Numbered!

Numbered!

Help us to remember that our days are numbered, and help us to interpret our lives correctly. Set your wisdom deeply in our hearts so that we may accept your correction.

Psalms 90:12 TPT

So teach us to number our days, That we may cultivate and bring to You a heart of wisdom. Psalms 90:12 AMP

A quick look at the verse just before this one: Who comprehends the strength of your anger? Your wrath matches the fear it inspires. Read this again; words written by Moses, the man of God. A man who saw God in action in Egypt, across the Red Sea experience and the desert, who saw amazing miracles and punishment for rebellion, a man who was privileged and permitted to see an image of God, whatever form it took. Yet, at the point of taking the people into the promised land, he made a mistake. Whether it was assumption on his part, or simple carelessness or taking God for granted, he was refused entry into the promised land. Moses knew firsthand what God's anger looked, and what His wrath and mercy also looked like. Do we want to have the same experience as Moses before we learn about the fear and wrath of God? 

We don't speak about God in this manner anymore. We seem to have met another God who is our buddy and we can bend to our will; a God who permits our sins; after all, He knows we are human. However, our understanding of God's grace must never diminish our revulsion of sin, and we must never get to a point where we don't see sin the way God sees it. Only by seeing things the way God sees it can I accord it the necessary importance. God hates and will punish sin, no matter in whom it is found. If I take nothing away from recent experiences, let this be a word of caution: God is to be loved, feared and worshipped; knowing God means knowing what He loves and hates, and pursuing after the things He cherishes. That is the secret and foundation to the treasures in today's extract. 

What, then, are the lessons:

1. God has to teach and I have to learn. It is God's prerogative to teach me how to number my days the right way. Man is by nature slow to learn, which is why he repeats the same mistakes several times. He does not have the strength in himself to resist sin, but only in and through God can He find the grace to live right. 

2. My mortality is both my greatest asset as well as my greatest limitation. What is the lesson: to number my days the right way; to learn how to interpret my life correctly; to understand my mortality. I was given this one life to make the best use of it, and I only get to live it once. All of the time I am given is a gift, and I get to decide how I will use it. That is the greatest gift God has given man: the gift of choice. But there is a counterbalance: the power of consequences. My mortality is my greatest asset only while I am still alive; once the earthly phase ends, it is either heaven or hell. What lessons do I need to learn whilst I am still in this mortal body? 

3. There is both a right way and a wrong way to learn about my mortality. Today's extract makes it clear that God is the One who can help me learn and live right. Because the devil knows how important my life is, he sets up obstacles, distractions and detours, so I can take my eyes off the One who can help me end well. If I listen to the devil, I expose myself to deceit and the lessons get longer and more confusing. If I keep my eyes on God, His help is available free of charge. His love is steeped in eternity, so nothing of this world can be more important to Him than my eternal reality. 

4. There is an accounting, a rendering to be done at the end of my earthly mortality. The reason why God must teach me and I must learn is because I must stand before God to defend what I have done with the life He gave me. Think about this: I get to live maybe 120 years on earth; that is nothing compared to what lies at the end of the earthly phase. If I can take God's Word as true, and claim His promises of protection and provision, why would I doubt His Word about heaven and hell and the consequences of rejecting His Son Jesus? The value of my life is defined by its eternal reality. That is why Jesus' eternal words make sense here: "what does it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, but loses his own soul? If eternity has not been birthed and is being sustained in my heart, my life has no eternal value; I am only living for the now. 

5. There is help to live right. This help is freely available, but I must choose to submit to the One with the help. I have the power of choice; God has the power of consequences. He will not force Himself on me, but I also cannot ignore Him forever. One day soon, all knees, either by choice or compulsion, will bow the knee before the King of Kings, even Jesus Himself. It is better I bow now and get eternal life sealed, than to bow it in compulsion, with no hope of eternal life, lost forever. 

A new phase, new year, new month, new day, new job; whatever it is that is new in my life is good news, but there is just one news that never changes in focus, intensity or eternal value: Jesus returns soon. Am I making my life count now? Is eternity being birthed in me? Am I learning all that God wants to teach me? His time of favour is here. 

