Victory Sealed!

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors and gain an overwhelming victory through Him who loved us [so much that He died for us]. ROMANS 8:37 AMP

Oh, how we love to claim the promise in the verse above, most times out of  context. We claim victory without understanding the circumstances of the war we are in. The verses before today's extract speak on tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger and sword. Those were the circumstances facing the disciples of Christ at the time. It was not a jolly ride to the  promised land, but one filled with joy all the time, pain sometimes, difficulties some times and trials all the time. I get this distinct impression that God's surest way of helping us grow into a deep understanding of who he is and what he has done is through trials.

Paul's assurance does not come from an ability to deal with life's issues, but from his relationship with God. You don't stand before God and boast about what you have, what you have done and achieved or what you know. You can only stand in the victory that Christ, through his love, has secured for us. It has got to be the same with us. God's presence does not insure us against trials; it insures us permanently against defeat. That's why Paul could call us 'more than conquerors', because the One who lives in us had sealed the victory long before the fight even started.

The victory was sealed long before I was born, when Christ went the way of the cross. Through his blood, which is approved by God as the new way to life, the path of victory, access to the throne of grace, mercy unlimited, hope unashamed have all become open to me. Now, I have a relationship to nurture, a fight already finished, a victory already won, and a hope eternally sealed. His time of favour is here.

Choosing to Listen!

“But I say to you who hear [Me and pay attention to My words]:  Love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies, [make it a practice to] do good to those who hate you,  bless and show kindness to those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. LUKE 6:27‭-‬28 AMP

This is addressed to people who choose to hear what God says; check out the additional qualification for hearing: paying attention to his words. It has never been enough to hear God speak. I think we get that practically from every angle: social media, print media, pulpit and personal outreach, yet, so much appears missing. You get out of a 'powerful' service, and just outside, those who have attended have taken off the 'spiritual' and taken on the practical and human. Jealously, hatred, bitterness and quarrels take centre stage. God becomes only a Sunday appointment, and a side thought during the week.

God's standards are so high and his demands so unusual that you cannot make it by sheer willpower alone. So many of his commands will shake you up. How does God expect me to love my enemies, who are constantly seeking my downfall? How do I constantly do good to people who have declared hatred for me? How do I bless a person whose response is only curses? Knowing God demands living by a different set of rules, being called daft and stupid sometimes, but it is the price to pay when you dance to a different tune and swear allegiance to a different master from the world's.

Everything God commands is possible. Yes, human strength has its limits, but God alone gives strength to do what the world has termed impossible. It may be difficult, but only a daily dependence on God, his grace, his power and his mercy can help us live in the light of his Word and in obedience to these amazing commands. His time of favour is here.

Once and for all!

casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. 1 PETER 5:7 AMP

The word 'Cast' signifies finality and totality. You do it and forget what you have left behind. God asks me to cast ALL my cares on him, not most of my cares. All my cares- the small, the inconsequential, the minute and the enormous. All.

I must also ensure I do the casting on the right person. We think that people like us can help take away our pain, but we forget that if God does not empower the person, he is as helpless as we are. God alone can help; no other person can.

His nature is the issue here. You cannot predict with certainty how a fellow man will react to you when you come with your problems. You may get a positive answer, or a really negative one. A lot of things are dependent on how the person feels at the time. God is not subject to such Passions, and he has remained the same for all eternity. The same nature of God as shown to Moses on the Mount, was the same nature Jonah affirmed centuries later. He does not change, he does not give up on anyone.

You must also learn to cast all, and leave them there. You don't go to God in prayer, tell him how things are, and then get up and take up the burdens yet again. When you cast, trust that God can take care of you. The fact that you are alive, in spite of the challenges, shows that God hasn't given up on you, or that he cannot help you. His time of favour is here.

The Assignment!

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you [and approved of you as My chosen instrument], And before you were born I consecrated you [to Myself as My own]; I have appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” JEREMIAH 1:5 AMP

Today's extract gives clarity to the understanding of who I am, what I am, who I belong to and the reason for my existence. Parents have a clear idea of the path chosen for their children, and they start to pool college funds. Kids are groomed from birth to take over businesses and plans, yet, nobody seems to ask if this is God's chosen path. We have couched a defence for ourselves, stating that after all, God would not do for us what he expects us to do for ourselves. I wish I could know with definite certainty what those things are.

I read a clear, unmistakable statement here: 'Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you'. Before parents even came together, God already had an eternal plan for their yet unborn children. He knows us so intimately, long before we even know who we are. He also says: 'before you were born I consecrated you [to Myself as My own'. I see here the area of great confusion: what is the purpose of my life? The only answer here is that God created me to be his own, to be his child, to stay with him, to fellowship with him. Once that is absent, it does not matter what you do, or how much you are celebrated. Assignments, commission, messages only make sense when they proceed out of a vessel owned, prepared, perfected and commissioned by the owner of both the vessel and the message.

Next thing you read is the assignment: 'I have appointed you as a prophet to the nations'. That is the assignment peculiar to Jeremiah. It is different from Isaiah's, or Daniel's. The only thing peculiar to all of God's creation is the desire of God for fellowship. He gets to decide where we go,when we go and to whom we go. I cannot envy someone else's assignment; I must first get the relationship right, then wait for the assignment. If I send myself out, I am on my own. If he sends me out, no matter what happens, I have this clear conviction that I am never alone. He is with me. His time of favour is here.

