here.

Power of Focus!

My eyes are continually toward the Lord , For He will bring my feet out of the net.
PSALM 25:15 AMP

How's your focus? Better still, what is your focus? If I critically examine my life, in the light of the truth of God's word, not the deception of the world's standards, I think I will be able to answer that question. Do you know why it is important to honestly answer? It is because what you get, how you live and the priorities you pursue are all tied to your focus.

Everywhere you turn, there are distractions. There are people - your mates - who are doing better than you and your heart wants to tell you that maybe you are not doing enough. There are circumstances that will test your resolve and push you into compromise. There are tests whose sole purpose is to push you off the cliff into the abyss of depression and fear. The only cure is the solution of the right focus.

Today's extract provides the answer: the psalmist says "my eyes are continually toward the Lord". It was not a one off exercise, or something done only at intervals or as the occasion demanded; it was a continuous exercise. You don't take God as a spare tyre, used only in emergencies. You don't  take God as a back up generator, used only when the  main source has failed. When you sort out your focus, you sort out your help, support and deliverance.

Recall Peter, the only man also reputed to have walked on water. He was impetuous, but he knew the power of Christ. He asked for and got permission from the  only one who could give it, and he came walking. The waves were all there, the wind was all there, yet he walked. He could have walked all the way, but like all of us, we sometimes take our  eyes off the might of the God who empowers our faith, to the might of the winds and waves around us, which cripple our faith.

Yes, there are snares all around. There are nets set to catch us or trip us up. But there is a God who is always there to help and uphold. He is the one who can guide our steps aright. Nothing catches him by surprise, and when you are in him, all that comes to you have been processed by him, not to harm you, but to build you up. Walk with and work for him, for his time of favour is here.