Do Good!

Do Good!

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. Galatians 6:10 KJV

The context of today's extract is on sowing and reaping. It is a law that was established by God after Noah's flood, along with summer and winter, day and night, cold and heat. My fruit will always look like the seed I put in the ground. I cannot put in corn seeds and expect to reap mangoes. There is no amount of prayer and fasting that will change that outcome. So, long before I see the fruit, I must take time to guard and watch the seed I put in the ground. That same principle applies in today's extract. 

Do not forget: today's extract is addressed to 'brethren'; people with a common allegiance to Jesus. If I am one, there is a code of conduct that I am bound by. That code of conduct does not permit me to do good simply because I will get it back in return from the person I did it to. It doesn't permit me to do good simply because it is the fashionable thing to do, or that I will get human praise and appreciation for it. It has to be the natural outflow of a heart that has been totally surrendered to Jesus, with no room for anyone or anything else. The good I have been mandated to do is for ALL men, no matter their beliefs, origin, race or creed. 

I am able to do good because God, who is called the good God, lives in me. I can only flow out with what is in me, not what I will it to be. As I take stock of my life the question then is: if I am pressed and shaken, what type of fruit will fall off the tree of my life? Am I making the kind of impact a surrendered life is expected to have? Is Jesus evident in me or am I full of myself, so much so that all that people see when they come to me is me, myself and I?

I am charged to do good to all men first, because my being on earth is for God to be made known to all men. Men will see the light of God in me and seek to know more about God. But it does not end there; there is an emphasis on also making sure that those of my household of faith enjoy the benefits of the good my life produces. Of how much use is a life that flows out to touch those outside his home, yet has no impact, benefit or help to those of his/her household? Would I be so focused on what other people outside say, and how they view me, that I forget that I am to also be a blessing to those that I share blood with: the blood of Jesus?

The early church in Acts was the perfect example of the balance between the good I am expected to do to outsiders and to those of the household of faith. The apostles were in one accord; nobody had too much or too little, and men sold what they had to be a blessing to other men. Even when food wanted to cause division, wisdom was given to know what to do. When I have given my life to Jesus, it becomes a signpost that points men to my foundation and fruit. When men look at you, what do they see? If Jesus isn't evident, it is not too late to make changes. Ask the Lord to wash you clean with his blood, and to come in and dwell in you. Then, you will see inner change first that will manifest on the outside. Am I shining, or am I struggling for identity? Am I producing fruit in line with my inner state, or am I struggling for relevance? The answer lies in my fruit. His time of favour is here. 

Choices!

Choices!

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; Matthew 5:44 KJV 

I take a look at the words that come before the 'BUT' in today's extract, and it is clear that God calls me into a different lifestyle from what is popular in the generation He has put me in. It does not matter what the world around me applauds; I am called into a different standard and a different set of choices. Everyone around me may do things in a certain way; the call of God upon my life demands that I live by a different standard. Is there a call on your own life? 

So, who is the 'YOU' that Jesus addresses here? Let's not forget: this was the Sermon on the Mount, where there was a huge crowd following Jesus, yet He called the disciples to Himself on a mountain, and having sat down, began to teach them, with today's extract being a part of that sermon. So, today's extract is not for the crowd at the foot of the mountain, but for all who want to go up the mountain to sit with Jesus, listen to and obey Him. The crowd seeks popular culture; disciples seek obedience, even when it hurts. Which one are you? So I check my present location; am I where applause and acceptance are in high demand, or am I up on the mountain, where all that matters is what the Master teaches and wants from me? 

So, what is expected of disciples, and why do they stand out? Their lifestyle choices make them stand out, because they don't do the usual, the expected or the normal. The world makes friends with people it is comfortable with, who do not challenge the status quo; the world will hate those who do not conform to its standards. It is the way of the world to curse, hate, persecute and be enemies with people who do not do the things it does. If I as a disciple of Jesus then joins with the world to react the same way, how does my allegiance to God get noticed? 

