Victory!

Victory!

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

Nowhere does God promise his children smooth sailing through life. There will be bumps on the road; hurdles to cross, mountains to climb, seas to cross and battles to fight. In all of life's experiences, the only thing that is certain is the certainty of God's Presence and Power in the midst of the experiences. Depending on your allegiance, it may be all you need.

In the midst of all the things referred to above, a thread emerges: I am called to a fight, a war, a battle. It is a battle for my soul and its eternal destination. The conclusion of the battle has already been decided long before I was born; all I can do is walk in and hold on to what Christ has secured for me. Victory is that conclusion, but there is a process to that concluson, and that is where I come in. There is nothing else I can do to improve on what Christ has already done, but what I can do is to let His work be made manifest in and through me.

This victory is only possible through Christ. Man has come and gone, but none has been able to provide an appropriate response to the questions of life. Man will keep running and pursuing relevance, but until and unless he finds the Truth, he's likely to keep running. Jesus calls himself the Way, the Truth and the Life, meaning he's the answer to whatever questions you may have. His life is a fitting testimony to what has been tested and found to be valid. When I trust Him with my life, I have already secured the victory promised.

So, the question remains: who do you know? All I get from life is a function of my ownership, not my possessions, intellect or family background. None of the latter can secure eternity; only a knowledge and personal experience of God can. Do I know God that way? Does He know me as His own? His time of favour is here.

Equal Measure

Equal Meaaure!

“Do not judge [others self-righteously], and you will not be judged; do not condemn [others when you are guilty and unrepentant], and you will not be condemned [for your hypocrisy]; pardon [others when they truly repent and change], and you will be pardoned [when you truly repent and change]. LUKE 6:37 AMP

Today's extract seems to lay down a simple yet fundamental statement: what you do has an equal and similar reaction. Both the laws of God and the laws of man underscore this statement. We hear of things like karma and we wonder where the world gets its theories and ideas from, but when you look into God's Word, you find the answers to all of life's experiences in there.

I am asked not to judge others, simply because no other person reports to me or is answerable to me. I am asked not to speak and act like someone who doesn't make mistakes or who doesn't need mercy. When I realise and acknowledge that all I am and have is a function of God's grace, I am careful about the conclusions I draw about other people's lives. I am asked not to condemn others, because I have no idea what they have been through, where they are now, and where God is taking them. I only see the present and though the present is so visible, it looks nothing like the future God is preparing for all He has created, only if they trust Him with their lives.

I am asked to forgive others because in that lies my own forgiveness. Offence by people is a regular process of life, and people will generally step on your toes, sometimes unknowingly. It is important that I remember what I have received by the blood of Christ, so i can extend the same grace to other people. All these commands remind me of one simple truth: my relationship with men is a mirror of my relationship with God. Everything I do down here reflects what I should also expect from God.

If God were to make a demand on my life today, what would I tell or show Him?

Right Match!

Right Match!

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

Today's extract simply addresses the process and consequences of salvation. What does it all mean? It is simply a meeting or agreement between my heart and my lips; my inner and outer man, my confession and my profession. Nowhere is there a reference to anything valuable I must bring; or anything I must do to deserve the prize made available; all that is required is a believing heart and a confessing mouth.

Why is a believing heart important? It is because that is the seat of all lasting decisions. Unless and until I believe in something so deep, it is likely that the next big thing can sway me off my feet. But when I am certain of who I have come to know, staying focused is easy. It is in the heart where a conviction of sin occurs; and it is in there that the life decision must be made.

Being made free of the guilt of sin happens right there in the heart, and it is there that the work of regeneration starts, when new priorities and pursuits are birthed in me. The mouth is the outward manifestation of the inner conviction, and I believe that is why it is mentioned last. I make confessions on what I have come to believe, and it is a testimony that the world will take notice of. When my priorities change, the world will note it, when the things I take as important also change, the world will take note.

When both are aligned, salvation is sealed. There is no price tag; no drain on material resources. If there was a price, maybe the rich of the world would kill to get it if they knew its eternal consequences. God makes it all free: freely given to us, and every one will be held accountable for whatever decision s/he makes. The choices are made clear; I must choose right. His time of favour is here.

The Password 2

The Password 2

Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart. Psalm 37:4 AMPC

As usual, David speaks here out of a personal encounter with God. A man's public testimony is a major reflection of his private life of devotion and encounter to and with God. You can't fake it; it is either you have it or you don't. The world has its delights, and it seeks to make them appealing to the people in the world.

The world defines success and impact by those delights, and natural man craves those things, and would sometimes sacrifice the eternal for the sake of temporal and earthly pleasures. The charge here is to delight in God, not anything else. When God is the delight, every other thing loses significance. When God is the focus, all other things pale in comparison or in importance.

What does it mean to delight in God? Could it mean that God is the only priority and focus of my life? Could it mean that I crave his word, his touch, his gentle voice? Could it mean that I strive to serve others through the gifts He has given me? When God takes over a heart, he leaves room for nothing else. If I am able to 'serve' God and still serve the world, then maybe what I hold isn't the real thing after all. The blessing of delighting in God is also made obvious. When your inner life loves the things of God, God sorts out the issues of your outer physical life.

When God is my only priority, God takes care of my life's priorities. When God is the focus, my heart will always seek after the things God loves and desires. If all I pursue are things I can see and spend, God has no place in my heart, and he will not share my heart with anyone or anything else. I must sort out the demands of my heart and know the difference between the important, the necessary and the absolute. God is the absolute; every other thing is secondary. His time of favour is here.

Revelation!

Revelation!

‘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 33:3 AMP

This message came to Jeremiah, at a time when he was locked up in the king's prison simply for speaking the truth as given by God. There is absolutely no guarantee that being sent by God automatically makes the path ahead smooth. As long as God's divine message remains unpopular to the mind yet to surrender to God, you will find violent opposition to the Word of God. The issue for consideration will be whether I am ready to bear whatever comes in the course of serving God.

God's message to Jeremiah is simple: 'call to me'. It is as simple as that. He is found on the highest mountains of joy and ecstasy, as well as in the deepest valleys of despair and disappointment. All I need to do is call out, and he has promised to hear and heed. He has not put a time or place limit on the call; it is an open invitation. An assurance of a response by God is also provided, which means that when I deal with God, I deal with someone with a clear purpose about what he wants from me. He wants to talk with me, wants to show me the great things that are ahead, he wants to define where I fit in those plans.