It's Simple!

For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior] resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous--being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation. ROMANS 10:10 AMP

There is a God-shaped vacuum in every life & until God fills it, there will be an endless search for fulfilment & purpose. Man was made in the image of God & created for fellowship with God. This fellowship, this union, this communion with God was the first thing that suffered as soon as man fell. God came as usual, but man had shifted, & the voice of God which always brought joy to Adam, brought fear, simply because of sin.

This is the joy: the same place where man chose death, is the same place the person of life was introduced. God already had a plan to restore man, and all through the old testament, the 'silent' years, the dark ages, everything was been prepared for the manifestation of that restoration. He has come, and the way to life has been revealed. The problem will be if it is simple enough for us to accept it.

In a world where we have been taught that you can only 'keep what you earn', it is difficult to imagine that a simple belief in the heart, and a sincere confession by the mouth is all that is required for salvation. Come on, in this world where might is right, where life is an endless pursuit of perfection? Thank God there is a level playing field for all of us to meet Him, otherwise, the rich would have cornered him, the powerful would have manipulated him, and governments would have legislated against him. But he offers it fully and freely to ALL who will come to him, just as they are- no pretence, no big words, just a strong, unshakeable belief that Jesus is all he says he is, and a simple confession of him as Lord & Saviour, and life eternal is signed, sealed and delivered. What will it be for you? His time of favour is here.

Blessed!

The Lord bless you, and keep you [protect you, sustain you, and guard you]; The Lord make His face shine upon you [with favor], And be gracious to you [surrounding you with lovingkindness]; The Lord lift up His countenance (face) upon you [with divine approval], And give you peace [a tranquil heart and life].’
NUMBERS 6:24‭-‬26 AMP

How do you explain the dimensions that these verses open up to us? How do you fully comprehend the impact and import of these verses and the blessings they encapsulate? First of all, nothing will last if it is not God blessing it. It does not matter who your source is; if it is not God, it is not good. Second, it is only God that gives lasting gifts: protection is not from high walls, but from the Most High God -ask David. Sustenance is not from human provisions but from divine connection - ask Elijah. Favour is not tied to your family heritage or lineage, but to God's divine choice - ask Esau and Jacob. God's grace is not a function of how well I perform, but how much God has already performed, giving me his own Son.

God's approval isn't based on a performance matrix that demands effort from me, and scores me on some difficult criteria that I do not understand, but on my simple acceptance of the greatest gift he has ever given. God's peace is not received by human arrangement or from copious possessions, but from total dependence on the God who speaks and is Peace personified.

Nothing here flows from  effort, connection, possessions, people, position, knowledge, degrees and all the other things we hide behind when we seek justification for our qualification. We assume that we are what we are because of what or who we know, what we have or what we have done. Unfortunately, in these 3 verses today, I see no reference to effort, labour or input. Nothing speaks on what I need to do to deserve the blessings. Can't earn it, don't deserve it, so it frees me to enjoy fully what God has already secured for me. His time of favour is here.

Getting it Right!

Delight yourself in the Lord , And He will give you the desires and petitions of your heart. PSALM 37:4 AMP

Whether it is the physical or the spiritual, there are delights everywhere you look. The  world has got its delights: it offers you possessions, position, privilege and power. It drives you to the heights of achievement and rewards you on its own terms. The Word of God also has its own delights: possessions not assessed on the basis of currency, power that the world cannot explain or wish away, privilege of grace that cannot be bought or earned. Yes, both have delights, but only one is fundamental and eternal. Both also have eternal consequences.

Today's extract knows that a choice must be made; you can't settle in the middle; you must commit one way or the other. The charge is to Delight yourself in the Lord. That is a deep statement. It does not assure you that you would understand what God is doing, it just says: "Delight in the Lord". It does not always promise you an easy life; it just says "Delight in the Lord". You will not always get what you want, but when your heart is focused right, your will, desires, thoughts and motives will align with God's perfect will.

The rewards of your focus are also spelt out here: He will give you the desires and petitions of your heart. Most times, we claim promises without heeding the conditions, and we struggle for clarity. It says first to delight in God, then your heart's desires are granted. It is not for you to place your needs before God, while your heart is distracted by the world. It is not for you to treat God as a spare wheel, used only in emergencies, and abandoned when all is well. He has got to be the focus.

Even when your desires are not met, can you still trust God? When nothing seems to be working, can you still hold on, trusting that God knows what he is doing? Remember, beyond the now, God is building us for the life hereafter. All his plans align with that end, and we will only do well to seek out what will bring us to that end. His time of favour is here.

Call!

“Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it--the Lord is His name, ‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and tell you [and even show you] great and mighty things, [things which have been confined and hidden], which you do not know and understand and cannot distinguish" JEREMIAH 33:2‭-‬3 AMP

As I seek God daily, I get the consciousness that he is always there, speaking, guiding, leading & directing. Today's extract gives a call again, asking that I call to God. It appears that God is saying that i have not even scratched the surface of what he can do if only I talk to him. He is the King of the whole earth, yet his power is not seen, because we who know him have neglected to call on him to show his mighty power in us. We are carriers of his glory, circumstances around us dictate what we do/how we react.

