Exchange Program 2

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

As the Easter season comes upon us, we remind ourselves how we got here and why our lives are the way they are. This season calls us to remembrance, again putting right before us the sacrifice, pain and discomfort that Jesus went through so we could be free from the just punishment for our sins. We could convince ourselves that we were good in ourselves, or that we didn't need a Saviour, but the realities show that without that sacrifice, our lives won't matter much.

Before I point the finger at someone else, can I make a boast about my own righteousness? Before I qualify to correct others, have I surrendered to God's own discipline? Every single experience of Jesus on the cross brought an eternal benefit to me, and I will be foolish to ever imagine that all I enjoy today is a result of my being good. Every beating, every stroke, every piercing, every foul word, every pain, led to a benefit for me.

More like an exchange program, where as a result of my transgressions, he got wounded. As a result of my iniquity and wickedness, he was crushed, while I walked away free. Every sin demanded punishment under the law and it was legal and proper that the one who sinned should get the punishment. I was the culprit under the law, and deserved punishment, yet under the terms of the law itself, he paid the full price for my sin, allowing me to literally walk away from the consequences of my actions.

Even his stripes, whatever the number, serves as a balm for all diseases and sicknesses. For his agony on the cross,  I got healing. For his pain, I got gain. For his rejection, I got eternal acceptance by God. All the negative consequences of my past life have been effectively cleared and it appears I would walk away free from my past.

Well, true, but not that easily. Whilst I am free from the past, the future makes a demand on me. I am saved from my past, and bound by God to a life that looks to the future. All I do now is an appreciation of all God has done, and I live daily in the consciousness that I am all I am simply because of who Jesus is and did. It is not a license to live as I please, but as God pleases. The life I call mine was fully paid for by blood, and an account will be demanded of how I lived it. What will be the conclusion of my life? His time of favour is here.

Exchange Program!

And if the Spirit of Him Who raised up Jesus from the dead dwells in you, [then] He Who raised up Christ Jesus from the dead will also restore to life your mortal (short-lived, perishable) bodies through His Spirit Who dwells in you. Romans 8:11 AMPC

Your life impact and eternal destination are tied to your inner content. It does not matter if the world celebrates you; It did the same to Jesus when he rode on a donkey into Jerusalem, yet by the end of that same week, the cry had changed from 'Hossana' to 'Crucify Him'. That's the nature of the world.

What is important today is to check your inner content: Who is in charge? If it is God, your understanding of who you are, what to do and how to do it will be fundamentally affected by your ownership structure. Easter is a reminder of the helplessness of man, and God's permanent solution to the power of sin. A perfect life was given for imperfect men, and innocent blood was shed so that the guilty could walk away free. Yes, free from punishment but not free from responsibility. The price wasn't paid so I could live as I please, but in honour and appreciation of the One who gave his life for me.

Today's extract starts with an assumption, which I must personally answer in light of eternity. It is also a statement of fact and assurance, that if I take the right decision, I stand to gain much more than the whole world can give me. Remember, you cannot give what you do not have and if I hold on the world, I can only get what the world can offer. If I hold on to God, then I get all that God offers, which is Life, both down here and with him forever.

This mortal body is so weak and limited. It makes great boasts, yet it cannot guarantee its own tomorrow. That ia why it needs a Saviour, One who can give it what it needs, which is true Life, which never ends. I am again reminded of the brevity of this life, and the Life that never ends. The choice is mine, rejection is fatal and the benefits of submission are eternal. What's the choice? His time of favour is here.

Fully Paid!

Just as the Son of Man came not to be waited on but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many [the price paid to set them free]. Matthew 20:28 AMPC

We crave attention and recognition. We want to be seen, felt and appreciated. We define our value by our visibility and the accompanying human applause, whilst we simply forget the terms of our salvation and impact. Let's put today's extract in context: 2 out of 12 disciples had come to the Master secretly, seeking preferential treatment and favoured seating at God's right hand. The mother, who came on behalf of her sons, wasn't acting alone, but must have come at the behest of her sons. The other 10 disciples were angry, I'm sure, not because of the request itself, but that it came before theirs. Each of them must have wondered about the same question, and if indeed there was room to contain all of them, as well as the others who will believe like them.

Jesus' response is apt. Being masters is easy, and there are plenty of them. However, service to others is rare, and only a few find it. There are a few places at the 'top' and so many people are fighting to get there. The problem is nobody has defined what that 'top' is. The world recognises and rewards it, but it cannot definitely define it. The men of the world keep running and chasing, never hitting the mark, because it is an illusion. In Christ, the way to the 'top' is down in the trenches of service. As I seek to serve others, God seeks to make my life a blessing. Visibility is man's term; impact is God's term. You can be visible yet make minimal impact, but with God,  impact is all you make.

Jesus' example too speaks volumes. He had so much glory, yet he left it all because of me. He came down to earth to serve and give his life, and he paid the full ransom for my life. I was bound in sin and death, but his death and life sealed my redemption and guaranteed my own life. If his life cannot end, so also all who have entrusted their lives to him are safe from the power of death. As gratitude, he asks me to serve, to spend that life in behalf of other people, to bear trials and tribulations as part of that call. Service is the part to glory, but by the world's standards but by God's standards. Fortunately, only God's standards will stand the test of time. Make sure you are on the right side. His time of favour is here.

Word! Seed!

For as the rain and snow come down from the heavens, and return not there again, but water the earth and make it bring forth and sprout, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:10‭-‬11 AMPC

There is a commitment by the speaker here to the power and efficacy of his Word. When a man makes a promise, the first thing you want to measure is his capacity and capability. Can he do as he has said? Does he have the power to bring about all he has promised? First, I recall what God himself said in Gen 8:22 AMPC: "While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease." Looking at the world today, I think it is very obvious that Godhas kept his promise, and has shown capacity and capability all through the centuries that he can be trusted.

