Thoughts!

Thoughts!

I will remember the works of the Lord : surely I will remember thy wonders of old.  I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. Psalms 77:11‭-‬12 KJV

Asaph, the writer of this psalm, had his own troubled moments. Here was a praise leader, just like David, yet his words before today's extract showed a heart that was seeking for answers from God, but God appeared to be far away. As we walk with God, there may be times when he appears silent. One thing is however sure: he is the Omnipresent God, who is everywhere at all times. When your mind tries to convince you that you have been abandoned, let the Presence of God in your heart comfort you and provide assurance that as long as God is in charge, all wil work out well.

There will be times when it would appear God is slow or unconcerned. There will be times when the signs are hazy and unsure. This is what Asaph did: he looked ahead and saw uncertainty, but he looked back and saw the mighty works of God in the past. He recounted God's mighty works and His wonders of old, and his heart was comforted in that knowledge. He undertook to meditate on those mighty works and to testify of all His miracles. When times are tough and uncertain, what is your priority? What is the focus? Do you remind yourself of how big your God is or how big your problems are. Your focus will determine your pursuits and priorities.

Testimonies are reminders of God's faithfulness in the past, and seeds for the great future that is ahead. Tough times are as certain as God's faithfulness, and whichever keeps your attention will always determine your life direction. Do you know God? Does He know you as His own? Make that decision today to keep your heart focused on God, no matter the distractions going on around you. He always comes through. His time of favour is here.

Cause and Effect!

Cause and Effect!

But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea. Matthew 18:6 NLT

Putting today's extract in context, Jesus had to address a question that must have been agitating the hearts of his disciples. They must have reasoned that God's kingdom was akin to earthly kingdoms, where you could strive in your own power for relevance and position. They must have thought that Jesus would prescribe something they could aspire to, so they could matter in God's kingdom. Imagine Jesus' response that all it took was to have the heart of a little child.

Children simply trust what you say; they don't know about political correctness and hypocrisy. They pray as simply as they can, sure that God hears them. If you show a child the way of God at an early age, you lay the right foundations for that child. Imagine then what God's judgment will look like for those who deliberately deceive these little ones who God considers precious to Him. For everyone God has placed in my care, asking me to nurture and bring up in the fear of God, I have a duty to that person, and I will give an account of my service and stewardship for that life.

God's judgement is inevitable for those who lead these people astray. You receive the judgment of God while alive and then also suffer eternal damnation. Serving God is a privilege not to be taken lightly and it is to be considered carefully. There is no one so far gone that s/he is beyond the grace of God. I see everyone as an opportunity for God to touch through my eyes, hands, lips and feet. May the blood of anyone not be demanded from my hands due to my carefree or careless attitude to the work of God in my hands. His time of favour is here.

Get it Right!

Get it Right!

Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside.) [He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God.] For whatever a man sows, that and that only is what he will reap. Galatians 6:7 AMPC

This is the long version of the popular verse that tells man not to fool himself into thinking he can be smarter than the One who created him and gave him breath. Life's discoveries are amazing: supersonic jets, telephone, instant messaging, health breakthroughs, scientific discoveries are just a few of the amazing things in this century alone. You could be tempted to ask yourself that with all of these things, who needs God? Actually, the real question to ask is: 'In the face of all of these things, how do I hold on to God?'.

Long before man discovered these great things, God has been calling man to himself. God keeps reminding man that things are to be used to improve quality of life, not to replace Him. We have found new ways of pushing God to the background; in some places, it is a taboo to bring God into the workplace or school. Governments too take the same view, holding out that there is no place for good in civil society. However, recent events have shown that when God is not present, trouble isn't so far away. When I tell God I do not need Him, how can I turn around and hold him responsible for the troubles that overwhelm me?