The promise is: I will answer you, and will tell and show  you great and mighty things. Check out men of old: Abraham, son Isaac; David, Gideon, Isaiah, Elijah and Elisha. As close as their generations, dispensations & assignments were, none of them had similar experiences. The outer circumstances were the same, but the inner witness was different. That's God. You can't place him in a box & predict his next move. You can't determine how he does what he does, but you can rest assured that he knows what he is doing.

What he reveals are things we do not yet know or understand. Who best to prepare you for the future than the One who holds it in his hands? Who else to determine your life's course than the One who planned it long before you were conceived? The full dimensions of God's power will not be fully understood down here, but note that what is happening now were spoken of long before now, and God is sending his Word into the future for the next generation, preparing them for his mighty work.

All I can say in response is: "Lord, whatever you say, wherever you lead, help me to just trust and follow". His time of favour is here.

Fact!

For the Lord is good; His mercy and lovingkindness are everlasting, His faithfulness [endures] to all generations.
PSALM 100:5 AMP

3 very specific, but very fundamental statements. First, The Lord is good: it is not a function of what your physical eyes see or the summary of your life's experiences; God is always good. It is his nature to be good. It is his attribute to do good, it is an aberration for evil to be associated with God. Sin has itself opened the doorway to evil, and with ain comes the natural consequences of disease, sickness and death. But it is clear: God's original plan did not include any of these.

Second, his mercy and lovingkindness are everlasting. What I get is not a function of what I do or who I know but on who God is. It is his name and nature at stake here. Some may plead degrees, others may plead connections. Others may plead possessions, but I am  reminded of the futility of it all. David was an adulterer, a murderer, a lover of women; yet God's sure mercies would not let him go. Tell me, which one would you rather have: mighty acquisitions or gleanings of God's mercy?

Third, His faithfulness [endures] to all generations. Yes, generations can testify of God's amazing faithfulness. Ask the children of Israel, beneficiaries of a promise made to their ancient forefather, and to this day, still working as promised. Ask David, promised an eternal kingship, and God breaking all protocol to ensure that over the house of Judah, who was not even the first  son, or the second, yet producing the king of Judah since the time of David, both in the physical and the spiritual realm through Christ.

Indeed, God can be trusted. Years do nothing to his memory or his promise. He isn't like man given to lapses of memory or subject to economic realities; he is King over all, he is Lord over all, and  the reality of His Word has been settled long before the reality of this present existence ever came to be. His time of favour is here.

Flee!

Fleets fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 Corinthians 6:18‭-‬20 KJV

We live in a permissive world where messages like these are not popular or accepted. However, the standard is to confirm the truth and the source of the information. If all line up, then you know. The standard is not the world's acceptability, but the measure of God's Word.

His Word says 'Flee fornication'. You may say you don't engage in the physical act, but do you do pornography? Do you avoid the physical act, yet indulge in the mental act? Is your mind filled with dirty thoughts? Remember the words of Jesus, stating that adultery also starts from the eyes. God's standards are so high that man cannot make it on his own; it has to be a daily dependence on God for his help.

The body was made by and for God, and for his glory. A very high price- a whole life was given so I could be all I was made by God to be. The nature of God was given to me when God breathed into me, and I cannot function properly until I give him his rightful place. He owns and created it all, he is given glory when life is lived in line with its purpose. If you are not fulfilling that mandate, it is never too late. As long as you are alive, you can make a change and seek out the Truth.

I am his temple, a place of abode, a place of spiritual meditation and worship, dedicated to the use of only one Master. It does not allow mixed multitudes. I cannot offer on the altar of my life strange offerings; Korah, Dathan and Abiram did it and they paid with their lives. Same God, same rules, the dispensation of grace may give you second chances, but the rules have not changed. Joseph understood it and rather than plead the blood of Jesus first, he ran. You have got to do the same with sin. Run. Your life and eternity may depend on it. His time of favour is here.

Light, Life!

Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, “ I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
JOHN 8:12 AMP

A man with a message will always command an audience. When a man is backed up by God, there will always be men to listen to what God has got to say. However, a note of caution to be sounded here: the fact that you are sure of your commission and message does not mean that man will accept you or your message. All through the ages, man has always shown himself to be human: clueless atimes, and connected too sometimes. God is the only one who is consistent, and whose words can be trusted.

As usual, a crowd is here. Jesus takes the opportunity to remind the crowd of his mission and to invite the crowd to join him at work. Just as he extended the same invitation then, he is still inviting us today. He is Light, in him is light, his light is life, all who come to him walk in light and no darkness can exist in and around him.  You can choose to follow the crowd and get lost in it, without direction, without guidance and without hope. Or you can get out of the crowd, heed the call of Jesus and come to him for light and life. There is a great danger in following popular opinion; the crowd is never right. It is the path less popular, but certainly backed up by God, that will guarantee a good end.