The secret things belong to God, and he decides who to show them to. If I learn to sit at his feet, to call out to him on a daily basis, to search out his Word on a regular basis, I will discover great things about God. God's greatest treasures are not found on the surface, where you discover them by accident; they are products of a sincere, deliberate and continuous search, where an hunger for God will not be filled by anything else, except that God himself.

Can this be said about me at the moment? Can God entrust the deep, secret, precious and amazing plans of His into my heart? His time of favour is here.

Facts; Truth

Facts; Truth

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

3 statements in today's extract; 1 central Truth, and supporting statements. The Lord is good. There are situations in life that may make you question the truth of that statement, but it does not take anything away from its truth. Nothing I believe, say or do can change that truth, and nothing that happens to me in this physical, earthly realm can change that truth. It does not mean that 'bad' things will not happen, but it depends on whose perspective you are looking at life from. If I focus on what I think, then it will be difficult to see the good God can bring out of what I call bad, but if I see from God's perspective, there is no doubt that nothing ends up bad, if it is committed into His hands.

His mercy and loving kindness are everlasting. God's blessings are always generational, as He has too much in store not to be able to outlast anyone or anything.  When I read through the Bible, I see ordinary men and women who through simple faith, sealed mercy for their generations yet unborn. David, Abraham and Joseph are good examples. There are things man will do to deserve judgment, yet God will give second chances, only because he's not interested in the death of a sinner. When I am tempted to think there is any good in me, or that I am blessed because of the good i have always done, I need to remind myself that I stand only by the mercy of God.

His faithfulness endures to all generations. It is his nature to be faithful, and he doesn't depend on any man to be who He is. It is his nature that guarantees that I can face the future with hope that all will be well. It was a reminder of God's faithfulness that made Abraham leave the known for the unknown, because he knew better things were ahead. The same God still calls for men today; men who will hold Him at his Word and nature, and see Him do mighty things. He longs to show his power, because only then would the world know the difference, but how does he do anything, if those who should show him off don't even know what they have in and through Him?

Do you know this Lord? Does he know you as His own? His time of favour is here.

Owned!

Owned!

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 6:19‭-‬20 KJV

I have heard this argument several times: 'nothing I do with this body matters; after all, the body is going back to dust.' People who make this assertion want to have a defence for how the body is used. Unfortunately, human diseases are the loudest testament to the fact that it really matters how the body is used. If this is true about regular daily life, imagine just how true this will be for the spiritual life, and today's extract is both a statement of fact and a question in that light.

In case i have forgotten, and I believe the lie of the devil that I own my life and can do whatever I like with it, I am reminded again that everything in me was given as an investment. It was never mine in the first place, and I am bound to give account of all I have been given. Today's extract talks about the body being the temple of the Holy Spirit. Take a picture of the old temple, it was the physical structure that God chose to inhabit; it was His Presence that made it no ordinary place. However, when sin came into the land, Babylonians came and completely destroyed the temple, carting away all its treasures. It does matter what I do with this body.

A price was paid for me to stand where I am now; this new life is a continuation of God's original plan. His breath was given and his Spirit imparted into me, and I am mandated to glorify God through my body and spirit, which belong to God. If God says my body belongs to Him, who else can say otherwise? If God makes a demand on my life now, and says I should come for judgment, can I truly defend the things I have been doing? Fortunately for me, it is never too late to return to the original plan; with God, the door of mercy is never shut. I may be living with the consequences of my past decisions, but they should not define my present walk and my future. God wants to take charge and direct my life, so that the purpose of the life He gave me would be fulfilled. His time of favour is here.

Light!

Light!

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

As always, Jesus would always address the foundations of life in ways that make it easy for us to see what we stand to gain or lose, depending on our reaction to what He says. As always, everywhere Jesus went, there was always a crowd around him. Some came for what they could get, some came because they knew who He was; what would be your reason for accepting or rejecting Jesus?

A statement of fact is made in today's extract, and it is Jesus referring to Himself as the Light of the world. First, it could only mean that the world is in darkness. It does not matter how enlightened or educated the world is; there is more to life than technological innovation and AI; when all of these things pass away with time and are replaced by even more advanced things, what will I be left with, if they were all I had? Jesus calls himself the Light of the world, because there is more to this earthly phase than we could ever imagine, and only in and through Him would life be worth living.

He longs to guide, he longs to lead, he wants to show me the right path that leads to life. This present earthly life is full of uncertainty and evil; everywhere you turn, the signs of the end of time stare back at you. Can I continue to hold on to the temporal comforts of this world, ignoring the realities of eternal life? Can I dare ignore the silent voice in my heart, warning me to take hold of true life, before this present life ceases?

Having Jesus in me secures true life. My life was not built to end, and one way or another, it will continue either in heaven or hell. He gives me the options, and asks me to follow Him; he won't force himself on me,  but he desires my heart and life. As he spoke to the crowd back then, he speaks to all of us today: "Come to me". Would I heed? His time of favour is here.

One Mind!

One Mind!

Now may the God who gives endurance and who supplies encouragement grant that you be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify and praise and honor the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. ROMANS 15:5‭-‬6 AMP

There is something amazing about the God who calls us to Himself and there is also something mysterious about the grace upon the church, the representation of all Christ is and should be upon the earth. God is many things at the same time, but presented in today's extract as the one who gives endurance and also supplies encouragement. Why is this important? Could it mean that nowhere else can a man learn patience except in God? Could it mean that nothing else can give a man courage and strength to face the day except the grace that only God can give in full and abundant measure? He allows the trials to teach us patience and other virtues, but he also supplies the encouragement to stand up under the experiences.

Why is this endurance and encouragement so important? Is it because the race ahead of us requires us to be fully reliant on God? Could it be that just ahead of us are trials and tests of faith, things that may raise questions in our minds? Could it be that past testimonies of God's grace and power would help us stay the course and hold on to God? When I have settled the inner, then the outer falls in place. When God has the inner in his control, the outer must follow suit. Being of one mind with several other people is only possible when there is one person reigning and ruling in the hearts of all these people. It does not mean you have no opinion of your own, but you have placed  the good of all over and above your own.

There is nothing easy about all that God commands, but he supplies grace that makes it all possible. Imagine the power that is made available when millions speak in the same voice or agree on the same thing. Imagine the praise and thanksgiving that will go up to God when men see people of several races and cultures speak of the grace of God. Imagine the impact my life will have if I'm able to join hearts, hands and voice with other people to testify of the power, love and grace that God alone can birth and sustain in and through me.