His law still stands: I reap what I sow. No amount of scientific breakthrough can change that fact. You can work on the fruit or the stem, but you do not have control over the substance of the roots. In the same way, if I will get God to change my situation, I need to ask Him to address my roots. I have to give Him total control, so He can do what He as creator can do. As long as God remains God, He will not go against the exercise of my free will.

Under Construction!

Under Construction!

Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day. 2 Corinthians 4:16 AMPC

Can you point to any part of the Bible where God promised us a stressless life; a life without trials and tests? Do you know of any hero of faith in the Bible who did not have a story to tell of the pains, hurts and joys of life? We seem to assume that once we surrender our lives to God, we are free of the things that challenge the quality and depth of our faith, but then consider this: how would I know the value of what I hold or who I believe in, if there are no tests or trials?

The human nature has been given to sin and as the years go by, it will continue to deteriorate. The outer man is just a shell, broken by sin and condemned to dust. The real man is the inner man; the part of us that responds to and seeks God out. The outer man cannot handle the tests on its own, and discouragement will come if it tries to hold on by itself. Fear of the unknown and the unexpected ruins the stability of the outer man, but if the inner man is surrendered to and feeds on God, it receives the strength, direction and grace it needs for the journey ahead.

It al depends on my priorities. Which one do I focus on and feed? One is only good for a season down here; the other is good for life down here and in eternity. One is bound to decay and waste away, no matter how hard you try and prop it up with lifts, nips and tucks. The other is renewed daily, and the end of it is eternal life. Considering the end of both, it should help us consider what our lives' pursuits should be. Do I want to just enjoy the world's provisions and be of no eternal value, or do I want the best of both worlds: earthly impact and eternal rest? The choice is mine. His time of favour is here.

Destinations!

Destinations!

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. John 3:18 NIV

Choices have consequences. I make a lot each day, ranging from what to wear, eat or what to do with free time at work/school. We are mostly concerned with the quality of our choice, not the consequences. God would have me consider both, as I journey on in life towards the mark He has set for me. The first thing that is non-negotiable is the clear understanding that we live by faith, whether we even know it or not. We go to school to learn new skills that we believe will be a source of livelihood and joy to us. We go out every day with a confidence that, as we do our best, we will earn decent wages that will meet our needs and enable us live right.

The same principle applies to the Christian walk. We hear about the great things in heaven, and though we aren't there yet, we believe what God says about it. We lay claim to Abraham's blessings by faith, even though we do not racially belong to the original recipients of that promise. If we can believe God for the above, can we ever reasonably doubt the truth of today's extract? Faith in God's Son shields me from condemnation, which is the natural consequence of sin. When I trust the finished work on the cross, I tell God that I trust He can secure my present and future.

Just as we always say, every situation has a flip side: those who do not accept the finished work stand condemned. You see, it is never about what you think or accept as truth, but what God says is true. He has been around long before I was born, and He knows what is ahead. He has provided a way for me to walk with Him daily, in preparation for an eternity with Him. Since all has been done; I cannot blame Him for the consequences of rejecting Him and His gift. The offer still stands; what's your response? His time of favour is here.

Little Details!

Little Details!

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6‭-‬7 NLT

Worry and faith cannot exist in the same heart; you either feed faith or fear. You may not know it, but your daily actions, pursuits and priorities will show which one you feed more. And of course, whichever one you feed more will, over time, define your earthly impact and eternal destination. You would want to make sure you get it right. So, worry about nothing but pray about everything. There is no detail too tiny to take to God, and you have got to start somewhere. How would anyone who has never had to trust God for something as 'little' as understanding in exams hear God clearly when He's leading into marriage?

Tell God what you need. He's the God who knows all things, but for the sake of relationship, wants to hear your voice and feel your heart. Thank Him for what He has done & what He will do. David understood the power of giving thanks, and he got a permanent kingship lineage, all because of his heart. It's still the same God, who still looking for people in all generations who will seek Him out, so He can show Himself strong on their behalf.