Today's extract is another promise made by the same God. If you can trust the consistency of the seasons, you can trust the consistency of his Word. If the seasons bring increase, you can trust his Word to do the same. It appears that the rain and the snow have a mandate from the sender to ensure that the earth is nourished, so it can produce. The same principle applies to every life and situation that the Word is applied to. The rain and the snow produce seed to the sower and bread to the eater. Whether you are a sower or an eater, there is adequate provision for your need. Whether you are one with capacity for storage or you simply live on daily sustenance, God has your interests at heart and adequate provision for your level.

The rain and snow proceed from the heavens; the Word proceeds from the mouth of God. Just as the rain and the snow have a divine mandate to impact wherever they touch and bring increase, so does the Word of God have a divine mandate to impact lives. Just as the rain and snow fulfil God's purpose, so also does his Word.

God makes a commitment to the efficacy of his Word, but there is a silent part to today's extract, and that is the reception of the target. The rain and the snow have the capacity to bring increase; the results depend on the reception of the ground. The Word of God has the innate and active ability to change lives, ONLY if that life allows the Word work in it. You can cram and claim all the blessings you crave; you only enjoy same when your life aligns with the conditions that the Word can bless.

I take stock: Is my life such that the Word of God can impact? His time of favour is here.

Sleep and Peace!

In peace [and with a tranquil heart] I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety and confident trust. PSALM 4:8 AMP

The world has its cares. All through life, man pursues after symbols and the physical, visible trappings of prosperity. We spend our lives in the search for 'success', not even sure what it means, or when we have got it. We allow the world define it for us, so we keep running after the shadow, unaware of the real deal.

Life rises and falls on the strength of your inner content. Who lives in you will always determine what you do and how you do them. David here knew God on a personal basis, and it is no wonder he could pen down the amazing songs that make up most of the Psalms. I read today's extract and one lesson I have learnt recently just strikes me: We wrongly define peace as the absence of conflict, but it is actually the presence of the One called the Prince of peace.

It is the Prince of peace who gives the kind of peace defined here. Another understanding from today's extract is that sleep isn't automatic, simply because it is night, or you are tired. I have met people who couldn't sleep at night, even after a hard day's work and plenty of sleep medications. I couldn't make a medical pronouncement on the cause, but I can say that indeed, you can never take any of God's acts of grace for granted.

You could lie down on a bed which cost millions, and still not sleep. You could use up the most expensive drugs, and still not sleep a wink. The Psalmist says he will both lie down and sleep, not because the external circumstances were perfect, but because he had the backing and support of the One who mattered most. High walls and physical security really do not secure you; only God does.

You get all these by dwelling where God is, not on your own terms. If God provides safety, the one thing I must do is seek him out, if I must enjoy what he offers. I cannot go outside of him, or reject his offer, engage and remain in sin and rebellion, and assume that somehow, grace will still abound. God cannot be mocked or fooled, and his principles remain the same all through generations. He longs for a relationship with me, and longs to bless me with all he has. Would I let him? Would I surrender to him? His time of favour is here.

History 101!

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans 15:4 NIV

Of what use is biblical history? It's not as if the stories in the bible are of perfect, worthy people. In it, you read of murders, hatred and generational curses. You hear of marital unfaithfulness and godlessness. But you also read of men who walked with God the best way they knew how to, and we read of the amazing lives they lived. Any historian, particularly anyone who wanted you to see him/her in a positive light would only highlight the good stories and leave out the worst. Welcome to God's own version of History 101.

With God, nothing is lost. He uses anything and everything to teach us life lessons. Today's extract says EVERYTHING that has been written down is to teach us lessons in endurance and hope. How does this apply? There are a lot but let's look at David, called by God as 'a man after my heart'. A man who enjoyed so much of God's blessings, yet went into adultery, murder and cover up. God forgave him when he repented, but he punished him severally. When I am tempted to think God and I have a special relationship, it must push me to be very careful about sin. It does not matter in who it is found; even his son Jesus was rejected as he bore the sins of the world by his blood.

I look at Abraham, who we clearly the father of faith today. You think it was easy to obey the call to offer his son? You think he didn't wonder as he took that 3-day journey whether this was right? But he went on, and today he is a reference for faith, even when nothing is logical or reasonable. The lives of these two men are just a few of the many lessons God would have me learn. All of them reached the end of their lives, confident that they had known, met and related with a God who kept them in his eternal view, and brought them through a relationship with him that would last into eternity.

First, I must understand that relationship with God is key. It is fundamental that I see all my experiences in the light of my walk with him. As I walk with him, he teaches me patience and perseverance. Even when I go wrong, he does not reject me, but he will do all he can to restore me to himself. Secondly, this relationship wasn't meant to end down here. It is built to last into eternity. Every experience, good or 'bad', has been carefully constructed to lead me on that eternal journey. Every word of hope and encouragement, warning and discipline spoken by God to these two men, are words that apply to me today.

Would I respond as God seeks to lead me to eternal rest? Note that even with all David did, his name is mentioned in God's hall of faith. It is never about what I do but about who I know. Even when I stumble and fall, he promises that as long as I return, he will take me back. I do not encourage wilful sin, but as long as I know I have done wrong and I return to God, he will take me, clean me up and set me on the path of eternal life. That's the whole essence of hope, that come what may down here, my hope is built on someone stronger. That's me; what of you? His time of favour is here.

Living Arrangements!

HE WHO dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand]. Psalm 91:1 AMPC

Every word in scripture has a message God would have us learn. Today's extract starts with an invitation, a call to anyone who is interested to tap into the offer God is making. It is for anyone and everyone, but the benefits and blessings will be for the man who responds. It has always been said that God would not force himself on any man, but he will show his power in the lives of all who come to him. He who dwells tells me that there is a role I must play, if I am to enjoy the fullness of all that God has on offer. It is not a temporary arrangement, where I come in when I like and do as I please. God has terms and conditions to his blessings and I can only enjoy them in full when I do as he commands. 

There is a place of safety, and it is found in the secret place of the Most High. It is not a place of common knowledge, where anyone can stumble into by accident. It is a place of diligent search and careful consideration. It is a place of fervent, continuous and diligent service. It is owned by the Most High, and he calls men to come look for him where he is. It is secret because not everyone would take the time and effort required to find it. God is the Most High, yet he stoops low to my level to look for me. He is high and mighty, yet his power and grace is best seen in weak, mortal vessels like me.