How easy it is to do all: 'LOVE'; 'BLESS'; 'DO GOOD' and 'PRAY' for people who are equally good to you, or who you have vested interests in, but it is the proof of discipleship for me to go in the opposite direction, and to react differently. It is the same action for all parties but the targets of my actions differ based on who my allegiance is to. For a disciple, I am not concerned about whether the target deserves it or not, but because it is commanded as a fruit of my allegiance. I am not asked to do it because the other person has done the same for me, but simply because I answer to a different master. 

Check out the target of my actions in today's extract: people who hate me, who see me as an enemy, who curse or despitefully use and persecute me. It is hard; yet grace is the reason why it is possible. I remember: God never asks me to do what He has not provided grace for or done Himself. He will not force Himself on me, or go against the exercise of my freewill, but it is also clear that there are consequences to every action and reaction of mine. If I don't obey the One I call Lord and Master, how do I get what He has promised, as well as the eternal life that lies at the end of my total obedience to His commands? Now, it is made clear again; there will be no excuse. His time of favour is here. 

Love, God's Style!

Love, God's Style!

Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated, 1 Corinthians 13:4 NABRE

There is a right and wrong context to every 'spiritual' exercise I see. Too many times, I get carried away with the outward, the audible and the visible, not aware that the intention and spirit behind what I see or hear is even more important that the actual activity. That is why speaking in human and angelic tongues, having the gift of prophecy and the ability to comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge, odr with faith that can move mountains, or giving away everything I own, will never be enough, if they are done with the wrong heart. The challenge is that the world will see it and applaud, but if not done with the heart of Love, God's Style, I gain nothing and will amount to nothing. This is the challenge of walking with and working for God.

This entire chapter then goes on to describe what the real deal looks like so that I can was easily hold up what I hold to what God commands. A list of what the real deal looks like, as well as what it is not, is provided. This tells me again that there is no middle ground on this matter; you don't get to choose which one you will focus on and which one you will ignore. I can't claim to be patient and kind, and at the same time, not watch out for pride or jealousy. Motivational speakers tell you to focus on the positives; unfortunately, ignoring something does not make it go away; you have to keep at it as long as you have breath in you. NOTE: the devil wants to present you with attractive alternatives, but he has no free gifts. 

If God warns against pride or jealousy, it is because He has seen where they lead and end. Interestingly, love is described in human terms, such as kind and patient, and on the other hand, not proud, pompous or jealous. It would therefore mean that I can view love as a person, not necessarily a thing. In fact, the Bible seems to emphasise that love is defined by what people do, not what they say. It is easy to say the right words;  the heart with which they are said matters equally as much. 

When next I find myself struggling to rejoice at the good that happens to other people; when I only look to my own interests and none of anyone else's; when I find it hard to see others through the eyes of the One I claim to love, then I need to check myself before I wreak myself and others around me. You see, nothing I do affects me alone; there are a lot of people who will be touched one way or another through my actions or lack of them. I am called to be different; to stand out; to be the eyes, ears, mouth and feet of Jesus my Lord. If I don't represent Him well, I do not deserve to bear His name. If I claim to bear His name, the people of the world must know the difference, so that they will seek to know the One I know and love. After all, the world can easily identify something that is not its own. What is it I have: love, the way the world alone knows it, or love, God's style? His time of favour is here. 

Delivered!

Delivered!

I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

Psalms 34:4 KJV

We see David, a young man who was found faithful by God to lead the people of Israel after king Saul. David was anointed by Samuel, but it would take another 20 years or so for David to actually ascend to the throne. God's Word cannot be broken, as long as I do not break my own covenant with God to walk upright before Him. David's life is a study in how God walks with a man who is willing to walk with God. Is there a promise you are sure God gave you? Hold on to it; the creator of time knows how to make time work for my good. 

David's experiences also show that both the good and the not-so-good form the package of God's dealings with man. How does God know what is in me if He does not test it? How does He know how I will handle comfort and confusion if He does not bring both my way? We see David here having to go to the territory of the enemy, the Philistines, because king Saul was looking for him to kill him. The enemy recognised him and would have exposed him to Achish the king of Gath, but David had the presence of mind to pretend to be mad, so he could escape. Whatever the reasons we could give for what David did, he escaped. Oh, situations will arise that will test your faith in and stand with God. Things will happen that will shake the foundation of all you think you know. For a season, it will appear that the enemy is gaining ground on you, but as long as you are connected to God, it will always end in praise.