The end is always peace: not because you have all you ask, but because you have Who you need the most living in you. His peace speaks when life denies you; his peace speaks when the winds blow and the waters rise. His peace sets your heart at rest, because you are not defined by outer conditions, but by an inner presence. Your peace isn't the stuff the world can reproduce, as the world doesn't understand or recognize the source. This peace is a function of relationship; the man with God in Him is the one who can face the world with a smile and at the end, enter into permanent rest. His time of favour is here.

My Part; God's Part!

My Part; God's Part!

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7 KJV

There are several relationship positions I can take with God, depending on my understanding of who He is, what He can do and the things He has empowered me to do by myself. One extreme is to go out on a limb and strive to fight on my own strength alone, ignoring God's help. Another extreme is to claim that I get to do nothing at all, since the battle is the Lord's. The middle and I believe, the right course is to have a clear understanding of what my part is, as well as what God's part is in all these. God demands I submit to Him first. That is the secret to victory.

I cannot lay claim to victory by mixing it up with my intellect, abilities and connections. I must lay all of those 'good stuff' at the feet of Jesus and let Him decide how best they are to be used. Only when all is laid before God can victory be certain. Only when the submission is done right can I be certain of a good end. When God is in charge, He gives power to resist the devil. Don't make the mistake of thinking you can face the devil on your own. He's been at deceit since the foundation of the world, and only the One called the Ancient of Days can defeat him. If I want to walk in victory, I must align with the template: submission first, then power to resist is given.

The end result of that submission is victory. The devil cannot stand those who know their authority in Christ. It then means that the one thing I need to settle first is my heart's allegiance. If God owns and holds the reins of my heart, then He can trust me. If I am uncertain or open to other options, then the devil can find a foothold in my life. Pride in achievements is the devil's oldest trick; faith in the finished work on the cross is God's unfailing path to permanent victory. As always, the choice is mine to take. His time of favour is here.

Help? Available

Help? Available

The Lord is close to those who are of a broken heart and saves such as are crushed with sorrow for sin and are humbly and thoroughly penitent. Psalm 34:18 AMPC

In a world where internet-based mails have replaced handwritten letters, where regular telephone conversations have also been replaced by instant messaging, the importance of human contact is being whittled down considerably. This world position is also becoming applicable to our relationship with God too. We seem to be doing less of actual contact and more of virtual contact. We keep God on a clock; we run a tight ship and cannot afford more than the basic essentials. Unfortunately, the standard hasn't changed: God is still very much in the business of revealing himself to all who come looking for Him.

Sin will drive you away from God, but sincere repentance will drive you towards God. In fact, God says He's near to ALL who are of a broken heart, those who know they need God to survive the pressure of sin and Satan. Human nature is pretentious and hypocritical; we are good with keeping secrets that eat away at our relationship with God. Yet, God waits patiently; He knows we cannot survive outside of Him, and as soon as I come to Him, his arms are open wide to receive me. But I also note the condition: those who are humbly and totally and thoroughly penitent.

Don't come to God thinking you got Him figured out and can predict his reactions. Don't assume that His love for you renders His judgment of sin not applicable to you. His love is certain, but so is His judgment. His love knows no bounds down here, but it is but for a short time, while earthly life remains. The time comes when repentance and being sorry for sin will be too late. Before that time comes, God invites me and you to come to Him. Would you answer and approach? Would I? His time of favour is here.

Sourced Right!

Sourced Right!

In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].
Ephesians 6:10 AMPC

We live in perilous times. We have found new ways of living outside of God's express commands and also developed defenses against pricks of our consciences. We seem to get better at the things that draw our attention away from God, but it is unfortunate that no matter the dispensation or the season you are in, God's standards do not change and will never change for anyone. Today's extract charges me to keep my heart on the right path, which is on God and Him alone. This season requires strength and grace; this season calls for absolute dependence on God.