When I find that secret place, I remain there by daily meditation and obedience to his commands. You are not secured there to live as you please, but to live a life of commitment to the things God commands. You are not guaranteed insulation from trials and tribulations; but you are assured that you are in a place where no foe can withstand. God isn't so much interested in my comfort as he is in my character. He knows that when he has built character in me, he can entrust mighty assignments into my hands. When his shadow guides me life, he can launch me into the world to make impact for him.

Can I say that I have found the secret place? Am I rightly located? His time of favour is here.

Victory Certain!

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.] John 16:33 AMPC

Jesus leaves us in no doubt as to what we are in for. When he encourages our hearts, it is because he knows that there are dangers ahead. In and by ourselves, we would not survive, so he has provided a support system to ensure that we have all the help we need and we get to the desired end.

The world is in turmoil. The nations of the world claim to pursue peace, yet the most powerful ones continue to stock weapons that could wipe out the whole of humanity. The world has developed tools to make life better, yet while the quantity increases, the quality of life decreases by the day. Men build high walls, forgetting that death and destruction do not respect borders. Where then is safe?

Today's extract establishes one truth: there is only one place where life will make sense, and that is IN Jesus. Note that he didn't promise a smooth ride, he only says that perfect peace and confidence will be found in Him alone. The world offers no such things, as it does not have them. The popular legal maxim says' "You cannot give what you don't have". No assurance by the world can guarantee you eternal life as the world itself does not have that in itself. Life is defined and expressed as a person, not an idea, a place, concept or theory. It is found in Jesus.

The world only has tribulation, trial, distress and frustration. No matter how rich you are by the world's standards, you will always crave for more. The more you get, the less you sleep. The more you get, the more you suspect. However, when you add the presence of God to whatever you have, you have all it takes to remain calm, joyful and confident in the face of the world's assault. Who lives in you will determine how you react to what goes on around you.

When I am in Him, what I get is all round protection. Nothing comes to me without going through him first. He says he has deprived the world of the power to hurt all who are in him. So I can face life with confidence, assured that I am in the best hands, backed up by the only power worth mentioning. I know why the 3 Hebrew men, Daniel, Paul could face certain death, because they knew that the One in them was greater than the greatest threat the world could  muster. Do I have that same assurance? Have I sorted out my ownership and identity? His time of favour is here.

This Season!

He was despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and pain and acquainted with grief; And like One from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we did not appreciate His worth or esteem Him. ISAIAH 53:3 AMP

Easter is one of the seasons in the calender and is celebrated in one form or the other all over the world. There are holidays commemorating this season, with plenty of food and drinks to go along. However, do we stop often to think about the first Easter season and what it meant for the One who sealed the deal and made it possible for us to rejoice today? Look at today's extract for a tip of the iceberg.

Here was a man who was sent for the salvation of men, yet men didn't recognise or appreciate him. He was the key to eternal redemption, yet he was despised. It could be that there was nothing about him that gave an inkling about his mission and purpose. He was a king in heaven, yet he came as a simple child, born in a manger and kept in a feeding trough. No fine palace or inn had room for him. The King felt threatened by him, the people of his day totally rejected the idea of him as king or saviour. Herod went ahead to kill all children below 2 years all because of him. That was the background to the first Easter.

As he grew, there was opposition all around. Even his own people rejected him, and it was said of his hometown in Mark 6:4-5 KJV that "Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.  And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them." How much good could a man do, who was not even appreciated at home?

He faced his assignment, but there was opposition all around. He was used to rejection, and even amongst his disciples, who he had mentored for 3 and a half years, was one who eventually betrayed him for money. There were attempts to kill him, some tried to discredit him by attributing his miracles to the devil, some raised false witnesses against him, so that he could be killed. Eventually, men had their way and he was crucified, but therein lies the secret of Easter. If there was no death, there could be no life. If there was no payment for sin, we would be required to make daily sacrifices. In that first season, ugly as it was, lies the beauty of our place in God and the eternal hope that has been birthed in us.

The men of that age didn't appreciate him, but then, it is not much different today. Faith in Christ is mocked and despised, yet nothing I do or say can change the fact that in Him alone lies the secret to true life. Just as it was then, so is it now. However, his love just wouldn't let go. His arms are stretched out, just as they were those centuries ago, and he still calls. Men didn't appreciate him then, but for ALL who come to him, his promise is that he will not cast away. Make this Easter season one to remember, and give God l you are. He will make it a life to remember. His time of favour is here.

Meet God 3

Know, recognize, and understand therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, Who keeps covenant and steadfast love and mercy with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations, Deuteronomy 7:9 AMPC

This is a call by Moses to the people of Israel in his day, and the same call goes to us today. The world does not understand consistency and faithfulness. Its principles are built on false premises, because it is sustained by the one called the deceiver. God reminded the people of Israel about their experiences in Egypt and their journeys through the desert, as well as His provision and protection all through and then their inheritance of a land that wasn't theirs in the first place but was given to them. God went ahead to also warn them about their associations with the people of the land. Why would God spend so much time warning about both the present and the future? Is it because he sees ahead, and knows the dangers ahead? Could it be that his love is so deep that he would have us know what we stand to gain when we remain in Him?

It is as if God is introducing himself to us all over again. He wants us to know, recognize and understand who He is. Being God means being supreme, over all and in charge, yet he is referred to as Your Lord, with a personal touch. He wants to have a relationship with us, which is the whole idea behind his Son coming to the world to die for our sins. He is introduced as a faithful and covenant keeping God, which means that it is in his nature to seek out men and call them to himself. It is in his nature to show love and mercy to all who respond to his call, no matter what their past or present looks like. He is consistent all through the centuries, as what was known about him by Abraham is the same testimony about him by John, centuries after. He isn't like man, who changes his mind as often as he changes his clothes.