If indeed I have received comfort from God, it will show in my interactions with other people. If truly I am encouraged in my union with Christ, it will show in my union with other people. Can I truly say that I have met with this God of patience and comfort? His time of favour is here.

The Password!

The Password!

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. Psalms 100:4 KJV

As I read this passage, I am reminded of the picture of the tabernacle God asked Moses to set up, with strict warnings to build it exactly as God showed him. In the New Testament, we read that the old tabernacle and its practices was just a shadow of the real deal that God was preparing. What are those things that made the old tabernacle so special?

First, God gave clear instructions as to what should be used for the gates. There had to be a curtain, about 30 feet wide, which was taller than anyone in all Israel, and had to be parted by all who came in to worship. All had to go in through the curtain: priest, prophet and people. It had nothing to do with class, prestige, wealth or connections; all used the same opening. Access is given freely to all men today. I can't buy access with money. The gate also faced a particular direction, and anyone who desired to approach God had to go in the direction of the gate.

The access into the gate is thanksgiving, as seen in today's extract. It is the one thing that secures you access into those courts, where you meet with God and get answers to your many requests. The gates and the court under the old tabernacle represent the place of meeting with God, where men brought sacrifices to atone for sins. Under the new dispensation, rather than blood and bulls, God demands thanksgiving and praise  as the passwords. Under this new dispensation, we speak about sacrifice of praise, and thank offerings, which get God's attention like nothing else can.

So God calls me to draw near, and all I need is the right password into his Presence. He's not asking for blood or bulls; all he's asking for is the right heart, one full of praise & thanksgiving, an acknowledgement of his power, might and authority. When I apply the password, I open up the treasures of his Presence and can access the greatness, glory and grace only He can provide and sustain. His time of favour is here.

Testify!

Testify!

I will give thanks and praise the Lord, with all my heart; I will tell aloud all Your wonders and marvelous deeds. PSALM 9:1 AMP

Again, we see David expressing a decision to offer praise and thanks to God. There is something about the life God has given us that demands that we offer something of value back to God. When I take stock of all that has gone before me, or the things that are happening at the moment, it is almost impossible not to find reasons to be very grateful. If I am unable to find even one good reason why I would offer praise and thanks to God, then maybe I am blind, deaf and dead to the realities of the grace and mercy I have received from God.

David is a classical example of the lesson on praise, no matter what comes. For me, is my life an offering of thanksgiving and praise to God? Do men have to cajole me into gratitude or does it flow willingly out of my heart and life? You see, it does not matter what I tell myself; if it is not from a sincerely grateful heart, I am not sure God will accept. Everywhere you turn to in the Bible, you find accounts of men who either served God with all their hearts, or men who have halfhearted devotion. Check out the end of either group, and you will know that if it is not total, it is not accepted.

Is all my heart given over to God, or are there areas I am holding on to tightly, afraid to let go? David also was willing and ready to testify aloud about God's mighty works. You see, routine is the greatest danger to a life of thanksgiving. You get to wake up every day, go to work/school and all seems well. You get so used to the routine that it stops to amaze you. That's the danger. May I never get so used to God and his mercies that I take them for granted. May I not be so full of myself that God has no place to work in and through me. May I not be so full of complaints and grumblings that men cannot see God in me. My life was made for God's glory, and my life is only lived well if it leads men to praise God. His time of favour is here.

Faithful God!

Faithful God!

O Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will praise and give thanks to Your name; For You have done miraculous things, Plans formed long, long ago, [fulfilled] with perfect faithfulness. ISAIAH 25:1 AMP

First and foremost, nothing I do can change the identity, power, wisdom, authority and dominion of God himself. He is higher than the highest king, and greater than all of the great men of the world put together. However, there is a decison that becomes personal to me in this walk, and it is that I make God the Lord of my life. God is God, but when He becomes personal, he becomes my Lord, Master and Saviour. He longs to have a personal encounter with me, because only then can I truly appreciate his worth and the work he does in and through me.

The writer here also knew the appropriate response to God. For this writer, praise and thanksgiving were due to God. These are the natural outflow from a life with a deep understanding of the power and grace that God can input into that life. When I sit down in those quiet times to reflect on my life, what do I recall? Do i remember the days when God came through for me, even in the midst of the fiercest storms? Do I even remember how the winds were made calm by God, even when all hope seemed lost? Do I even record any of God's dealings with me, or have I simply come to take them for granted?

There are indeed several things to praise and thank God for, but today's extract speaks on something fundamental: the efficacy of God's Word. There is nothing He says that is said in vain; you have the greatest power anywhere in the universe made manifest by the Word of God, and because it is against God's nature to lie or change his mind, I have the assurance that if he said it, it is coming to pass. Years make no difference; we count in years because we are limited by time; God counts by His Word, because time and circumstances are under his control and they answer to Him. In an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, every purpose of His heart is established.

That is the God I am called upon today to praise. Have you met this God? Does He know you as His own? His time of favour is here.

God's Help 2

God's Help 2

Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. So will I bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. PSALM 63:3‭-‬4 AMP

David again in trouble. Well, this time, it was not due to any thing bad he had done, but you could also argue that some of his past sins were catching up with him. Here was a man who has cunningly taken over another man's wife; not just any man, but one who was faithfully serving in his army. He had slept with the wife, plotted the death of the soldier-husband and had moved the woman into his palace.

Men didn't know the full details; God knew all that had happened, and punishment duly followed. With God, there is nothing like favouritism. You don't get away with sin, simply because you are a faithful and worthy servant, or because you work hard for God. David was running away from his own son, Absalom, and God had already promised that all that David in secret to another man's wife would be done in full view of all Israel to his own wives. Sin always has a high price.

For David, the reality of the punishment for sin had come, but it didn't take anything away from who God is. Nothing I go through changes who God is. David was able to see God's lovingkindness, even in the most distressing circumstances. When things go wrong, how do I see? What do I see? Do I look so long on the problems, admiring the enormity of the problem, or do I recall the amazing power and might of the God who is called the Lord God Almighty? Who and how I see determine what I get.

David knew the secret of getting God's attention, and he offered God praise so often that you could ascribe a song/psalm to all of David's recorded experiences. When trials make a demand on your life, what would your life produce: praise or complaints; thankagiving or rebellion? The choice is mine; his time of favour is here.

God's Help!

4God's Help!