You have to draw your strength from someone; it is either God is the one backing you up, or you have found other options. Only in union with God can you hold on to the end. There are stories of great beginnings and amazing journeys, but it is very important that we end well. All of God's blessings only make sense when I hold on to the end, not when I have only a great start. I cannot hold on to God and also try and hold on to other human devices. When it comes to desperate times, and you have to hang on with both hands for dear life, you will need to let go of one. Which one will you let go of?

Draw your strength from God alone. The world has temporary palliatives, good only for a season, but the Ancient of Days, the one who has been long before all the world's problems began, knows how to help if I only let Him. If I will make impact, if I will last the distance, if I will get to the end of my race, knowing fully well that I couldn't have survived without God's help, I must totally depend on God alone. He's waiting to help; I must choose Him of my own free will. His time of favour is here.

Fear; Turn!

Fear; Turn!

Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord [with reverent awe and obedience] and turn [entirely] away from evil. PROVERBS 3:7 AMP

There are three parts to the same counsel that God would have us consider today. First, you cannot lay claim to the throne of your heart and at the same time expect God to come through for you. You cannot claim self-sufficiency, expecting God to let you have your own way while you demand that He keeps His own promises. If you really understand God, you know that though He gives you the free will to decide who you submit to, He makes it clear what the consequences of either choice are. You take the decision on submission with the full knowledge of what lies at the end of your decision.

Secondly, I am charged to fear the Lord. This is still connected to the first point above. Whoever you fear determines how you relate with that person. If it is God or man who holds the reins of your heart, your pursuits and priorities will reveal the truth. If God is all you fear, you have nothing and no one else to fear, but if it is man you fear, then you have everything and everyone else, including God, to fear. What, or Who, is your fear? Does God hold a special place in your heart or is He a seasonal wonder, someone you think about only when trouble comes?

Lastly, you can't have God's fear and still toy with sin. You can't depend on God's grace and not hate sin the same way God does. Sin is the reason why man lost his way and place with God, and is the reason why a high price was paid to deal with it permanently. If God did all these because of sin, imagine the punishment that lies at the end for all who reject the free gift given, and the amazing blessings that await all those who put their trust in that greatest gift given, who is Jesus Christ himself. All has been laid out; the decision, as always, is mine. His time of favour is here.

Legacies!

Legacies!

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

You cannot give what you don't have. This ststement runs true across all of life. I can only take out of the contents of my storehouse to bless another life. Where there is no credit, there can be no withdrawal, unless you are seeking an overdraft. And one other important thing to note from today's extract is that it does not refer to 'your child', but a child: anyone you have the grace and opportunity to impact and to lead down the right path. It means that every life that God commits into my hands is precious to Him. I will give an account to God for every life.

I am asked to train up that person; that child, in the way he SHOULD go. It is first not an option, but a deliberate and consistent approach to training. You train by being an example yourself, and you teach principles and precepts that will equip the child for life. The teaching involves God's Word, as well as the knowledge of the child's strengths and gifts, and an acceptance of God's Will in the exercise of those gifts. It is a lifelong experience; the lessons learnt as a child are useful all through life, and as I grow into maturity, I must pass the torch on to others coming after me.

There is an assurance in teaching the right thing, and it is that the lessons will never grow old, and the student of truth will never graduate. You don't learn truth for a while and move on to something else; you stick to it. There are eternal implications to what you invest your life in, so I have to make sure it is the right thing. Am I learning truth now or pursuing after 'convenience'? Can I be trusted with another life, with God sure that I can pour out His grace into that life? Am I living true to the Truth I have learnt as a child? Questions; Eternal consequences. His time of favour is here.

All God!

All God!

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Timothy 3:16‭-‬17 KJV

Identity, source, purpose and impact. All of these are important considerations in knowing the place of the Word of God in our lives. The argument is always made that mortal men wrote down the words in the Bible. Well, men could write the words, but there should be no argument about the source and origin of the words. This is a God of absolute love, whose hearts yearns after his creation and wants to be a part of their lives. The Bible shows God as One who understands our frame, knows we are weak, yet tells us what He wants and supplies the grace needed to obey.