There isn't a blanket provision however. Note that the full promise is given to those who respond in love and obedience to God's command. You can read and memorize all you want; God's promises only work when you are obedient. Today's extract was a result of one man's obedience, that is Abraham. He walked with God and received an eternal promise, which Israel enjoys till this day. David walked with God and received a permanent kingship. Enoch walked with God and was taken away. All through Scripture, we read of such men and we are encouraged that the same God who rewards obedience is still very much in charge of affairs. He is waiting for us to respond to him. Generations after us will reap the benefits of our relationship with God, only if we persevere to the end.

There is a silent part to today's extract, and it is that the opposite too is true. For every one who disobeys and rebels against God, punishment awaits. Unfortunately, just as it is for obedience, so is it for rebellion. God is just, and will give to each man his due. On whose side are you on? His time of favour is here.

Standing Fast!

Blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] is the man who is steadfast under trial and perseveres when tempted; for when he has passed the test and been approved, he will receive the [victor’s] crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. JAMES 1:12 AMP

There are so many conditions attached to God's blessings that time and space will not permit all to be mentioned here; however, today's extract gives another dimension to how God works and how he grows his character in those who follow him. Is it not interesting that God's greatest promises are tied to trials and tribulations?

Let it be settled today: you will not grow much without trials. That's God's way of proving the quality of your inner convictions. If what you hold on to is worth it, the experiences he will bring your way will prove it. How does God entrust me with eternal assignments if I am only focused on the earthly and the temporal? How does God trust me with the lives of men when I have not even entrusted him with mine?

The times of trials WILL come. It is not a matter of IF but WHEN. Please also note that the rewards are tied to standing to the end, not just the experience. We love the victim mentality, where we talk a lot only about the issues we face, and not so much about the grace that God has made available. We seek men's pity, forgetting that the help of man is but vanity. We seek to whip up emotions, forgetting that God sees the heart and weighs the motives, and nothing is hidden from him. Don't seek the approval or pity of men; go after God and his purpose for you. His PROVISION is truly PRO VISION and he will only provide resources for the vision he alone has birthed in you, not the one you think is best for you.

There is an end to all of these. Nothing down here, no matter how beautiful or depressing, was made to last forever. There is an expiry date on all of life's present experiences, except the eternal consequences of my actions now. A crown of life is at stake, and it is for all who have Life in them. Life has been defined and personified in the person of Christ himself, and is the reward of all who love God. You cannot love God without surrendering to him, and you cannot love him without giving him total control of your life.

Don't labour for the physical, as they cannot sustain you in the day of trouble. God wants to build character in me, not my bank account. He wants to plant eternity in me and make me an instrument of his purpose. Would I let him? Would I surrender to him? His time of favour is here.

Wisdom!

The beginning of Wisdom is: get Wisdom (skillful and godly Wisdom)! [For skillful and godly Wisdom is the principal thing.] And with all you have gotten, get understanding (discernment, comprehension, and interpretation). Proverbs 4:7 AMPC

Everything you see in life today has an origin. It does not matter how long it has been for; those whose job it is to establish origins would usually provide such information. Where then does wisdom come from? It would appear that wisdom himself is the source and origin of the wisdom today's extract talks about. It refers to wisdom as a noun all through the verse, which tells me that wisdom isn't so much about head content but about personal experience. It is NOT a thought or process, but a living Person. You could read about wisdom in a book, but you would not be truly wise unless and until you had the person himself, referred to as the Wisdom and Power of God, living inside of you. That's the beginning and definition of wisdom.

Everywhere you turn to Scripture, you see the stark contrast between worldly and Godly wisdom. You see Gideon fighting an army with 300 men physically armed with pitchers and torches, but backed up by the one referred to as the Mighty man of war. You see choirs leading an army out to fight, and you wonder if the strategy is to sing the opposition to death. Why would men march around a whole city for 6 days, say nothing, just blow trumpets and provide entertainment for those watching from the fortified walls? For all the examples above, we know how those wars ended. Skills are good, but life has shown that when God is involved, you cannot rely on them alone. It is not weapons that win wars, at least when God is involved.

Engrained in the verse above is the need for the proper application of wisdom. Today's extract says with all you have gotten, get understanding, which is discernment, comprehension, and interpretation. The principal thing is Wisdom. He wants to be a part of your life and daily decisons. He does not compel. He is an ever present help, but I must seek him out. He is willing to help, but I must surrender my will, intellect and thoughts to his control. My brain is my greatest gift, but it could be the greatest limitation when it comes to the things of God. I could logically process God and miss out on the wonderful things he wants for me. I could apply common sense to dealing with God, and yet never attain to the fullness of his purpose for me. That's why Godly wisdom isn't like worldly wisdom.

As a new week starts, I must settle in me that I don't have all it takes; only God does. He is the Wise one, knowing the end from the beginning, so he is able to bring me to his desired end. Once I understand this, impact is non negotiable. His time of favour is here.

Meet God 2

The person who has My commands and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me; and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I [too] will love him and will show (reveal, manifest) Myself to him. [I will let Myself be clearly seen by him and make Myself real to him. John 14:21 AMPC

God really loves to have and build a relationship with us. Everything he does or says is a revelation of who he is, what he wants for us and what he demands from us. He's made that very clear all through his Word, and until I read, meditate and apply what I have heard, I will not enjoy the full benefits of all that God intends for me.

Note that it is the person who BOTH has and keeps God's commandments who is truly safe. We focus on the first without keeping the second. We spend so much time learning the promises, without paying attention to the conditions. We emphasise a head knowledge about God, without a personal life encounter with the Word. We have men who can quote entire chapters, like the Shepherd's psalm 23, but know nothing about the psalm's Shepherd himself. Love for God is proven by both having and keeping. Do I create time to read, study and apply the Word?

Note also that God's Words are defined as 'commands', not advice. Yes, I do have a choice, but when I consider the end of all things, I realise that if I am to live right, be used right and end well, I do not really have a choice but to obey. God will not force himself on me, but one day soon, I MUST answer to him for what I did with his Word and how I lived my life. Then, my power of choice would have been completely taken away. While I am on this side of eternity, I choose to willingly obey.