Check your path today; are you following Christ or still seeking out your own devices? Are you groping for direction, or have you found the guide, the compass, the way approved by God? Remember, eternity is too long a time not to be sure about where you will spend it. His time of favour is here.

On Guard?

How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping watch [on himself] according to Your word [conforming his life to Your precepts]. PSALM 119:9 AMP

A fundamental question, with its answer steeped in eternity. The writer must have been young, hence the words chosen, but you can bet that its message is timeless and applies to all generations. The question of purity is a fundamental issue to our lives. Slowly but steadily, it is becoming more and more difficult to stay pure or clean. The world's system permits promiscuity and even rewards it; the world's system does not understand and can therefore not provide for purity.

The only way out is through the Word of God. Its message is timeless and eternal, and provides answers to all of life's questions. If we can claim Abraham's blessings till today, it means that the argument that God is old school does not hold water. If years ago, he said the wages of sin is death, there is no evidence to support any belief that this position has changed. What gives man the false confidence with sin may be the 'slow' grace of God, but it is profitable to remember that God cannot be predicted.

God's Word is the standard. He provides daily guidance and leadership. Note that the word is first a guide to the man himself, not a whip to pull others into shape. Of what use is teaching others lessons that you have refused to heed yourself? It has to speak to you first, change your life first, then your life can speak to other people. God is not really about the crowd; he works first on the heart of one person, then he moves through that one person to change the world, also one person at a time. Can God find me a person he can work on, to also change the world around him? Is his Word my priority or a chore? His time of favour is here.

Right, not Size!

The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices. Proverbs 21:3 NLT

The world teaches us effort and reward; the Word teaches grace and grace. You could do all you can, and it would appear there is no reward for labour. It is because God does not reward on the basis of our own input, but on the basis of his own input. If God has given us his own son freely and completely, then it gives us hope that nothing else will be too difficult for him to give up.

When I have and apply this understanding, I am on the right path to fulfilling God's purpose for me. I realise I cannot add anything to the finished work of Christ, and so I am content relying on that work and pleasing him. I realise I cannot please him in my own strength or wisdom, so I depend on his grace for my daily walk and work. God is please when I depend on him totally, not on my qualifications, connections, position or possessions.

The extreme is when I think that I can find a good substitute for this dependence. He's called me to do right, to do just, and he has supplied the strength to do so. Why abandon this, and think I can please him with activities, with multiple offerings, with sacrifices the world can see and appreciate? God is not man, moved by outward expressions without inner convictions. Your efforts and sacrifices only make sense when they proceed from a heart that is totally yielded to God.

What is the state of your heart? What are your pursuits and priorities? What is important to you: the outward show or the inner witness? His time of favour is here.

Commissioned!

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord , the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Joshua 1:1‭-‬5 NIV

1. Am I content serving in someone else's shadow for 40years, if need be? Do I see my gifts as indispensable & irreplaceable, or I see myself as able to perform better than the person above me? Joshua, Moses, Joseph all had a time of learning and servitude before leading. God is still the same.

2. God alone commissions replacements; no man can take up or assume authority without God saying so.

3. Every assignment has a territory, focus and target group. I will do well to respect these limits, and focus on the people I have been commissioned to serve.

4. When God backs me up, no man can set you back. I must be sure of the one who has commissioned my present assignment, defined my present territory and leads me where I am going.

5. God's nature is consistent; his Presence assures me protection, provision, guidance and leadership. It is not an insurance against trials and storms. The good end is assured; all I can do is trust. His time of favour is here.

Heartfelt Plea!

With all my heart I have sought You, [inquiring of You and longing for You]; Do not let me wander from Your commandments [neither through ignorance nor by willful disobedience].
PSALM 119:10 AMP

The Psalmist here states a confident personal claim and makes a passionate appeal. He had checked his heart and was sure of its sincerity and honesty. It takes a man who is sure of his walk with God to make such statements. Man's heart can be deceitful and dishonest, and can pretend to be what it is not. However, when the heart is submitted to God, it becomes a place where God can work his wonders. As I check my own heart today, can I truly say that I am seeking God with my whole heart? Have I found space in my heart for several other things, or is God totally in charge? Remember, when you are dealing with God, you are dealing with the creator of the heart itself, and a discerner of the most private thoughts of the heart. He cannot be deceived or cajoled; if it is not it, it cannot be it.

For the Psalmist, he had made up his mind on what was important. He would draw near to God, seeking his face, his will, his purpose, trusting that God, being faithful, will also do his own part. God's love is not subject to my own consistency or faithfulness; he knows I cannot make it on my own, so his help is always available and his love is always holding me in place. Even when I found wrong, his love searches me out, and like the prodigal son, is willing to restore. Such love isn't human; it is divine.

As I step out today, I am reminded again that I cannot trust my instincts or willpower. God's grace is the factor that makes the difference, and as I depend on him, he helps me walk right. Distractions will come; temptations to take the easy way will come; I could even make mistakes; but I am comforted in the knowledge that God will not let me go to waste. Thank you, Lord, for your grace. His time of favour is here.

How do you plead?