And that's the essence of the multifaceted purpose of the Word of God: no matter the situation, God's Word provides answers. You want to know God's mind on an issue; you want to know if something is wrong; you want guidance or instruction, all of these are available in God's Word. What is essential here is the receptivity of my heart to the Word. God can and does speak often but as usual, He doesn't force himself on me. He gives me the opportunity to choose Him, so that my heart yearns after Him and seeks to serve Him.

Of course, God does nothing without an eternal purpose. He gives His Word so that I can be built up to be all He wants me to be. God expects me to grow in my knowledge and experience of Him and He will supply all the parts I need to grow into that maturity expected. I must never forget this: all God does down here is a preparation for all He wants me to be up there with Him. If I do not learn submission and obedience down here, how do I qualify for life with Him in heaven? Time down here is my season of preparation. Nothing is wasted, if it is God. His time of favour is here.

Reasons!

Reasons!

The Lord did not set His love upon you and choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the fewest of all people. Deuteronomy 7:7 AMPC

The world talks about qualifications, status and achievements. Men are judged and rewarded on the basis of certificates, degrees and net worth. Unfortunately, we seek to apply the same standard to our spiritual walk, forgetting always that God never does conventional or normally accepted things. He does not judge people on the basis of ephemeral and temporal things the way the world does.

A good example is Israel. He calls them his people- chosen by him out of all the nations of the earth. You could hate the nation, but is it there anything the people themselves did to deserve all the love and attention? It's clear here that God's decision had nothing to do with what the people of Israel could offer Him in return. God was the one doing all the work, while Israel kept rebelling. God did not choose these people because they were a multitude; long before they became a force to be reckoned with, He started with just 1 man- Abraham.

And that's how it is with God. You can't come to Him pleading your qualifications; He doesn't need them to make you what he wants you to be. They are good, no doubt, but God would rather take glory in and through them, than for you to take glory in them. He doesn't need the numbers; He just needs ME to walk with Him. He will do the blessing and the lifting in His own time and in His own way. It is always better for God to work on you and then announce you to the world, than for me to fight for it. His time of favour is here.

Choose!

Choose!

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15 KJV

The decision to follow and serve God is not to be taken lightly. It calls for dedication, total devotion and submission. It is a choice that will be made by all men; it is a decision that nobody can take for you. One thing God always does: He tells you ahead of time what you are gettting by trusting Him, so that it is clear from the start what is at stake. God also knows about hypocrisy and deceit; where I say one thing with my mouth but mean something different in my heart. Let it be clear: God cannot be deceived by outward piety.

The choice is always between two extreme choices. There is no middle ground, no sitting on the fence. You are either all in or all out. The danger of indecision is seen in the letter to the Laodiceans, where even God says He will spue out of His mouth all who are neither hot nor cold. Do I know who I have been called to follow? Have I been caught in the spirit of the times or the place where I am? Does the world's pleasure hold any attraction for me?

Whatever my decision may be, Joshua's decision helps to put things in the proper perspective. He had seen God at work through Moses, and he had also experienced God's mighty miracles. His life showed that he was on God's side, no matter what lay ahead for him or his family. As the world gets more complicated, the need to know and hold on the unchanging Truth of God becomes even more important and necessary. Do I know the Truth? Am I willing and ready to follow Him, no matter what lies ahead? My answer will determine my eternal destination. His time of favour is here.

Motivator!

Motivator!

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Philippians 1:3 NLT

This is Paul, writing about the Philippian church, practically saying that every time he remembered the church, it made him break out in thanksgiving. It rasies a few questions and also provides valid answers, one of which is: do I have moments of reflection, when I think of the people who have helped my life, family and ministry, or do I just take it all for granted, thinking only of entitlement and benefit? Do I appreciate the impact of people around me, and how they have helped shapen and sharpen my life?