If I want to know who God is, the only way is by His Word. God's love is revealed on the pages of his Word, and his desire to reveal himself will only be matched by my search for him. How would God be known to me if I do not search for him? How would I know if I found him, if I never even knew what I was looking for? Check out the men of old, men like Moses who God spoke with face to face. When he came down from the mountain, his face alone gave proof that he had met with God. He didn't need to speak. Others like Ezekiel, Daniel and Jonah had encounters with God that changed their lives and till today, we learn from their experiences. That is what God wants to do: to be real in my life. Would I let him? Would I surrender all to him and allow him have his way in me? His time of favour is here.

Meet God.....

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord , the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become tired or grow weary; There is no searching of His understanding. ISAIAH 40:28 AMP

You really cannot understand God from a distance; you can only begin to scratch the surface by getting into a relationship with him. If we place today's extract in context, we see Israel complaining that it appeared that the LORD didn't know anything about its troubles or care about the injustice it was suffering. We do the same today. Today's passage is God's response.

First note that you may not hear the answers you seek if you do not place yourself in a position to hear. All around me, there is noise. Noise from experience, noise from the safety net of family and friends, noise from account balances, noise from degrees and possessions. Unfortunately, none of them can answer the question above. When the noise from all of these goes quiet, what remains is just your knowledge of the Only One who can make things right.

Do you note that he does not promise you justice on your own terms? He does not undertake to give you what you want; he just wants you to know who him. When you know God truly, your idea about justice will be redefined. Look at how he is described: the Everlasting God. Long before your bad situation came up, he's been working behind the scenes, making sure that good is the eventual outcome of all your experiences. He's called the creator of the ends of the earth, including the end of your present experiences. No  matter how bad a situation is today, always remember the popular sentence in the Bible: 'And it came to pass'. Nothing you see today, palatable or otherwise, is permanent;  they are only steps to the place of destiny and the fulfilment of purpose.

No matter how long a situation lasts, it cannot outlast God. Nothing this earth offers was in place before God. God is the One who called out all of creation, set each part in place, gave each its limits, and has been sustaining all of it by his power since then. He's not like man, who can grow tired and weak, or simply give up on life. Nothing in creation can beat the wisdom, power and understanding of the Creator. We all answer to him, we all do his bidding and we all have a role to play in the place he has located us.

That's his power, wisdom and strength on display. As long as I am on this side of eternity, it is a lifelong search for answers.  I must nurture my relationship with God, surrender to his leading and direction and trust his wisdom and power. His love for me will not let go, and his plans for me are bigger and better than my human mind can fathom. Daily, I go to him for directions. I don't trust instinct or yesterday's experience. He will not get tired of me; that's his promise. His time of favour is here.

Fruit!

But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge]. Galatians 5:22‭-‬23 AMPC

My fruiting is a function of my rooting. Deep roots lead to good fruit. From all I have learnt of God, one thing stands out very clearly: my impact is a function of God's Presence in my life. All over the world, you read of people who have and are making impact. The world's standard of measuring impact is all wrong, as it focuses more on the external than the eternal. We celebrate men based on the external, the world too is moved by the external, while God is so much interested in working from the internal.

What today's extract talks about is the FRUIT of the Spirit, not the product of degrees, possession, influence or connection. No matter who you know on earth, you cannot lay your hands on the fruit. It is birthed and sustained by the presence of the Holy Spirit IN a man. Note also that He has to be IN you if your life must bear the fruit referred to here.

I also note that nine different attributes are mentioned in today's extract. Nowhere in grammar can you refer to nine things in the singular, but when you are dealing with God, reason and logic will not help much. Fruits would mean that different trees in your life will produce different fruits, but if you refer to one fruit, it means that there is only one source of nourishment and a certain output is expected. If indeed the Holy Spirit lives in me, then my life must produce ALL that has been indicated in today's extract.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control; nine parts to the same fruit. As I check my life today, am I producing some or all of this fruit? Am I selective on the kind of output my life has, or has God got total control of my life, so that his life flows through me? My life's output will be the loudest answer to that question.

No law on earth can make this fruit an offence. No human law can understand it because it goes against human reason and logic. In the midst of hatred and evil, love and joy will show the way. Peace is first an internal condition before an external manifestation. Patience in the face of persecution is only possible when I am certain about my end. How's my fruit? His time of favour is here.

Light!

There it was–the true Light [was then] coming into the world [the genuine, perfect, steadfast Light] that illumines every person. John 1:9 AMPC

This was the real light — the light that comes into the world and shines on everyone. John 1:9 GNB

Today's extract is an account attributed to John, one of the disciples of Jesus. He followed Jesus for about three and a half years, watched him perform miracles, heard him speak and also watched him die. That is the essence of a true witness. It is not about what I was told; it is about what I have heard, seen, touched and felt. When I live my life, speak daily and interact with people, do people know that indeed, I have had an encounter with Jesus? Is he evident in my speech, my conduct, my conversation, the company I keep?

John was here, testifying to the true light. If there were no false lights, he would not have been so emphatic about the true light. If there was no danger of deceit, there would have been no need to carefully lay down the standard of the true  light. All around us, the danger of deceit looms. Everything that is Godly and Holy is being desecrated, and men are losing the shock and awe that should be for God. Unfortunately, nothing I do or don't do won't reduce God in any way; he remains the true light, and all who come to him benefit from the light that he is and gives.

Yes, please note that the Light is referred to as both a characteristic as well as an endowment. The same one who is called Light is also the one who gives light to all who come to him. He does not and will not force himself on any man. Right from the beginning of time, man had decided his own path, as he has the freedom to choose who he wants to submit to. The problem is man does not know that he is not totally free; he's either a slave to sin, or subject to the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ. You can NEVER be free of one or the other. There's no fence on this one.

The devil is smart; he knows there is a genuine light, so he will offer alternatives that look like the real thing. Only a surrender to the true light will guarantee you safety from the wiles of the devil. And the light is given to ALL men, irrespective of colour, race, creed, title or status. At the end of this present life, the only question I would have to answer would be what I did with the Light that was given. Nothing about my monetary value, status, position, connections or anything else will matter. While I still can, I must surrender to the Light and allow him show me who I really am. When I know who I am, I can sort out my eternal destination. When I know where I am headed, I am set free to serve God with all of me.