It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening]. 1 CORINTHIANS 13:6‭-‬7 AMP

It is easy to be nice when surrounded by easy going friends and pleasant situations. It is easy to be comfortable around people that put you at ease or do not stress you out. Unfortunately, that phase of life never really lasts. As long as I am imperfect, seeking completeness in God alone, I must meet other imperfect people like myself. What I do and how I react will define exactly what the state of my ownership is.

Love is the focus here. It is never about demanding perfection from others first; it is about depending on the One who alone can make all things perfect. Love does not do wrong deliberately, or rejoice when wrong prevails. Love does not do injustice or rejoice in it. Love is not impatient, and it endures, no matter the pressure. Easy to say, but then, right from the start, it was never about human effort, but a complete dependence on the One called Love himself, and the one who makes all things right.

Check your heart again today: do you entertain thoughts of revenge or getting even with someone who has offended you? Do you silently wish someone else evil because s/he has hurt you in the past? Are you holding on to pain, unable to give out love? Remember, by ourselves, we cannot love other people the way God demands. That is why his grace is available, freely and abundantly, so we can be all he wants us to be. Depend on him totally, for his time of favour is here.

This Day!

This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24 NLT

Usually, we expect a new day to start the way the old one ends. We carry the baggage of the day before into the new day, and we expect that things will be different. We log the worries of the day before into the day after, and then wonder why our health, our strength, our vigour and our peace are all drained even before the day begins.

Today's extract lays down a simple, yet fundamental truth: how you perceive the gift of a new day determines what the day will deliver to you. If all you see are problems, difficulties and disappointments, the day will not deliver anything different to you. If what you see are opportunities, appointments and privileges, then the day will definitely deliver good to you.

God already made it clear: every day has enough troubles of its own. Nothing you do can change that fact, but you can choose how you respond to the day's demands. You can choose to fret, worry and curse; or you can choose to rejoice, nevertheless. It is a matter of your inner content. No matter how bad a day has been, nothing lasts forever. God, the creator of all things, and the One who makes all things good, says he is in charge. Therefore, worry is futile and fear is vanity. These will not change anything, but only make things worse. Live life with the understanding that God is in charge, and he will never let you go to waste. The declaration of the Psalmist is an understanding and acceptance of God's sovereignty over ALL things, and an understanding of the right response. The Psalmist's decision has been made: rejoice, no matter what. What is your decision? His time of favour is here.

Focus Right!

Charm and grace are deceptive, and [superficial] beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the Lord [reverently worshiping, obeying, serving, and trusting Him with awe-filled respect], she shall be praised.
PROVERBS 31:30 AMP

A multi billion dollar enterprise has been built on the make up and touch up business. The world has taught us that it pays to continually improve our outer man, without preferring any advice on how to secure the inner man. Generations of people and billions of dollars have been wasted on the false images of TV, movies and books.

Today's extract says it simply: 'Charm and grace are deceptive, and superficial beauty is vain'. Once the focus is on the outer man, it is a pursuit that will lead to emptiness. As long as the focus is on the outer man, you will never be satisfied because there will always be someone or something that looks better. It has also been said that 'Beauty is just skin deep'. I can look at someone and see simplistic beauty; someone else looks at the same person and sees flaws and ugliness. Would I then base eternal life on the basis of such unpredictable and flawed personal prejudices? Would I allow people's personal and sometimes jaundiced observations determine my life's worth? The focus must be on what is permanent and of eternal value.

Today's extract is addressed to women but I bet that the same principles apply to the men also. When I praise beauty, what is my focus: is it the physical or the inner? Does the inner shine out on the outer? As a man, have I also settled the right attitude, the right focus, the right priorities? When others come in contact with me, do they see true grace? His time of favour is here.

Grace! Grace!

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

No human being is so far gone that s/he is beyond the grace of God, and no one is so good that s/he can discountenance the place of grace in the experiences that have come. The New testament is mainly about Paul's missionary journeys, his experiences, his encouragements, his exhortations and warnings on different issues to different audiences in different cities. You may think he was very popular and was used mightily by God. He should have it so good; unfortunately, God does not deal with us on the basis of our limited expectations, or other people's skewed views of what should be.

Grace is something not deserved, something not merited. It is not something you work hard for, and you are honoured with. It is first about God's amazing ability released on a man to do what would ordinarily not have been possible. Grace makes me know that no matter what may have been 'achieved', it was never about me in the first place. It was God at work, in his strength, in his wisdom and in his timing, reaching out to a lost world through me. I am just an earthen vessel, surrendered and yielded for his use, wherever and whenever he may please.

That grace is higher than Satan, Sin and Self. It is revealed in weakness, it is made manifest through Christ. I say like Paul, that i am nothing outside this grace. I surrender my life completely to God, and I ask that he do all he can do with my life, so I can be all he has equipped and shaped me to be. I do not at any time think I could do it on my own, and I do not ascribe any glory or  worth to myself. I simply rely on his grace, knowing it is sufficient for my life's journey. His time of favour is here.