It was this experience that birthed the words of today's extract. David sought the Lord. It means that God needs to be my utmost priority. He is available to all, but He reveals Himself to all who truly seek Him. It's like a gift; remains unwrapped and unappreciated unless and until some one opens it up. And the promise by God, to which David and several other people in the Bible testified is that God will be found by ALL who truly seek Him. Why do I seek Him: is it about seeking solutions to my own needs alone, not concerned about what He wants to do with my life? Do I seek after God's purpose for my life or am I seeking validation for my own plans alone?

Now, this is where knowing God is a daily walk and work. David called to God here, but his problems were not solved overnight or brought to an end immediately. God would still take David through a process to teach him how to depend on God totally. Saul didn't stop chasing David, and David would still learn both pleasant and painful lessons on what God desires for all who seek to walk with and work for Him. However, one thing was sure: David came to know God intimately, so much so that God called him a man after his own heart. It wasn't that David was such a model citizen in behaviour, but he was a man who loved God and would not hide it. Can the same be said of me?

And it was this personal experience of God that would take David through the years of his kingship and beyond, to the point where the lineage of Jesus is tied to David. When I cry to God and He appears to be 'silent', would I still trust Him? I note that God delivered David from his fears, not his experiences. Those experiences were needed to prepare David for where God was taking Him to, and for the man God chooses to use, He will not shortchange the process. As I look forward to a new phase, I ask that God will keep my eyes fixed on Him, not on the ever-changing landscape. Nothing I see now is permanent; only God is. I ask God to deal with fear in my heart, so that I can look forward to the challenges ahead. The journey will be worth it. The end will justify the means. Eternity with God will make all the pain and pleasure worth it. His time of favour is here. 

Mission: Salvation

Mission: Salvation

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21 KJV

Right at the very scene of the first sin, God's plan of eternal salvation was laid. Man fell, but God had a plan to redeem man back to Himself. You see, man's biggest need isn't to have his needs met, but to have his soul saved. We have allowed the message about possession, power, position and privilege take the place of the most important consideration of all: the need for the presence of God in a man's heart. It doesn't matter what else you have; if you don't have Jesus in you, all what you hold on to is a lie that will be found out when etenity beckons. When you have Him, you have all that really matters, along with every other thing that He gives you. 

Specifics now: everything about today's extract was foretold as far back as the Garden of Eden, when God promised that the seed of the woman will crush the head of the serpent. Now, we see a certain woman mentioned here, who would be the one to bring forth that seed. Nothing was said about her wealth or status, but that she was a virgin. It may not sound like much, but one of God's requirements for a life of impact is purity. He will take you as you are, but when you have surrendered to Him, you have got to walk in purity. There are heights that God will take a man to if the man is willing to walk in total purity. Sometimes, God will use whatever is available, even if filthy, but it cannot be long lasting or of eternal value, unless that life repents.

The gender, purpose and mission of that seed are all clearly spelt out by God. He has absolute knowledge of all, and His purpose for all mankind cannot be thwarted. He knows the end from the beginning, and nothing catches Him by surprise. This seed, a boy, to become a man, was coming restore man fully back to God. His name is given: Jesus, which means Saviour, so his name even reveals and establishes His mission. From his birth, that would be his sole pursuit: the salvation and redemption of man.

Again, man's greatest need isn't to have his needs met, but to have his soul saved. As is apparent from today's extract, nothing is said about what I am to give Him in return, except my life, or what else He is to give me, except salvation. With salvation in place, the fullness of God is released to man. If God could give up His one and Only Son, what else could be so difficult that He cannot give up? God considered sin so serious that an equally serious remedy had to be provided. If God then sees sin this way, can I dare see it any other way?