But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory [and my honor], and the One who lifts my head. PSALM 3:3 AMP

It appears that David the Psalmist was always in trouble, but it is also amazing that some of the most distressing situations of his life led to some of the most emotional songs from David. For David, his priorities were known from his focus, which was always God. He didn't always do well, but he always found his way back. For me, when troubles come, where do I go? Troubles will definitely come; nowhere does God promise an easy ride; but the promise of his Presence and Power is the greatest thing a man can have.

Check out the names God is referred to here: a shield, glory, honour and the lifter of heads. You can't refer to the glory of man outside the One who is the God of Glory. All that man has- possessions, connections, influence, prestige and power are all a mist; here now, gone the next moment. Men who were called 'great' at a time have been consigned to the dustbin of history, whilst other men are making their own stories at the moment. If my life will indeed be defined as making impact or of any use, my experience of God has got to be its defining moment.

If there was never any danger, you will never appreciate the value of a shield. The shield is a protective/defensive weapon, though in some instances, it can be used as a weapon. If God is your shield, you have both an offensive and a defensive weapon. You have someone who protects you from harm and also fights on your behalf. When my head drops due to stress, trials and troubles, he's there to lift me up. One amazing thing about God is that if he's the one doing the lifting, there is no limit to the great things that are ahead. If man does the lifting, the best you get is the height of the man's hands. Who's your defence? What's  holding you up? Who's sustaining your life? His time of favour is here.

The Greatest Gift!

The Greatest Gift!

Now thanks be to God for His indescribable gift [which is precious beyond words]!
2 CORINTHIANS 9:15 AMP

Life is measured by the impact it makes. Life is also measured by its contribution to human existence. By human standards, we speak of men like Martin Luther King Jr. We speak of women like Mother Theresa. These people went over and beyond the regular call of duty and spent their lives on behalf of humanity. We remember them today, not on the basis of their names or talents, but by what they gave. The same principle applies in today's extract.

We also see a reference to a gift, maybe the greatest gift ever given. In the example of Martin Luther King given above, he gave his life in the course of serving humanity; in fact, his life was taken prematurely when he was shot and killed. He didn't plan to die the way he died, but he was human and limited. As much as he did, not everyone liked him. When you look at today's extract, there is also a gift, this time also, of a life, but the big difference is that this gift was given willingly, freely and with love so deep that the recipients can never fully understand it's height or depth.

The gift given is the seal of salvation,  redemption and eternal life for all who accept it. The gift was given willingly, even when the recipients didn't care. The gift is valid for all time, as long as there is time. Through that gift, we can approach the throne of grace with confidence; because of that gift, we now have access to the riches of God's grace and power. By that gift, we can stand before God and request for anything in the name of that gift. No wonder Paul could thank God for this gift, because he himself was a recipient and beneficiary of that gift.

One warning though: every gift by God has conditions. No matter how much I love the gift, it only works for me if I accept Him as Lord and Saviour and allow Him reign and rule in my heart. The gift is eternal in scope, and one day, grace will be suspended and judgment will be applied. That gift will be the basis of judgment. If the Lord were to demand an accounting today, what would be my response to his gift? What would be your response? His time of favour is here.

Victory!

Victory!

O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin [by which it brings death] is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory [as conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 CORINTHIANS 15:55‭-‬57 AMP

Paul used the entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 15 to speak about the life after this present phase. The foundation of the life to come was laid at the point where the perfect life God intended was polluted by sin. God's perfect plan was for man to live forever, without sin and without the law. There was no need for the law because in the Garden of Eden, there was no sin. Man had his mandate - to rule, to subdue, to multiply and to obey God consistently. But as soon as sin came, man lost the original life, and settled for less than God's perfect plan. Now, we struggle in this weak, mortal body, as we wait for the transformation God alone is able to birth in us.

Death was the natural consequences of sin, and death is powerful. It does not respect boundaries, because it does not obey any of man's natural laws. It came with man's disobedience, and it is permanent. Only in Christ is any man free from its grip, and only a person who has tasted the kind of life available only in God can say the kind of words in today's extract. Death has a finality about it; when it comes, it pay no attention to your feelings or desires. All who are subject to the law are subject to the consequences, which is death. If I will be free of the consequences, then I have to be inside God, the only one through whom total victory is sure, certain and guaranteed.

Indeed, I can only thank God for what he has done. Nothing I did could ever secure the life I have now, and nothing I do now can secure the life I now have. God secured it for me, and asks me to only trust and depend on Him daily. I thank God because he didn't wait for me to earn it; he paid the price once and for all. Life has been secured; life is offered full and free. One day soon, that life will speak and demand an accounting. Can it be said that indeed, I have true victory? Am I still relying on good works, charity or morality? The only thing that works is Jesus, and he is the only One  that secures life. Am I saved and safe? His time of favour is here

Benefits

Benefits

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.1 John 1:7 NIV

My identity cannot be established outside of the One who loved me well enough to die for me. If I claim I am a Christian, then I derive my identity, my functions, my heart, my life and my pursuits from Christ. I must go beyond the drama of mouth confession and move into the realm of life profession.

What are the benefits of my identity in Christ?  First of all, as today's extract establishes, I walk in light. When I have Christ, I cannot walk in darkness. His presence guides and guards. When the road seems long, hard and unsure, he is there, providing leadership, guidance and direction.  Secondly, fellowship with other believers will make sense, because there is a connecting sense of purpose. I realise I am not alone as I run my race; God keeps bringing in people who will encourage, bless and build me up as I work. The connection is the blood of Jesus, by which men of all tribes and colours are united in the kingdom of God here on earth.

One great benefit of fellowship is that I do not need to know where you have been, or what you have done before. By the connecting blood of Christ, I share in this amazing bond that nothing on earth can explain or sever. I am a part of something divine and powerful; a relationship whose foundation and function is based on eternal life.

Are you a part of this Kingdom? Have you been washed in the blood, and become a part of this family? Do you have the light?  Have you been cleansed from sin, and walking in the fellowship of imperfect people made perfect by the perfect Master himself, Jesus Christ? Am i a part of the great movement of ordinary people made great by their connection to an extraordinary God? Remember, every decison, whether to accept or reject this free gift, will reverberate through eternity. His time of favour is here.

Great Hands!

Great Hands!

Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all. In Your hand is power and might; and it is in Your hands to make great and to give strength to everyone. Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name. 1 CHRONICLES 29:12‭-‬13 AMP

It always matters in whose hands anything is. If I were to handle a tennis racquet, the best I could do is a comedy of a match. Imagine the same racquet in the hands of a Rafael Nadal or a Serena Williams. Men labour to make their hands profitable, but there is a foundation that needs to be laid to secure this.

David got this all down when he penned down the words of today's extract. Here was a man who had just witnessed the people of Judah give freely and willingly for the building project. For David, the understanding was very clear: no man can lay claim to anything in life outside of God. It does not matter how hard you work or labour; you only lay claim to anything God has given you.

Men can run and work hard; men can sweat and strive for anything, yet nothing is assured. Even lions have to chase down prey, and those without God would have to fight for themselves. Those who know God have a major advantage: God already knows their needs before they ask, and only in and through Him are their needs met. They may not have everything they desire, but they have the greatest power in the world at their disposal.

In light of this, praise is the natural outflow from a heart that acknowledges God as the source of all things. If I know who I belong to, and what is at my disposal, my life becomes a natural reflection of grace. So, in whose hands are you? The answer to that question determines your lot in this present earthly life and the life to come. His time of favour is here.

Grace, Grace!

Grace, Grace!

but He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough--always available--regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.” Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me. 2 CORINTHIANS 12:9 AMP

I have the grace to ask God for anything and God has the power to grant all my heart's desires. I do understand that, but when the days of trials and tribulations come, and it appears God is a bit silent, can I still stay sane and faithful? Paul was a man used mightily by God to do mighty things, yet he confessed at a point that God allowed a messenger of Satan to buffet him. He took the situation to God in prayer, but it was as if God was asking him to stop looking at the problem, and see Him as the solution to all of life's experiences.

Indeed, it is human to seek solutions to challenges. There is no man alive who willingly embraces trials without having an assurance of God's help to overcome. What we need is grace from God, not much else. There are trials that money cannot solve, and there will be situations where connections, friendships and possessions will be put to shame. Ask Job, who in one day, lost possessions worth hundreds of millions in one day, as well as 10 children. Life doesn't asssure you that all will be well; only the grace of God can guarantee that assurance.

As long as I have a fallback option, grace will not make sense. God's power is only seen and appreciated when I allow him work unhindered in and through me. It's a privilege that God, the immortal being, wants to express his power, might and wisdom through this mortal, earthly body. There is no room for pride or a false sense of accomplishment; as I rely more and more on God's grace, I realise that indeed, I had no power in the first place. If I know the power of God, I know he doesn't really need my strength or ability; my most important contribution to the fulfilment of God's purpose for my life is my total surrender and availability. Can I trust God by giving him total control? Would I allow him work in me that which he alone can birth and sustain? His time of favour is here.

Finishing Well!

Finishing Well!

But I do not consider my life as something of value or dear to me, so that I may [with joy] finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify faithfully of the good news of God’s [precious, undeserved] grace [which makes us free of the guilt of sin and grants us eternal life]. ACTS 20:24 AMP

Before today's extract, we read of Paul's enviable achievements and reputation. He was a well-read man, having studied under some of the most learned and revered men of his time. He was steeped in Judaism, knew all the law and it's requirements, was wealthy, connected, zealous and young: attributes that were perfect both for good and bad ends. Looking at the entirety of Paul's life, you find that to be true. Unfortunately, head knowledge is limited in its use when it comes to God. As much as man may place stock and value on it, man can only get close to discovering what God intends when the attitude aligns with Paul's attitude in today's extract.

Until I see my life as nothing outside of God, I will struggle to find relevance. Until I see my life as an outshoot of God's grace and power, I will struggle to make impact in my sphere of influence. You see, my life is a journey, with a definite start and a definite end, with definite milestones along the way. I get confused because I do not know all the parts of that journey, so sometimes, I strike out on my own, thinking I have it all figured out. Some other times, when I have been battered and bruised, I go back to God for restoration and renewal. What is very key is that I understand who I am and who I am working for. That understanding keeps me grounded, keeps me focused and keeps me on the right path of purpose.

The greatest blessing is the discovery, pursuit and fulfilment of divine purpose, not monetary acquisitions or popular appeal. For Paul, there was a clear conviction of what he was called by God to do. And for all who claim to know and follow Christ, we all have our assignments. None is irrelevant; all are parts of a unique whole; none is inspired or sustained by man, so the need to please or appeal to man does not arise. None can be determined or promoted by man, so the crave for applause and approval does not bear root. I exist simply at the pleasure of the owner of all life, and I work for and at the pleasure of the Master of the universe. That's the highest call to service, and a reminder that all I do now is a preparation for eternity.

And I go on with joy, because I know the great things that are ahead. I keep at it, knowing that God is glorified by my service. I keep at it, sure and certain that the grace that washed away my own sin and guilt is still very much in place today, free to all who realise their need and take hold of it. I take note of this final bit: the end of grace is eternal life. If I do not take hold of the grace, how do I lay claim to the life? If the path to life is through grace, how can I seek to enter through any other way? Nothing else will work, except what God has laid down, and I will do well to simply listen, heed and come to Him. His time of favour is here.

Children of God!

Children of God!

What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are. But that’s also why the world doesn’t recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he’s up to. 1 John 3:1 MSG

We are products of love. Right from the account of creation and man's stay in the Garden of Eden, it has been one great love story. It was love that made God put man at the centre of His creation. It was love that made everything we see today, and put each thing in its rightful place, and man at the top of it all. Even when man sinned and rejected love, love never gave up. Even though man's spiritual and physical location had changed, the basis of love hadn't changed one bit.

With sin came something the law itself couldn't regulate, which is grace. Grace has no legislative concept, as no one can make a rule about it or dispense it in appropriate measure. That's God's prerogative, and he has made in abundantly available in the lives of all who are his children. Grace is made available for all men, but its blessings and benefits are obvious in the lives of all who have surrendered their lives to God. That's why today's extract is addressed to those called 'the children of God'. Those are deep words; not words to be taken lightly.

What does it mean to be called a child of God? It is about ownership, dependence and assignment. It shows who I belong to, where I am from and my line of inheritance. It shows that no matter how old I get, I am still tied to the provision of my father, and can never run out of supply or dependence. That's why no matter how many years I have known, followed or served God, I never graduate from being called a child of God. It shows who I serve; my allegiances and my pursuits. If I belong to God, then it is only fitting that He is the only one I serve and give my best.