Have I responded to the Light? His time of favour is here.

Let Him!

Let the word [spoken by] Christ (the Messiah) have its home [in your hearts and minds] and dwell in you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom [in spiritual things, and as you sing] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with [His] grace in your hearts. Colossians 3:16 AMPC

My heart is the seat of all that defines me. Whatever my life professes will be a reflection of whatever my heart prioritises. I am encouraged to allow the WORD of Christ to have its home in my heart and mind. It is not something I do occasionally; whatever will have its home in me must be something I have gotten used to, something I do daily. Can this be said of me? I also note that the Word of Christ is referred to in the singular, and I believe it means that everything you will read about Christ is in line with the whole truth and counsel of God. If I'm confused at the multitude of counsel and confusing words around me, I need to go back to the One and only truth established by God, which is in the person of Christ. If what I hold on to does not agree with this truth, then I cannot claim the rest of today's extract.

I am encouraged to also teach, admonish and train other people, while I also open my heart to teaching, admonishing and training by other people. If I do not know the truth, how do I teach it? If I cannot handle the truth, how would I charge another person to accept it? Why is the teaching, admonishing and training important? It is because through it, mature men are raised, men that God can commit his work, assignment and purpose into their hands. One lesson God's word shows is that God does not  commit mighty assignments into anyone's hands until such hands have been tested and found faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:2 KJV says: 'Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful`. Can God depend on me?

A part of this process is thanksgiving. I note that giving thanks here is not subject to any preconditions; I am expected to do it, irrespective of what my external circumstances are, or what my internal condition is. Thanksgiving is meant to be a lifestyle, not a gift I only give when all is well. God does not promise permanently blue and clear skies; he only promises that no matter what the external looks like, He will always be there.

So I rejoice in Him. I open my heart to his Word, certain that through it, the deep and hidden treasures of his Word will be made manifest as I study and meditate. I know he is working in and on me, so that I can be a vessel of praise in his hands. His time of favour is here.

Continue In Him!

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6‭-‬7 NIV

Before you go deep into today's extract, there is an assumption or decision that has to be settled. Today's extract starts with that assumption, and it is that you have received Christ as Lord. It is not about knowing Him as Lord, or reading about his Lordship, or telling others about his Lordship; it is first about your own personal decision to make Him Lord of your life. So many people know, acknowledge and admit that He is mighty, but very few have ACCEPTED him as Lord of their lives, and until He lives in you, he cannot make the required change.

If the assumption is therefore true, then the other parts of today's extract would also be true. You cannot start in God and then seek to continue on your own strength. You cannot submit to God at a point in your life and then seek to take charge at other times. It has to be a total, daily submission or nothing at all.

Let's check out the additional details of the process: first you are rooted. Until you take root, the quality and possibility of your fruit will be greatly reduced. No tree with a desire to bear lasting fruit is content with shallow roots; deep roots take time to form, but the benefits will be seen by all for a long time to come.

When the roots are deep, then the building up can take place. Once the foundations are sure, the process of growth will take time but will surely take place. One cannot take place without the other. Part of the process of growth is being strengthened by Bible study, prayer and communion with God and fellowship with man. That's the idea behind Psalm 1:2-3 NIV which states that 'but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers'. Meditation, fellowship with God and obedience are sure pathways to fruitfulness.

Of course, when all the things mentioned above are settled, the heart will always rejoice. I am not a function of what goes on around me, but who lives inside me. I am not defined by my external circumstances, but by the Presence of the One whose life I live. If my true worth can be quantified only I'm monetary terms, then I have not even begun the journey of purpose. If I check my life today, can I say I have joy, as birthed by God's presence in me? When men look at me, do they see that indeed, like the apostles of old, that I have met with Jesus? His time of favour is here.

Free for Life!

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:1‭-‬2 NIV

Paul who wrote these words under divine inspiration noted in the verses before today's extract the daily struggles that he had with the sinful nature. No matter how hard a man tries by his own strength, he cannot obey God's law. There is a law at work, the law that became empowered when man fell into sin in the Garden of Eden. No matter how nice and noble man's intentions were, he found himself struggling to obey God's law. And by the way, at all times, everyone of us is subject to one law, either the law of sin, which leads to death, or the law of the Spirit of Life, which is found in Christ.

Look at today's extract: there is a place and position where the benefits of life can be realised. No matter how many hours you spend in or around church, or doing good deeds, or being morally upright, it is not just enough to enjoy the benefits listed here. You have got to be IN Christ, not just in church. We have focused on the physical building instead of the real substance; we have focused our energy on striving to please God by activity, instead of building a relationship with God. No matter how hard I try, I cannot replace relationship with activity. All I do will only receive the grace of impact when done under God's leading, direction and backing.

No matter what I tell myself, no matter how independent my thinking is, I need a Saviour. I was born a slave to sin, and as a result, without the power to live free under God's grace. I must decide to accept the offer of Life and salvation made by God. Judgment is coming; it has got nothing to do with whether I believe that or not. Everything around us points to the truth that this present phase as we know it will soon end. A reckoning will be demanded by the owner of our life for how we lived it. How would I stand before God and declare that I didn't need him? How would I deny his power, grace, help and life down here and expect to live with him forever?

The devil will not roll over and surrender; he will continue to fight and strive, but if I am rightly located, I am assured of Life both down here and as an eternal reward. I live today in the reality of the life I have received, and I hold on to the God who owns and holds that life in his hands. Only IN there am I truly safe, free from condemnation, wrath and death. His time of favour is here.

Why Give?

In everything I showed you [by example] that by working hard in this way you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed [and brings greater joy] to give than to receive.’” ACTS 20:35 AMP

One of life's greatest lessons is this: 'Don't define impact by how much you store away but by how much you give away'. This present age defines relevance by the balance in your account, the square footage of the house you have built and the school fees paid per term on each child. We are in an age that encourages people to pursue courses that are financially viable, not necessarily what their passions. We have built and entrenched a culture that encourages hoarding, not sharing.