The price of sin is the life of God's son, and the prize for receiving the gift of the Son is the eternal life that God offers. The price is available; full and free. Have you accepted this gift and does the life of God flow in and out of you? It is the season of Christmas; many will celebrate, but few know the person and essence of the season. I must not let the free gift of God go to waste in my life; eternity is at stake. His time of favour is here. 

Stand!

Stand!

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Ephesians 6:11 KJV

This is the conclusion of the letter of Paul to the Ephesians, and it is quite important to draw reference to his final words to the elders of the church in Ephesus, as he was coming to the end of his ministry and going on to Jerusalem, where he would be handed over to the Romans and be put to death. Paul's charge to the elders is a fairly long one, but let's just put out an extract here: 

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.  Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. Acts 20:28‭-‬31 KJV 

Paul understood the danger of not watching carefully, or not standing right in and with God. He warned the Ephesian church elders in Acts, and also warns the entire church in Ephesians, and the message is the same: you are only strong when you are standing in God. All other grounds or sources of confidence are futile and bound to fail. So, what is the recommendation: the WHOLE armour of God. 

Why is the word 'Armour' used? It is a picture of a man who is at war. In wartime, a soldier isn't concerned about mundane things; things not of direct importance to the war he is fighting. He is dressed as the occasion demands, not what is attractive at the time. He knows that a moment of weakness or carelessness can be fatal, and an opportunity for the enemy to strike. Do I know where I am at all? Am I even conscious of what I have been called into, or what the demands of the present time calls for? Am I so caught up with the world and its attractions that I have forgotten what God called me out of and into? 

Soldiers are known by their attire, as well as their disposition. Right on the uniform will be found all required information such as country of allegiance, rank and name. Do men know who I belong to and serve or is the uniform just an attraction? Do I bear true allegiance to the One who called me into service or am I just wearing the uniform while my heart is distracted by what another authority promises? Did you notice that every part of the body is accounted for, except the back? This is a warning that you are only good when you are facing the battle, not running away from it. There is no provision for retreat or surrender, because the One we fight for is the King of Kings, also called the Man of War. He will protect and provide, but I must face the battle He places in front of me. 

And this is the armour of God, not of any man. The one who wears it is making a public declaration of his/her service. And you don't get to pick and choose what part of the armour you want to wear, or what part will serve your own purpose. The One who designed and provided the armour knows what each part is expected to achieve, and it is when I wear it the way the designer wants that it will achieve the purpose of the designer. 

And that is the promise of the designer: if I wear it AND use it the way the designer wants, it will achieve the purpose of the designer, which is that I should be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. We fight against the devil and his evil plans. The devil has been able to convince most men that he does not exist, and as a result, he is able to wreck havoc with men's lives. How do you fight an enemy you don't recognise as such, or whose tactics you can't identify? That is why the one who has defeated the devil is the only qualified one to provide the help required to defeat the devil.

God is glorified when I show off His power and might. I am mortal, which means I don't get to live forever on this earth and in this human form, but as long as I am in this earthly body, God wants to be glorified in and through me. He knows what is ahead, and He is able to provide all the required help for my daily victory. All I need to do is depend on His provision, not my own personal privileges. Nothing I have by myself can achieve all that God desires; it is by, of, in and through Him that victory is certain. Do I know this God? Have I truly met Him? Does He know me as His own? Have I taken advantage of all his provision for the victory He has sealed for me? My answers will define my earthly impact. His time of favour is here. 

Go!

Go!

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. Joshua 1:9 KJV

Joshua had seen mighty things done in the life of Moses by God. He was there at the Red Sea; he was there all through the desert experiences, both good and bad. He saw both Moses' own brother Aaron and sister Miriam punished by God for their rebellion; he saw Korah, Dathan and Abiram swallowed up by the ground; he saw the manna, the budding staff, the glory of God on Mount Sinai as well as on the first tabernacle and also experienced first hand the rebellion of the people just at the point of entering the promised land. He was there all through the wanderings in the desert for 40 years, and I am sure he would have seen how God dealt with Moses for his own sin. 