Am I indeed a child of God? If I am, i should not be bothered that the world doesn't like me. It cannot like or understand me, as we do not answer to the same owner. The Word and the world are parallel lines, and can never have a mutual agreement. Both have different earthly pursuits and eternal realities. If I will indeed be a child of God, and enjoy the blessings and benefits of that position, I must be fully in God. If I will follow the world's standards, then I cannot truly follow God. The choice has got to be made, and I must live with the eternal  consequences of whatever choice I make. His time of favour is here.

Right Measures!

Right Measures!

Beloved, I pray that in every way you may succeed and prosper and be in good health [physically], just as [I know] your soul prospers [spiritually]. 3 JOHN 1:2 AMP

Today's extract is addressed to a man named Gaius, someone who must have made a good impression on the writer of this book. It is just one chapter, but more importantly, it is addressed to one you would not call an apostle, but who must have done the work of an apostle. What do men call you; better still, can God entrust his work and lives into your hands? Will you be found faithful to the calling you have received, even if it is an obscure and thankless job?

Not so much is known about this Gaius, but as you read the Word of God, you find stories of people like the woman caught in adultery, the widow of Nain, the woman with the issue of blood, among others: nameless and faceless at the time, but we read and study their lives today, as examples of faith and hope in God. No one comes to God and leaves the same way; no one encounters God and is ever forgotten. Men may write history differently, but God never forgets. Such is the story of this Gaius.

Personally, I believe that today's extract connects the physical, mental and spiritual in one verse. The world views success and prosperity differently, and the Word of God also sees them differently. How do you talk about true success outside of God? How do you define prosperity outside of God? If what you hold has no eternal value, then maybe what you hold isn't the real deal. God connects success, prosperity and physical health together because really, you get the complete package in God. Haven't you seen men who are rich by the world's standards, yet cannot guarantee daily healthy living? Haven't you seen men who, in their private moments, who wish they could exchange earthly, temporal wealth for true health?

If the soul is right, then the spiritual is settled. The desire of the writer is that the physical will look like the spiritual, but it is important not to be so fixed on the physical that we miss the blessings of the spiritual. God's desire is that we make heaven, and as long as we are in this body, time, age and life will happen, but as long as we are on God's side, we will end well. What if the body isn't alright; would it affect what God can use that life for? Men can write you off due to the limitations they see, but as long as it is only men and not God who writes you off, then you have no need to worry. I take God at His Word, and I hold on to Him as I live daily, trusting that He will perfect all that concerns me. His time of favour is here.

Faith!

Faith!

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

Today's extract opens up God's hall of faith, men and women who through ordinary daily living pleased God so much that their names are penned down as examples to emulate. Please note that the word 'perfect' is not used to describe any of them, at least not by man's standard, but if God accepted them, that should be good enough for us. All of them had their shortcomings, fears and stories, but most importantly, they had God, and that proved enough for them. Is God enough for you too, or do you need something extra to give you a sense of completeness?

The ingredient spoken about today is faith, something so intangible to the human eye, yet so fundamental to human existence. You cannot legislate on faith, yet you cannot please God without it. In fact, you cannot live regular, daily life without a measure of faith. Why is it so important? Do you get into a bus without having a measure of faith that the driver is qualified to drive? Do you get on a plane without trusting that whoever sits at the controls knows what s/he is doing? If I can take earthly daily decisions in this manner, how much more when it is the decisions that have a bearing on eternity?

What is this faith? Today's extract refers to something that is abstract in very concrete terms. Faith is called evidence and title deed. You do not make a reference to something unseen as evidence. You do not go to a court of law and argue evidence based on feelings or emotions. You do not lay claim to something without a title deed in support of your claim. However, when dealing with God, a few of these things stop to make logical sense. How do you explain Abraham leaving the familiar, simply because he heard a voice telling him to leave? How do you fight a war with pitchers,  torches and trumpets, unless you are either very sure of who sent you or you are very stupid.

Either way, there is something that cannot be explained by words, keeping you sane and grounded, even when the world around you is going to pieces. Men and women of old lived and died by their convictions that God is true, even when things around them didn't make sense. Some didn't have the right foundations to stand before God, yet Ruth, a Moabitess, cut off from the assembly of God's people, found herself listed in the genealogy of Jesus himself. Faith is the one thing that catches God's attention and is the key to a life that pleases God. Without it, we would not survivie the world's pressure. Is my heart settled on God or does it have viable options? His time of favour is here.

Influence!

Influence!

Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend [to show rage or worthy purpose]. Proverbs 27:17 AMPC

The power of influence and company. The joy that comes from sitting with the right people and listening to the wisdom that flows through their words and their lives. The amazing power of a life that knows and respects its limits, and does not take up more than he has been called to do. The grace that flows out of a life that has first listened to God before it speaks to other people. The power of a life that is first surrendered to God before it seeks to influence other people.

How does iron work? The power of similar metals is seen in our daily lives, where we use similar metals to sharpen even other metals. You use an iron file to sharpen house knives. Locally, you rub a knife against a sharp stone to get its cutting edge back. The same applies in the spiritual, as seen from today's extract. Iron has a strong and powerful influence on iron, maybe because both have the same strength or maybe because they are basically made up of the same materials. Whatever it is, both of them cannot meet at the same spot and sparks will not fly. The power of influence.

Who are the 'iron' in my life? Who holds influence over my life? If my iron comes in contact with your own iron, what lasting impressions or impact would be contact make and leave? Unfortunately, no man was created to make it on his/her own, without human interaction. We will all meet all sorts of iron on the way to our eternal destination but the duty we hold to ourselves is to make sure that the right kind of iron influences us. The first verse of the psalms says a lot about this, where it states that blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or stand in the path of sinners or sit in the seat of scoffers. Those are other kinds of iron, and we will all meet them as we go on our life's journeys.

1 key lesson: whichever kind of iron you are comfortable with shows what kind of iron you are. If I am comfortable around mockers, grumblers and complainers, it is only fair to expect that I will turn out to be such. You look like the one you spend quality time with. Iron will either lead to a worthy purpose or bring out rage. It all depends on the kind of associations I build and nurture. For the sake of eternity, I had better be sure I am keeping the right company and getting the right influence. The world is waiting for the manifestation of the right kind of iron. Am I one? His time of favour is here.

If the axe is dull and he does not sharpen its edge, then he must exert more strength; but wisdom [to sharpen the axe] helps him succeed [with less effort].
ECCLESIASTES 10:10 AMP

Living Right!