Do I even have such people and am I one of such people? Inasmuch as I need such people in my life, the bigger question will be if I am also such a person. Can someone else say the same about me? Paul knew he had an assignment from God but he knew he also needed people's help along the way. What impact am I making as I walk my walk or run my race? Am I a motivator; someone willing to let other people stay in the spotlight if need be?

And another key thing: Paul knew the God he had. Do I know God this way? Paul knew and directed his thanks to his God; the one who had saved and called him. Whether I hold on to the end is dependent on my understanding and knowledge of this God. He wants me to seek Him; He promises I will find Him if I seek with my whole heart. He is waiting; He's calling out. He seeks to bless and impact, if I allow Him. His time of favour is here.

Comfort!

Comfort!

As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; And you will be comforted in Jerusalem.” ISAIAH 66:13 AMP

As one who calls himself the Comforter, it is only fitting that He gives himself as the example on comfort. For all who have babies in their hands, or been responsible for molding a life, you understand  what today's  extract is all about.  Comfort only makes sense in the face of trouble, affliction, discomfort or distress. If there were no troubles, I may not appreciate  today's  extract. The one providing the comfort is the one responsible for the lives of those who receive the comfort, and He alone knows the right measure and dispensation of the comfort as He sees best.

As always, the people of Israel had sinned against God and the nation had been punished.  With God and the dispensation of his mercy, He may have favourites and chosen ones, but when it comes to sin, God has no favourites. When God repeatedly  warns about anything,  He does so with the aim that we know his  mind on that matter and watch our ways. We cannot turn around and blame God for the consequences of our decisions and actions. This is a promise: just come to me and I will do my part.

And to make it all better, God was going to bring them into the land He had promised Abraham. No matter how far away they had been taken into exile, they were going to be settled back in Jerusalem. God could have done it anywhere, but He chose to do it at home. God wants to bring us home, if we will let Him. He wants to lead us through the narrow path into the streets of gold, but our obedience and surrender to God is the key to success. He wants to display His grace and mercy in and through me. Would I let him? Would you? His time of favour is here.

Inner Expressions!

Inner Expressions!

For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. 2 Corinthians 7:10 NLT

God calls men to repentance. That has always been his desire: that all men will seek Him. Men seek God out for many reasons, but the only one that will matter at the end of the way is the one that guarantees eternal life. One thing is clear from today's extract: if sin does not wake a consciousness of sorrow in you, then there is a problem. Actually, the natural man does not have such compunction, since sin is normal to the natural man. Unfortunately, sin will not allow God's perfect will to be established in and through my life, so the appropriate response is for me to avoid sin.

How can I avoid sin? It is by a daily walk with God. It is by trusting that his blood is sufficient for all I need. It is by hating sin the same way God does. It is by depending on his power, mercy and grace to live right. What if I still fall? That's the whole essence of grace: it is able to pick me up and restore if I am truly sorry and I repent. That's the essence of Godly sorrow; the type that leads men to return to God, like Simon Peter, not the type of sorrow that leads men to more evil, like Judas Iscariot.

I check my heart: what are its motives? How do I view sin? Do I depend on grace for my walk or am I self-sufficient? God will supply grace, but I must stretch out my heart and receive it, and then walk worthy of that grace. Grace is not a license to sin, but an insurance policy that no matter how tough life gets, God's got my back. That is enough for me. His time of favour is here.

Grace Expressions!

Grace Expressions!

As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10 WEBBE

First, there is something for everyone who surrenders control to God. It is called a gift because we do not earn or deserve it. We get it by virtue of faith in Christ and is a function of the grace of God. In no way does it give room for pride, as the gift is not tied to my ability but to God's desire to express himself in and through me. All who believe get a gift, and for some, it may be gifts but they all come from the same source.