Paul here led by example. He was an itinerant evangelist, traveling from place to place. He could not hold down a steady job, and the bills had to be paid. He could have made a demand on the churches he had established and visited often, but he would rather request for aid towards preaching and spreading the gospel than focus on his own needs. And so, he learnt tent making and through it, was able to provide for his own needs, as well as the needs of the others around him. Yes, there were days of lack, but God had taught him to be dependent on Him alone. He didn't have trouble adjusting to times of lack, as he had a clear understanding that a man's life was not defined by abundance of possession, but by the Presence of the abundant God.

Why do i even work? Is it just for my own comfort and my family? Is there all there is to life? Today's extract says something about why you work: 'to help the weak'. All around me are people who are struggling to make ends meet, not necessarily out of laziness, but from a genuine lack of resources. Can I take time out of my comfort zone, and extend a helping hand? Jesus laid a good example for us to follow all through his earthly ministry, as he went about doing good, healing the sick, raising the dead, and making provisions where required. That is the life of a disciple, one who sees him/herself as such. It does not matter what the world calls you; it would really matter how God sees you. Does he know you as his own? Can he entrust true riches to me, sure that I will dispense it according to his grace? His time of favour is here.

One Thing!

One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek, inquire for, and [insistently] require: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, to behold and gaze upon the beauty [the sweet attractiveness and the delightful loveliness] of the Lord and to meditate, consider, and inquire in His temple. Psalm 27:4 AMPC

Life is about priorities. I was not equipped to handle all of the world's problems. I am only gifted and placed in a particular place and at a particular time in order to fulfil a particular purpose. My life's greatest discovery would therefore be the discovery of that particular purpose. The question would then be: 'How do I go about discovering what I am gifted, located and shaped for?'. I believe today's extract gives an eternally potent response.

David says there is just one thing that is important to him, one desire that sits above every other desire, and it is to DWELL in the house of the Lord, not as a wanderer to turns in for just a night of two, or a servant who does not abide in the house forever, but as one who knows he is a Son and will inherit the blessings of relationship. When a person is located right, the benefits of location will automatically be his/her portion.

Please note that it is not enough to come in; you must be engaged in the right activity. There were people in the temple in Jesus' day, buying and selling, yet a few steps away, others were receiving their miracle of healing and deliverance. Don't be content with a seat in church; give the seat of your heart to God and let him direct your life.

Check out why David wanted to come in: to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to meditate and enquire in His temple. None of these things is a rush job; it takes time to gaze upon beauty, it takes time to discover the hidden treasure in God's Word, and it is a lifelong journey to know God. You don't do it from afar; you have to come in to discover these.

David mentioned one desire, but the truth is there were 3 different phases to that desire. You cannot go after God and remain the same. You cannot find out in your own terms; the search will only produce results when done the way God prescribes. Everyone who was ever used by God was formed, prepared, equipped and commissioned from God's Presence. Without Him, a life will amount to nothing, no matter how popular that life is by human standards.

I check my life again in the light of God's Word: am I rightly located and pursuing the right things? His time of favour is here.

Just Faith!

But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out]. Hebrews 11:6 AMPC

What is the essence of faith? Why is it so important? I believe its nature makes it so special. It is something not seen, yet seen. It is not something you can touch, yet you can feel it. It manifests in very clear ways, but not in the logical or reasonable sense. Men have lived and died on the strength of what they believed in. Many didn't see the results or benefits of what they held on to, but they considered it so important that it became a matter of life and death to them. Many died without any physical benefit, but we speak of them today as men who pleased God and got enrolled in God's hall of faith.

Abraham was promised seed as many as the sand of the seashore, yet he had only one son by promise. He was promised a land, yet he dwelt and died in that land as a stranger. Forward a few centuries after, and you know how faithful God is to his promises. Faith isn't faith when all it hopes for materialise, but its strength is in holding on when nothing is certain. The definition of faith is seen in the earlier part of today's extract, where it is recorded as the 'assurance of things hoped for' and the 'evidence of things not seen'. How do you explain assurance on something you have not yet held in your hands? How do you testify about something none of your senses can hold on to?

That's the way God works. The moment everything about Him is logical and reasonable, why would he be God? If I can place him in a box and predict with arithmetical accuracy how and when he will react, why would I need him? Fortunately, God isn't your everyday buddy, who exists to make you cosy. He wants to build stamina in me, he wants to build courage, hope and joy in me. He wants to teach me patience and perseverance, virtues that are in short supply but necessary for the journey ahead.

I must hold on to God, trusting he knows the way. I must depend on him daily, because today's challenges are very different from yesterday's. I can't rely on my own strength; I have to depend on the only one who sees ahead, and knows what I require to end well. No wonder today's extract says without faith, a man cannot please God. ALL who will walk and work with God will go through difficult times; success in life and ministry will be dependent on your total dependence on the One who calls, equips, commissions, backs up and support all through life.

Do you believe? Is everything a function of what you know or who you have come to believe? Seek God today; he wants to be a part of your life. He wants to show himself to you. His time of favour is here.

Call!

And it shall be that whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord [invoking, adoring, and worshiping the Lord–Christ] shall be saved. [Joel 2:28-32.] Acts 2:21 AMPC

There is an invitation to every human being on the face of the earth. It does not pay respect to the colour of your skin, the quality of your past or the depth of your sins; it is an open invitation to all men everywhere to approach the throne of God, where grace and mercy are in abundant supply for all who come with a sincere heart to seek God. It does not matter how terrible your past is, or how bright the future may look; you need a Saviour. It is not about what I think to be true; it is first and foremost about what God has established as the truth.

The invitation is by God, the One who created the human heart. He knows the state of the heart, and knows what it needs. He knows that man cannot save himself, and that good works and high morals are not enough to guarantee eternal life. He knows that man is by nature a believer in effort, labour and personal motivation, but he knows that all of these are not the materials he needs first of all. His first and most important consideration is that man puts his complete, total and absolute faith in Him. Without faith in God, it is impossible to please Him.