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

What are the great and wonderful promises that today's extract refers to? A quick look at the few verses that end the chapter before this one gives insights into these promises. Of great and grave importance is the power of association. If I am careful of the company I keep, it will positively impact the things I do. If I am careful about the people i allow to influence me, God is able to reach me whenever he wants, and he can place a demand on my life, time, resources and possessions. His blessings and favour are the natural consequences that follow my pursuits and priorities being aligned with God's perfect will.

There is a demand that I cleanse myself from anything that can contaminate my body and spirit. Does this mean that the task of cleansing is all mine, with no help from God? Today's extract is directed at people who have made Christ the focus and are striving to follow Him. Divine help is available to ensure that I am kept clean and available for God's use at anytime. It is easy to say it is God's responsibility to clean me up and keep me clean, but I have a role to play. God does not force his ideas and principles on me, and whatever I surrender to Him is what He is able to keep safe and preserve.

Why is being clean so important? Is it because God himself is Holy and without any blemish, spot, wrinkle or stain. He is so Holy that even when His own Son took up man's sin on the cross, He couldn't bear to look at Him. If God can deal with sin so decisively and finally, I believe we have to see sin in the same light if we will get God on our side. The Holy God wants lives He can inhabit and work in and from, and the one thing He needs is surrender.

There is a deep connection between the fear of God and holiness. If I fear God, I will be very careful to avoid whatever will cause Him pain. If I know what displeases God, I will make sure I avoid such things. If I take stock of my life at this moment, can I say with certainty that God's desires are my utmost priorities? Fear of God leads a man to be careful about what he does, says and where he goes. Fear of God works well for the present life and is the guarantee of the life to come. If I will enjoy the blessings God has promised, then I have a non-negotiable duty to dedicate my life to the single pursuit of God. His time of favour is here.

One-time Offer!

One-time Offer!!

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

A sacrifice for sin was demanded by a righteous God for the unrighteousness of man. Under the old covenant, this sacrifice was a never-ending one; it had to be offered everyday, and all through the year. Even the one God placed the responsibility of offering the sacrifice had to offer one for himself first, before he was fit to offer any for the people. It was obvious that this process wasn't working out God's perfect plan.

Another plan was devised; actually it was in place long before man fell into sin, because God is omniscient. Nothing catches him by suprise. He laid a plan for a perfect sacrifice to be offered once and for all time, which will effectively take care of sin and make man worthy to stand before Him. It had to be the perfect sacrifice, and it had to hold eternal value for it to remain relevant all though earthly life. In steps Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away sin. Not only was He the perfect sacrifice, but unlike the old process, He offered his own life by himself. He didn't need an intermediary, but offered Himself by Himself, willingly and totally. That sacrifice is good for all time, and all who will take hold of Life must first partake in that sacrifice that guarantees that life.

This same Jesus will come back again, as He has consistently promised. His first coming was to offer full and free life, and his second coming will also be to offer full and free life. The difference between the first and second coming is that you had a choice to make in relation to the first coming, but all you can take hold of in the second coming will be the consequences of your choice under the first coming. The offer of life is for all people, irrespective of the number of us on earth, and the blood can take care of all of us, no matter how complex or dirty our lives have been.

He's bringing salvation to all who have been waiting for Him, not paying for sins again. That's key: waiting for Him. You can't claim you are waiting for God if you are not on his side or aligned with His plan and purpose for your life. You can't fold your hands and wish life away, claiming you are waiting for God. You walk right while waiting; you keep working while waiting. You keep impacting lives while waiting. When he returns, he comes with his rewards. Do you think that his rewards will match anything you are doing right now? His time of favour is here.

Grace in Full!

Grace in Full!

The Word became a human being and lived here with us. We saw his true glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father. From him the complete gifts of undeserved grace and truth have come down to us. John 1:14 CEV

One of God's greatest mysteries has got to be His son Jesus. We see God as the High and lofty One, the One called Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent. His power is seen in awesome and mighty ways, and his hand is seen at work in the fabric of creation. Through his spoken Word, He created the entire universe, putting each piece in its rightful place and placing limits on the scope and operation of each piece. That is the God who is introduced to us in the Bible.

There is also another side to this God that we do not seem to lay so much emphasis on. This same High and lofty One defines his Son as the Word, through whom and for whom all things were created, and then made manifest in the form of God's greatest creation- you and I. If God had stayed in heaven and prescribed a standard of behaviour, we would still have no choice but to obey, but God sent his own Son, in lowly human form, so He could identify with our humanity, walk in our shoes and help us overcome our weaknesses brought on by sin.

The Word came down in human form, lived with us, ate and drank with us, slept and was tired, was tempted as we are, was tried and persecuted for his belief in God, and also hated and loved in equal measure by man. Is there anything that is strange to us that has not happened to the Word in human form? Is there any experience I have had that would be seen as strange to the Word? Is there anything around me that is strange to the Word and has not been addressed by the written Word also?

In and around me, the glory of the Word is made obvious. Through him, grace, mercy and strength are released in abundant measure. In and through Him, I see myself for who I am, and what I could become. No other person or source can provide grace or give me the fulfilment a life in Christ can give. We forget so easily that we cannot create or modify life, but if only we would see God for who He is and what he has done for us, we would realise that we have received from God the greatest blessing any one could get, which is God himself. With him comes eternal life and all the other great things we desire; without Him, life would just be meaningless. Do you have the Word in you? Does He know you as His own? His time of favour is here.

The Good in the Bad!

The Good in the Bad!

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

When dealing with God, you have to always remember that you know nothing at all about anything. Human wisdom, human ability and knowledge make no sense when you are dealing with a God who is Himself the personification of Wisdom. His wisdom predates the creation of the world so there is nothing in creation that can explain his power and authority. His power predates the nations of the earth, so there is no power on earth or in nations on earth that can withstand his power.

In that wisdom and power does today's extract then make sense. Trials are never a 'good' thing, as they evoke a picture of pain, difficulty and discomfort. How then do I rejoice in something like that? Actually, it is only in God's Word that you find a charge to rejoice in such situations, and the reason why such a charge will make sense is because of the authority of the One who speaks and the One in whose hands my life is. The charge is addressed to people of common blood heritage; people washed by the blood, who identify with Christ and share his identity in the present while looking forward to eternal dwellings in the future.