The Assignment

But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.
Acts of the Apostles 20:24 NLT

1. Priorities - Paul had a clear idea of what was important. The true definition of life is pursuing what God is blessing, not what man is celebrating. I could be celebrated down here, yet not make eternal impact where it matters most. Do I know what is important?
2. Attitude - Paul had inner joy that no circumstances of life could tamper with. He faced shipwrecks, imprisonment and other trials, yet he could say in several letters: "I rejoice". You don't get that if your life has not found its purpose and assignment.
3. Knowledge, understanding and wisdom - don't just read/hear about God; seek to know and understand who God is, then obey him. You may never understand why he acts, but through obedience, you will know more about God than from years of study. Paul didn't understand the purpose behind the thorn in his flesh, but he knew the grace of God that could sustain a man in the midst of the most distressing circumstances.
4. Origin and inspiration - Paul received his assignment from God; Who determines what you do, why you do them and how you do them?
5. The Message - beyond the words you speak, WHO is your message? The person behind your words is even more important than what you have to say. God's message is the good news about Jesus first, then all other things follow, not the popular feel-good messages we hear a lot these days. It is first about the grace of God that freed us from  the guilt of sin. Every other blessing flows from this finished work.
6. End of all things - The end of all things is eternal life: that's God's ultimate plan. The life he gave at the cross, which the cross could not hold back, is the life on offer for us today. It will surely not end here. Are you working towards that good end? His time of favour is here.

Faith Is.......

Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality--faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses].
HEBREWS 11:1 AMP

Faith is herein defined in 2 very similar yet vivid ways, and our hearts will do well to consider, review and assimilate these definitions. First, faith is defined as an assurance of things hoped for. Your assurance about something is based on your confidence in the One who can give those things to you. If I get a promise of cash from someone who is struggling to settle his bills, I may think twice about believing the promise. When it is God promising, he is staking his life, nature and reputation, and he is guaranteeing that he is faithful enough to keep his promises.

Secondly, Faith is seen as evidence of things not seen. Our physical senses help us define our human experiences, but we make the mistake of trying to define God by those same senses. We assume we can place God in a box, and explain away his actions, words and intentions through the narrow prism of our natural senses. Samuel was anointed, yet the physical appearance of Eliab, Jesse's firstborn, deceived him into thinking he could be king. You cannot run with God, relying on your physical senses. You have got to trust God more than you see him. When  all you know about God is what you have proven by senses, or you have only seen him do, then your experience of God is limited. When God says he's preparing a place for us, how would the physical senses comprehend that? When God promises us a new, immortal body, how would the physical senses provide an explanation on how it will work?

This walk is a walk of faith, and all I will get, hear, see or do will be hinged on my walk of faith with God. Is there anything proving difficult to handle? God says I should believe him for solutions. Is there a mountain proving difficult? God says that Faith can relocate that mountain. God, teach me to hold on to you, even when everything is falling apart. His time of favour is here.

Be Sharpened!

As iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens [and influences] another [through discussion]. PROVERBS 27:17 AMP

Unless you have strength to burn, or you seek to deceive people with activity, you don't go to work with a blunt instrument. Whether as a farmer, a painter, a teacher, a designer or whatever the calling or specification may be, there is a place for sharpening. I owe it to the world God has placed me to seek to continuously improve myself.

However, a key factor in this process is the human angle. No matter the calling I have received, fellow human beings are the raw materials for the assignment God has given me. It does not matter how gifted I am as a writer, a farmer or a painter, if nothing I do is seen, appreciated, criticized or rejected by man,  I will not know the full scope of what God is doing. Until I bring his gifts in me to bear on the people he has called me to serve, I may not fully understand purpose. I cannot deliberately stay away from people and somehow expect that I will make an impact.

Also, the fact that I am certain of my assignment from God does not guarantee that man will accept me. I must be aware that being backed up by God does not always mean a universal appeal. What is key is to understand that a man with the right message will always command an audience. The audience could be 1 person or many, but God will always give someone a message that is apt for a particular person, in a particular situation and at a particular time.

Iron is always used to sharpen iron, not a blunt instrument. Am I like sharp iron, with grace to make impact in my generation? Can I be trusted with lives by God, and as I relate with people, do we grow together in our relationship, knowledge and experience of God? When I sit down with others to discuss, what is the focus - building up or destroying others? His time of favour is here.

Living Right!

Therefore, since we have these [great and wonderful] promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, completing holiness [living a consecrated life--a life set apart for God’s purpose] in the fear of God. 2 CORINTHIANS 7:1 AMP

God has promised us his Presence, his Power, his Protection, and several other attributes of his amazing nature. All he asks of us is that we depend on him for grace to live right and away from sin. Sin is a destroyer, a hindrance to all God can be in a person's life.

How can I avoid sin? It is only by a daily, constant dependence on the help of the Holy Spirit. If God enters into a covenant with us, promising us his presence, and warning us away from sin, how can we ever think that he will keep only one half of the contract? How do we expect that he will continue to remain with us, while we continue to live in sin? I must avoid all contamination of body and spirit; I must dedicate my life completely to living a consecrated life, giving myself wholly to God's direction and use. At no time can my natural self do any of these; this is not something you do by strength or physical exertion; it is only possible as I daily depend on God for strength.

I go to God today, and confess my shortcomings, inabilities and inadequacies before him. I cannot please God by physical exertion; I cannot measure up to his standard by my own strength. I ask for his grace and power to live right, and to showcase God's amazing power and nature through the purity and consecration that his Spirit alone can birth in my life. His time of favour is here.