Secondly, the gifts were not meant for selfish reasons, but to serve other people. I do not get a gift so I can turn the gift into a money-making venture, but if such gain comes, it should be with an understanding that God takes all the glory and praise from it. God didn't give me a gift so I can turn around and make it a special dispensation, where only a deserving few get attention. I am sent to be a blessing, and I have been gifted for such a time like this. How am I using the gift(s) I have been given?

Lastly, how I live reveals my heart. If I will be trusted with more things, it will show in what I do with what I have now. God's grace is expressed in several forms, and it is by service, not by pride, that this grace is best appreciated. As I live my life daily, I get the chance to show God off, and to encourage other people to come to the saving knowledge of Christ. Does my life align with this template? His time of favour is here.

Rightly Engaged!

Rightly Engaged!

I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me. Galatians 2:20 WEBBE

First, a statement borne out of a personal understanding of the writer. You do not state these words unless you are sure of your old ways and the quality of your new life. It has to be so distinct that the difference between the old and the new is so obvious. Paul had an old name- Saul- as well as an old life, but an encounter with Christ changed his direction, perspective and priorities. It has to be the same for us; otherwise what we hold on to is not the real deal.

Identifying with Christ means starting from the cross. Anything I will lay claim to must start from that painful experience. It was the cross that bridged the gap between God and man and made a new life possible. As Christ paid the price for my life, it means that I cannot really lay claim to my life anymore. The One who paid the price owns it now, and he makes a demand that I give him all I am. The best I can do is give him total control and allow His life flow out of mine.

If I know what I have received, it will show in my pursuits and priorities. If I have to be reminded about who i am, then maybe I do not know the value of what I hold. Whilst I am down here, I live for the glory of the One who accepted me even when I was deep in sin. I know that at the end, faith will lead me to eternal life. His time of favour is here.

The Right Stuff!

The Right Stuff!

that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 WEBBE

The process of salvation is laid out as simply as only the source, author and sustainer can. It is the whole essence of the good news we are asked to share, and it is all about the One who died to guarantee life eternal. It is never about a feel-good doctrine, where I am defined by what I do alone. The right stuff is beyond what I do; it is fundamentally about who I know and belong to.

How do I get the right stuff: my mouth and my heart must align. One of man's greatest abilities is pretence. We say one thing with our lips and mean the very opposite with our hearts. We keep up appearances; we put up a front and people don't know what we are. But for all who will get all that God intends for them, today's extract is just the right message. I must confess the Lordship of Jesus with my lips AND my heart must align with that postion by faith. It is not one of the two; it has to be the two.

Salvation is about my acceptance of His Lordship, by my words, action and heart. At the centre of all I get to gain, which is eternal life, is what I do with Jesus. If I accept Him as Lord and Saviour, I get to be saved and gain eternal life. Imagine what it would mean to reject Him also. Think deep about what lies ahead, and ask God to lead you to making the right decision. His time of favour is here.

Be-Attitudes

Be- Attitudes!

Rejoice and exult in hope; be steadfast and patient in suffering and tribulation; be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12 AMPC

Paul exhorts the Roman church on three aspects of relationship with God. The first relates to the fuel that drives service and devotion, which is hope. If I do not have anything to look forward to, if there was nothing at the end of all my labour, why should I strive to live right? If everything ends down here, what is the motivation for righteousness and holiness? So hope keeps me sane, and the expectation of the glory ahead fills my heart with joy.

Secondly, nowhere have I been guaranteed that life will be all smooth; no bumps. I get to choose how I will respond to the things coming my way. I can get touchy and lash out at everything or I can trust God to work out His perfect will in and through all He allows to come my way. As always, every choice has a consequence. Patience in tribulation isn't a degree a seminary course can teach you; it is only learnt at the foot of the One whose life is the perfect example of patience.