Why would I rejoice in trials? It is because of the end result of anything that ends up in God's hands or under his command and authority. If indeed I am God's child, there is nothing that happens to me by chance, and anything He allows is fashioned to build me up and bring me to the place of absolute dependence on God. If God cannot trust my long-term commitment, how does he entrust long-term assignments into my hands? If I cannot hold on to God in the days of trouble, then it is certain that comfort and convenience will turn my heart completely against God.

Standing true to God in trials lead to spiritual maturity and inner peace. Trust God to work out his power in me, not by the easy way, but the hard way. He's taking me to a place of beauty, but the road there will be rough. He's preparing me for great exploits, but the path may lead through the desert. Whatever it is, I must be sure I am located right, where God can reach me and use me for his glory. If I belong to God, there is no limit to the great things He can do in and through me. All I need do is trust that he knows what he is doing, and that all will end well, in accordance with his plans and purposes. His time of favour is here.

The Inscrutable God!

The Inscrutable God!

Just as you do not know the way and path of the wind or how the bones are formed in the womb of a pregnant woman, even so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things. ECCLESIASTES 11:5 AMP

Man sure has an inflated opinion about himself. We make plans and demand that God approves them; we plan, plot and scheme our way around life, demanding that life gives to us what we demand, forgetting very conveniently that life wasn't built to be fair. We have pushed God out to the background, sometimes, completely off the radar, as we seek to make something of our lives. Unfortunately, as long as God remains God, there are things that will never happen outside his direction, will and purpose.

There are many things in life that man can't control. The wind is given here as a good example of that. The wind blows where and how it pleases, and its effect is seen anywhere it blows. You cannot provide a rational scientific explanation for how the wind is generated or applied, yet you cannot deny its existence. Houses that have been uprooted in thunderstorms, whirlwinds and hurricanes bear testimony to the power of the wind. Apply this same knowledge to the Spirit of God: remember Jesus' night chat with Nicodemus, where it was emphasized agian that the Spirit, just like the wind, cannot be explained by intellectual thought or rational or scientific evidence.

This tells me then that walking with God is like the wind: you cannot explain how God works at a distance; you have got to be in him to even scratch the surface of his will, desire and purpose. You do not discover God as an end in itself; you spend your entire lifetime discovering several aspects of God, and you never learn enough down here to even think you know him well enough or can predict him. Just as the example above, can you explain how the fusion of the male and female chromosomes lead to the forming of a child? Can you think of any medical research that can explain how each part is formed thereafter, or how you find 1 of some parts and 2 of some other parts, and how someone can still live if 1 part is missing but cannot survive if 1 part is taken out?

Indeed, God is awesome and his ways are very mysterious. He's not your regular guy: predictable, boring and usual. He is awesome in his creativity and his wisdom permeates all of life's experiences. You see his power, might and grace at work all around you. As always, he does not force you to acknowledge him, but there is no doubt that the earth responds to Him now and will answer to Him eventually. It would be better to submit to His power and wisdom now, and enjoy the blessings and favour such submission will bring, than to be forced to submit when grace and mercy would have expired. God will wait, till the season of waiting is over, and judgment begins. You do not want to be on the wrong side of that judgment. His time of favour is here.

Wise Steps

Wise Steps!

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

Today's extract addresses the issue of companionship. Why would this be a major issue for discussion? Could it be that God's plan is that I function within the human circle, not on my own, but in relation to other people. Right from the Garden of Eden, God had always emphasized companionship, and that is why he puts us all in families. However, it must be noted that even though God is all about the company I keep, he would want me to be very careful who I relate with.

What today's extract seems to place so much emphasis on is that I am defined by my relationships. I recall the very first verse of the Psalms which speaks about the blessed nature of a man who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, or stand in the way of sinners, or sit in the seat of the scornful. It matters where you walk, stand or sit. Even Paul spoke about the effect of evil communications, and its effect on good manners.

And the power and influence of wise men is seen in this funny analogy, also in Proverbs, where even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise. Everywhere you turn, it would appear that I could be described by my interactions, whether I like it or not. I could be described by the friends I keep or by the people i am comfortable around. If I can allow evil easily influence me, then maybe, I had always had that trace in me.

And the highest and noblest claim to wisdom is through God, who is seen as the definition of wisdom Himself. Paul calls Christ the power and the wisdom of God. If indeed I will be termed wise, the person of God himself must guide my actions, reactions and relationships. I do not have the wisdom in myself, as i do not know people beyond what they show me or pretend to be. But if I allow God lead, he will guide my interactions.

And I must not forget that I am an immortal being, put in a mortal body, and working towards the original plan, which is immortality. I cannot settle for distractions and anything that takes away from the original plan. I live every day, dependent on the God who owns my life and determines its impact. I depend on Him to lead me right as i journey towards the promised end. His time of favour is here.

Right Rewards!

Right Rewards!

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

The world has rewards, and the Word of God also promises rewards. Each has its demands, priorities and channels towards the rewards it promises, and there are also eternal consequences to each position. If I will make the right choice, I need to know the daily requirements of each position, what each requires for consolidation, as well as the eternal consequences. Then can I safely make and live with my choice.

If I must talk about humility, I must mention its opposite, which is pride. The reason why both are important in this discourse is that both flow from different sources. Both pride and humility cannot exist in the same vessel, just as it is impossible for a man to fully serve God and mammon at the same time. At all times, I am required to make a choice of who to submit to, and only a honest look and appraisal of myself, in the light of God's Word, can I see myself for who I am. The same sin of Adam in the Garden of Eden still lives with us today, where we are deceived into thinking we run our lives and answer to nobody.

You also cannot speak about humility without speaking about the fear of God. It appears both are from the same pod, and when you examine the lives of men of old, you find both strands irretrievably linked together. It was not about what others saw first of all, but about the state of their hearts. When a man fears God, he cannot help being humble, and when both are settled, impact is non -negotiable. This tells me that the rewards we speak about are not tied to the things men see, but to what God honours. Men may applaud your oration and outward piety, and men may reward you for these. However, it is more important to pursue the things God counts as very fundamental, and these are things which though the physical eyes do not see, the fruits are so visible that they cannot be ignored.

Check out the rewards listed above: riches, honour and life. The world may lay claim to riches, but it only has the limited edition; the Word of God is the only one that guarantees the complete package: true and lasting riches, honour among men, not because of what you own but who you know, and the crowning glory, which is eternal life. Would you pursue the world's rewards at the expense of the Word's rewards? Remember, both have eternal consequences. His time of favour is here.