Once again, the lesson: God will punish sin, no matter in whom it is found. There are no super favourites with God when it comes to the matter of sin; as He dealt with sin in Adam, so did He deal with sin when His own Son bore our sins on the cross. As I seek to walk with or work for God, I must settle the matter of sin once and for all, so that I do not have a stumbling block on my way to eternity. I must not toy with sin; it will hinder my walk with God, and limit His work in and through me. 

Joshua would have heard God's voice several times as Israel journeyed in the desert, but nothing could prepare him for this new phase of leadership. He had Moses to guide him before, but now, Moses was dead. For where God is taking me, the familiar and the usual may have to die off, so that God can directly reach me. All that I used to know may have to give way for the new, the unusual and the amazing that God has planned for me. What is that thing that has to die for God to be able to reach and use me? What is He trying to take out of my hands which I am holding on to so tightly? Does He have to kill it off before I learn? Do I have to learn the hard way before I submit? 

The destination was the same, but the message to Joshua was different. Both were commissioned to take Israel into Egypt, but how God dealt with each man was different. This is the danger of 'copy and paste' where I just take another man's experience as my own, without learning how God wants to deal with ME. He gave me peculiar fingerprints so He could prove that no matter how many we are on the face of the earth, He has a unique and personalised experience for me. I must not take another man's story and make it my testimony; I must go to God to give me my own story, which will become my testimony, and a lesson to other people. Moses got his marching orders, and where he stopped, God continued with Joshua and expanded it. Am I living in the past, or looking ahead to that which God is doing NOW? 

So the question: who is commanding my present pursuit? The word 'command' isn't a mistake; God does not do consultations; I am either obedient or disobedient. I don't get to bend God to my will, but to embrace His will or reject it outright. There is no sitting on the fence on this one, as there is none. And He does not promise perpetual blue skies; things will happen that will shake my ground or threaten my peace, but I must always remember the One who commands my assignment. If He ordained it, He will sustain it. If He did not command it, no amount of public appeal or applause will sustain it. 

I must not let the storms outside get into the boat of my heart. Fear may come; distress may threaten, but as long as I carry the Presence of God, I am safe from every evil. His Presence is promised, and when God speaks, the integrity of His Word is at stake, and this is a God who has been proven over and over again to keep His Word. He cannot and will not be called a liar, because His name is at stake. A year of strange things is almost over, and at the risk of sounding faithless, we do not know with certainty what the incoming year holds. However, God promises tribulation, trials, provisions, protection, His Presence and Grace and the help of the Holy Spirit. Would we take only the one that looks convenient and reject the others because we don't like the way they look? Have you ever seen any man God used mightily who didn't have challenges but overcame by the help of God? I look forward to ALL that is ahead, because I have the God of all the earth with and in me. No matter what comes, my heart is settled on God alone. Come what may, may God be glorified in me. His time of favour is here. 

To and For Us!

To and For Us!

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 KJV

As I read today's extract, the verses before it need a closer look. There had been trouble for parts of Israel due to the sin of disobedience and rebellion, but God is now promising a full restoration of the people. As it has been said a lot of times over the past few weeks, God always punishes sin, no matter in whom it is found. Whatever God calls sin willl always remain so, no matter what my opinions are. God will not consult me for my view on what sin is; I am the one who must seek out God's views and abide by what He says. 

He promises restoration, and there is a context to it. It won't happen just by accident, but by God's design and arrangement. This restoration is tied to the gift of the Son that He has promised. Too many times, we think we can force or impose peace, but it is clear from today's extract that we can't. It is not something to be imposed by the sword, but by the Son. The Son has been given to us as a gift, not by accidental design, but by God's divine arrangement. Why it is quite amazing is because the words of today's extract were given at least 700 years before Jesus was actually physically born. 

He is called by special and specific names, which speak to His earthly impact and spiritual assignment. The names He is called speak to who He is and what He offers all who accept Him as Lord and Saviour into their lives. The names signify the fact that He is not a side attraction but the real deal. He is not an afterthought but the main substance. He is not an accidental hero but the Only One who is Life Himself. Check out how many times '"the' is used in those names, and it is clear that while some people may lay claim to these names, He is the only true version. 