He has provided guidance and information  on who the object of that faith should be, and it is His Son, Christ. By the words of Jesus himself, He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. By him, the way to the Father has been established. Through him, life has been sealed. Something is expected of me, and it is to CALL. If I do not call, can I blame God when life is lost? If everything had been placed right, and I do not take advantage of the offer, can I blame anyone but myself when an account is demanded from me of how I lived my life? Judgment is coming, whether I accept it as true or not will be determined by how I live my life going forward.

You can trust the words of Jesus himself, when he says he has come to give life. He is Life and all who are in him enjoy the same life. Where are you presently located? Have you called on him? Does he know you as his own? His time of favour is here.

His Works!

For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above--spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us]. EPHESIANS 2:10 AMP

Paul, writing to the Ephesian church, clearly establishes some important truths that we will do well to heed, as we prepare for the return of Christ. First of all, an understanding of my identity and ownership is critical to my pursuit of excellence and impact in the assignment given to me. Please note that today's extract clearly states who I am and who I belong to. I am God's workmanship, his creation, his work of art. I am specially created, particularly equipped and one of a kind. That's my fingerprints are peculiar and my DNA limited to a particular strand. If I understand this, it will keep me from envy, strife with others or an inferiority complex. God who made me didn't copy an original; he simply made an original and threw away the template. Nobody else on earth can be me.

Secondly, my origin is tied to Christ. Everything on earth now was made by the Word, which is personified in Christ. In, through and by Him all things exist. Nothing created can reject the authority of its creator; one day, when the assignment of the created is finished, the created must answer to its creator how it has used the life given to it.

I also note that nothing I do here is an accident. Everything was preplanned by God, and I have been assigned my work and focus. There was a purpose and a plan in place long before I was born, and I am given an assignment that fits into God's overall purpose. He didn't bring me to the world and leave me to my own devices; every nuance, behavioural trait, every quirk was put in place to make me who I am, and are all tools in the hands of the mighty craftsman.

Before I came to this earth, the purpose of God was in place, and after I am long gone, his purpose will remain. What God expects is that I go to him, seek out his will for me, find my niche, settle down and simply work for him. Reward is tied to purpose, not just activity. I can be 'busy' for God, yet not in line with his will and purpose for me. I must find my place in God's plan, settle down and get to work. No other person's opinion counts; just God's. His time of favour is here.

Living Right!

For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand [anywhere else]; I would rather be a doorkeeper and stand at the threshold in the house of my God than to dwell [at ease] in the tents of wickedness. Psalm 84:10 AMPC

It is important to note that your priorities will always be determined by the focus of your heart.  When a man's life is reviewed in the light of what he does, says and thinks, you will know what he has spent his life focused on. David didn't wake up one morning and be called 'a man after God's heart' simply because of his fine face or figure,  but because of his priorities. Right from the days of the simple task of caring for sheep, he had formed the right relationship with God. Most of the amazing psalms we read about today where written in those days of solitude and quiet, when all he had was the Presence of God. He had learnt the secret of longevity, relevance and impact and he was willing to forsake all, for the sake of this experience. Is that the same for me and you?

Do I have the right priorities and pursuits ? Have the cares of this world taken my eyes off Christ to the grind of daily existence? Do I even crave his Presence anymore? What could have made David write the words of today's extract? I believe first and foremost that nothing beats a personal experience.  People can talk about their encounters, but until you have one that relates to you alone, you can never say those words. Secondly, you must have definite instances where both sides were presented, and there was clear evidence which side was better. Until you have seen both sides, you may not be able to settle with certainty which one you want to follow. When God permits some things to happen to you, testing your faith, commitment and perseverance, the benefits of staying the course to the end gives you the kind of testimony in today's extract. 

When dealing with God, no experience is wasted. Nothing is in vain. God can use anything to teach us the right priorities.  Staying in and with God brings eternal blessings. Do i see all i do as service to God? Do i see my life itself as an offering I must give wholly to God? If all you desire are earthly blessings, there are so many places and options that will give you that. However, if what you want is what God alone can give, then you must seek him out where he is and on his terms, and do what he commands. He will take me as I am, but I cannot seek him on my own terms, in my own way, and expect him to respond. He is God, yet delighted when I come to him as I am.

Check your life again today. What you get is a function of what you put in. If all I have and do is for self fame, I may get it, but at the end of the day, there is an eternal price to pay. Am I sure I can take that risk? Like David, is my heart set on God and what he wants? His time of favour is here.

Owned!

Little children, you are of God [you belong to Him] and have [already] defeated and overcome them [the agents of the antichrist], because He Who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4 AMPC

The questions that have always come up for discussion over the past few days are on identity and ownership. Like it has always been said, when you know who you are and who you belong to, impact is non negotiable. Today's extract is written by John the Beloved, someone who had personal encounter with the One referred to as love himself. He know who he was, and as seen in today's extract, he would that we also know who we are.

Am I of God? Do I belong to God? Am I the one who sees myself in that light, or does God also know me as his own? Have I taken advantage of the Life offered by him? Let it be settled today that ownership by God is determined by surrender to him. You cannot claim sonship or identity if you have not accepted him as your Lord and Saviour. One leads to the other.

When you have settled ownership, the benefits also come. Read again: you have already defeated the devil. It does not say we will, but that we have already defeated him. The life I have is one that maintains victory. I do not have to fight a new war; the only war is to maintain the victory that has already been sealed by the one who now owns me. I am called to stand in the strength of the One whose life conquered death, sin and the grave and has sealed eternal redemption for me. What else could I want?

The reason for this position is simple: the One who calls is greater than anyone or anything else. He is before all time, and he is called the Ancient of Days. Nothing that comes after him can defeat him, because he is the origin of everything else. Nothing created by him can work contrary to his purpose and will. However, for this to be personally true for me, He has got to be living INSIDE of me.

Does he live IN you? Has his life become a personal experience for you? The devil is strong, and can defeat anyone, but safety and victory is ONLY guaranteed in and through God, who is all powerful. Can I trust his power? Does my present life testify that he is my God? His time of favour is here.