Once and for all!

so Christ, having been offered once and once for all to bear [as a burden] the sins of many, will appear a second time [when he returns to earth], not to deal with sin, but to bring salvation to those who are eagerly and confidently waiting for Him.
HEBREWS 9:28 AMP

His mission was to bear the sin of the whole world, even for those not yet born. His assignment was settled long before you and I were born, and all that God desires is a living, breathing relationship with those he has created. He bore the sin on the cross, his Father turned his face away, he was rejected and denied even by his own disciples, all because he wanted to secure eternal redemption and life for us. The assignment has been concluded, the price has been paid and the way to God defined.

How do I respond? I am expected to accept this free gift and secure my eternity. It is a fallacy to think that I will have time to repent before death comes. No one has been informed ahead of time when the grim reaper, the ultimate leveller will come calling. The gift, though offered to all, will only work for all who accept him, and remain in him. He will come back; there is no doubt about that. When he comes, will I be found eagerly waiting for him? When he returns, will I be confident that I will be found in him?

That is the crux of today's extract. We must live right, and do right, so we can end right. Life is not defined by possessions, position, power or privilege, but by the power of the one who runs my life. Life is defined by my knowledge of the One who secures eternity for me. What would it profit me, if I am well - known down here and not recognised where it matters most? Would it be of any gain to me if I am celebrated down here, but I do not qualify for life eternal?

I check my priorities again, and ask God for grace to live right. Eternity is too long a time not to be sure of your final destination. His time of favour is here.

The C.V

And the Word (Christ) became flesh, and lived among us; and we [actually] saw His glory, glory as belongs to the [One and] only begotten Son of the Father, [the Son who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, who is] full of grace and truth (absolutely free of deception). JOHN 1:14 AMP

This runs like a C.V. Identity, foundation, origin, assignment and content are all indicated in this one verse. The Word here is a person, who is the full embodiment of the written and spoken word. When God speaks into a life, a situation or an event in time, what it means is that it is God speaking his Son into that life, situation or event. You can't hold on to a certain Word from God and reject the person of his Son, Jesus.

God is also not so far away that he is cut off from reality. His Son was so glorious that sin could not touch him. He had to leave all the glory, all the prestige, and come down to our level to identify with our weaknesses and mortality. He walked our earthly streets, he ate our food and drank our water, he paid  taxes as should all of us, and obeyed, even when the path chosen for him was painful. When he borne the sin, his Father couldn't even look at him. That was the price paid for you and I so we could walk in the new path that the life of Christ has laid for us.

That phase of assignment has been completed and concluded. The glory has been restored and as I walk with God, I walk in the reality of that glory. The Son has been given to us, so we could get a glimpse of the glory also awaiting us, while we live his life down here. The Son is full of grace and truth, and he dispenses these to all who come to him for help. His help is available to all, his grace is available to all, and his Life is the one indispensable thing I need to make it down here and to also make it into eternal life.

Guess the only question which remains is this: Do I have this life? Has the Word indeed become real in my life? His time of favour is here.

Joy, in Pain!

Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. JAMES 1:2‭-‬3 AMP

It is only God that can tell me to rejoice in suffering, and he will make it worthwhile. The human mind cannot process or accept this. It is natural to flee afflictions, avoid conflicts, run away from difficult situations, but for God, it appears these are his raw materials for the growth and development of the people he seeks to use.

I am asked go rejoice in trials. It is because there is a Power at work in those trials that will ensure that I am not overcome. If I am asked to rejoice in affliction, it is because the One who allowed them already knows how he will use them for my good. The 3 Hebrew men faced certain death, yet the depth of their conviction was deeper than the threats of an earthly king. Are my convictions also that deep? If a choice was to be made between certain death and compromise because of my faith, what would my response be?

The assurance is that these trials teach endurance, leading to spiritual maturity and inner peace. God's ways are definitely not man's ways; otherwise, how would difficulties produce such treasures, unless they are manipulated by the divine hands of the One whose purpose cannot be thwarted. In the midst of the most depressing experience, when Stephen was being stoned to death, God was preparing a certain Saul for an encounter with the God who can use anything for his purpose.

God's focus is on the inner man, not external comfort or convenience. God knows that if my inner man is not at peace, I cannot respond to his guidance and direction. The outer man is never at rest, because its pursuits are on the earthly and the ephemeral. God builds us up from the inside, so that when men come in contact with us, they experience the God who has worked on us. It has never been about us; it has always been about our lives been a living, shining testimony of what an encounter with God can produce.

Am I working with God or pursuing my own things? His time of favour is here.

God at Work 2!

As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.
Ecclesiastes 11:5 NIV

No one knows or understands how the wind works. We cannot determine its source, or predict its direction and destination. All we see is the wonderful impact it makes, and the effect it has on our physical bodies and environment. The wind is just one of the numerous acts of God that is beyond human understanding.

Man has found a way to be relevant in the scheme of things. Science, technology and various inventions have been used by man to explain the mysteries of creation, but in the final analysis, one thing is certain: there is nothing man can do to change whatever God has done. I cannot recreate what God has already established; neither can I stop anything from working as it should, unless God allows me to. He has founded the earth as he pleases, he has placed everything in its place and commanded it to function as it should. Man was placed in the garden to nurture creation, and it is only as man obeys and does as instructed, that he can truly enjoy God's full favour.