Lastly, when everything seems to be falling apart, prayer is the glue that can hold all together. It is not a weekly, monthly or periodic appointment; it is a daily and regular meet, where God is able to meet me and provide guidance for my life. I get to trust Him for all of my life's choices, not just the big ones like career or marriage. He wants to be involved in all of my life's phases, but only if I let Him. What are your own priorities at the moment? Does God hold all of your heart or do you have other 'viable' options? His time of favour is here.

Full Wages!

Full Wages!

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

Wages signify lawful payment for services rendered or work done. For all of men born of women, the fundamental start point is an acceptance of our sinful nature. The only thing we deserved for all we were and had done was death. God always tells ahead what is at the end of all human actions, and in this case, death always followed any breach of God's express laws.

Though we deserved death, we didn't get it. Because it was God's established law, the wages still had to be settled. In comes Jesus, taking our place in death. The full wages for sin was settled; man could walk away from the consequences of his actions and claim the life on offer in Jesus. Lest I think it is a small matter, it is not really free. It cost God something precious; and it is a reminder that God takes sin seriously and I must do the same.

The gift is now given, full and free. It is a gift birthed in grace, founded upon faith in the finished work of the cross and with eternal life as the prize. All I need to do is to believe in that finished work and walk daily in that experience. Remember, life is about choices, just as death. I choose life today, made available in Christ Jesus. What's your choice? His time of favour is here.

The Right Way 2

The Right Way 2!

be unceasing and persistent in prayer; 1 THESSALONIANS 5:17 AMP

Just like yesterday's piece, today's extract holds a similar message, and it is all tied to relationship. If I love someone, I want to spend time with the person a lot. A few hours go like a few minutes, and I count the hours until I see the person again. For all who can remember the thrill of courtship and fresh love, you can relate. The same principle applies to the focus of today's extract, which is prayer.

Prayer is communicating with God, where I take my cares, worries, pain and joys to him, and I leave with the assurance and confidence that even if I do not know or understand the WHY behind the WHAT that I am going through, I am comforted by the fact that I know WHO is in charge. Prayer is not a one-way thing, where I just talk and do not wait for a response; but it God getting my attention to give me directions while I trust Him to work out the best in and for me.

It takes courage to give control to another person. It even takes grace to continue in prayer, and to be fervent and persistent. If God commands it, He must have a benefit only He can guarantee. Being faithful in prayer is proof of friendship with God. When a man submits to God in prayer, he is raised up to impact lives. A man who kneels in prayer cannot be ignored, because God will use such a man to change his generation. Do you know God at all? Does He know you as His own? His time of favour is here.

The Right Way!

The Right Way!

Be persistent and devoted to prayer, being alert and focused in your prayer life with an attitude of thanksgiving. COLOSSIANS 4:2 AMP

For all who claim faith in Jesus, there are some attributes that must flow out of that relationship. One of them is prayer. This is where I develop a listening ear, a receptive heart, submissive lips and an obedient life. In prayer, God teaches me to approach Him with confidence, sure that my relationship with Him is more important to Him than what I get or do not get from Him. Prayer is my humbling process, a reminder that I do not have all the facts and cannot deal with life on my own.

Closely linked to that prayer lifestyle is being alert and focused. It would seem that while I pray, I must be conscious of what God is doing and be able to key into his plan and purpose. Even Jesus taught his disciples to 'watch and pray'. If I do not pay attention to what's going on around me, how do I confirm if God is at work or not? If I cannot key into God's plan and purpose by being watchful and alert, I may miss his timing and the blessings that come from being in the right place and at the right time.

And closely linked to the two is the heart of thanksgiving. I pray, I ask God for things, I ask Him to intervene in issues around me, I watch out for what He is doing or will do. But in all, I do not forget that He's sovereign and does whatever He pleases, whenever He pleases. No matter what comes, I am confident that His love for me will trump whatever life throws at me. With a heart of thanksgiving, it doesn't matter how 'bad' things get; there is an assurance that it will end in praise. So, how's my prayer life? What does it look like? His time of favour is here.