I must respect my limitations. I take a look at the complex structure called earth,  and then recall that earth is just 1 out of 9 recognised planets, with others still being discovered. I look up to the sky and see the starry host, and I can only imagine that someone somewhere else is looking up and seeing a different configuration. I recall planting seeds in the ground, and a few months down the line, there is a harvest of grain, much more than I put in the same ground.

I then wonder how anyone could claim that there is no God. If science cannot fully explain this complexities, how do we imagine that it can provide answers to all of life's questions? I must therefore make up my mind to trust God's wisdom, his foresight and his work all around me. Even if I do not understand, my heart acknowledges the power of the One who makes all things work together for my good. His time of favour is here.

Consistent Lifestyle!

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16‭-‬18 NIV.

Reality sucks. All around us, life happens. Life starts, and life ends. For some, the birth of a child signifies a new phase, while the death of someone else signifies the closure of a painful phase. Sometimes, there is the irreversible damage a fire brings, or a storm leaves in its wake. All around us, news of famine, rumours of wars and conflicts fill the air. One can be easily unsettled by the news and events that surround you, but today's extract seems to focus on something different.

It appears that what is important is what is going on inside of me, not what is going on all around me. I can face a storm with the right attitude if my heart condition is right. I can smile in the face of disaster if my heart is in the right frame. I am enjoined to rejoice always not because there won't be difficulties ahead, but because the difficulties shouldn't define me. I am enjoined to pray continually, not because God is hard of hearing, but to strengthen my relationship with God and understand how he works. I am enjoined to give thanks in ALL circumstances, because I have this clear understanding that with God, there are no accidents or mistakes. Everything he allows is to teach a lesson, and to prepare me for the future he already has in mind.

In summary, I can choose to react or to predetermine my response to situations. I  get to choose which direction my life will take: either to take a risk with God, or to sacrifice God's best for my own personal arrangements. Both decisions have eternal consequences. His time of favour is here.

The Right Associations;

He who walks [as a companion] with wise men will be wise, But the companions of [conceited, dull-witted] fools [are fools themselves and] will experience harm.
PROVERBS 13:20 AMP

Check out your present company; can it be said that you are a companion of the wise? Who you walk with, who you are comfortable with, who you listen to and  who you approach for counsel and advice, as well as those who shape your life's pursuits all speak of your priorities and eternal destination.

A popular adage says "Show me your friends, and I will tell you who you are". That statement has a ring of eternal truth more than we know. Samson was always drawn to 'strange' women, and he is the only Judge in Israel who died in the company of the enemies he was destined to destroy. Reuben was Jacob's first son, the sign of his strength, but I do not know what consumed Reuben to go into his father's wife and sleep with her. That was the seed of the curse placed on him by his father, and which went all the way down to the generations after him. It really does matter who you walk with.

Lot missed a big chance to be blessed beyond his own generation. I wouldn't know if it was greed that drove him towards Sodom, but as the Bible records, he went in there with so much riches; unfortunately, he left with only his 2 daughters, picked up the evil practices the land had taught them and became father to his daughters' children. When you do not move with the right people, you can never live right.

In your walk of destiny, what you need are the people that God has chosen to help you on your way. They may be many or few, but they have to be chosen by the God of purpose himself. As I do not know the full dimensions of the assignment placed in my hands, I must trust the wisdom of the one who determines the course of my life. I must depend on him daily, knowing that his love for me will not let me go. His time of favour is here.

Seeing Right 2

The reward of humility [that is, having a realistic view of one’s importance] and the [reverent, worshipful] fear of the Lord  Is riches, honor, and life. PROVERBS 22:4 AMP

Life must be a study in understanding who you are and what you have been empowered to do by the One who created you and fitted you with the skills/talents/gifts he thought best to equip you with. When I have discovered who I am and what is expected of me, I have a response to make: do I appropriate the glory, prestige and honour of the endowment to myself, or do I see myself the way God expects? What I eventually make of my life will depend a lot on what I do with what I have received.

Humility may mean different things to different people, but here, it is defined as having a realistic view of one's importance and is balanced by a reverent, worshipful fear of the Lord. Both are  important. You cannot see yourself the right way, unless you see yourself through God's eyes. You cannot fully understand who you are, unless you hear, know and understand God's purpose for you. You cannot understand your place in God's scheme of things, if you do not first know that long before you were born, God was already at work, and long after you would have exited the scene, God would remain at work. That humbling knowledge helps me know my place, and to have a reverent fear of God.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. No man has ever gone far without it, and no man is used of God without it. When service for God is balanced with fear of God, then the reward is stated in today's extract. Riches, honour and life are given to such a person. Don't be deceived by the world's definitions; God's view is always better, deeper and more lasting than whatever the world offers. The world cannot guarantee you tomorrow; God guarantees me eternal life.

Whatever I do, I must not miss the point: God's will is for me to have a full life, and to make impact in my generation. The way there has been stated; I have a choice to make. His time of favour is here.