He is THE mighty God, and any other authority is just a pretender. He is THE everlasting Father, with any other power being temporary. He is THE prince of peace, with every other power belonging to the earth and only able to control its own space if God allows it. It then means that the Son is the only true version of who God is, and whatever it is that I desire can only be found in and through the Son. Nobody can give you what s/he does not have, so if you want it, you have to seek it from THE only One who has it. The gift has been given; the promise of many centuries fulfilled; grace made manifest. That is God's part: settled. I can do Boxing day things, exchange gifts and all, but I cannot outgive the greatest gift. I have a choice of response: accept or reject. Eternity hangs at the end of my choice. His time of favour is here. 

Gifts!

Gifts!

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:10‭-‬11 KJV

Quick context: Jesus is born in the town of Bethlehem. His birth is the fulfilment of several prophecies, some of them as far back as the Garden of Eden, David in the Psalms, Isaiah and Micah. Nothing catches God by suprise, so if I am in Him, nothing can happen to me without His permission. His Word cannot be broken, and it CANNOT fail to fulfil that for which He sends His Word. Let that thought sink deep into my heart: even if it takes out the entire heavens and the earth, God's Word cannot fail. 

It is in the midst of this story that we read about wise men who came from the East. Country of origin, means of livelihood or number isn't clear, but the Bible records that they saw a star of a King where they lived, and they had come to worship Him. It didn't matter to them whether they knew how far they were to travel or if the country would even accept them, but they came anyway. It is clear that the birth of this king, though local in Bethlehem, is a benefit to the ends of the earth. This birth is a blessing to the whole world, and as many as will receive Him, He gives power to become the sons of God.

The wise men took that long journey, not minding the weather or the distance. They also came prepared, fully aware of who they were coming to meet and who this child was. Imagine the recorded confusion of Herod and his court when he heard that another king was born in his territory, and he knew nothing about it. He made enquiries, and indeed it was confirmed that that king would be born in Bethlehem, just as God had foretold. In fact, Herod's court confirmed Prophet Micah's old prophecy. This is where the comparison ends: Herod's court would seek to wound/kill the king; the wise men would seek to worship the king. Same child and king; different approaches. 

Unfortunately, none in Herod's court bothered to understand the context of the kingship referred to. All they read was that a king would be born, and like mortal men who are crazy about power, position and privilege, but forgetting that no man can go against whatever God has commanded, Herod lashed out, killing all children below the age of 2, because he was afraid of a king who was not a threat to his own kingdom but was actually the authority behind his own kingship. No king lasts a day without the permission of the King of kings. Despite all that Herod did, the true king would not be stopped, and his kingdom is now established in the hearts of men, where no mortal king can unseat Him. 

As it was then, so is it now. The gift has been given, and all of us MUST deal with the king one way or the other. The wise men came from far, prepared to worship; the people in Bethlehem had no idea the value of what had just happened around them. Am I caught up in daily living that I do not know the value of who I have come to know and believe? Has He become an ordinary person; one of the number, or is He fully deserving of my worship and devotion? Gold, frankincense and myrrh are not your everyday gifts; these are reserved for royalty, but in this case, they spoke into the present and the future ministry of this king. These gifts would feature in the course of his life, his travails on the cross, and his resurrection and ascension and the restoration of all His glory. 

And the gifts matter; would I give Him out of the dregs left after I have used up all the valuable ones, or would I offer Him my best, my all? It took a clear understanding for adult men to bow down and worship a child, because they knew they were standing in the presence of a king. Do I have that same understanding? Am I all familiar with Christ, His church and the customs that they have now lost their shock and awe value? Or do I daily seek a personal experience of this king in personal devotion, as well as corporate worship? How's your heart? How's mine? Is Jesus reigning there as king or do I have other authorities competing for attention and position in there? 

It is Christmas; for those who know, it is not just a day, but a season that opens the door to an eternity with God. By this birth, all men have the door of heaven opened, and a glimpse of what we stand to enjoy in eternity has been revealed. Nothing I give Him can compare to what He offers, which is why my heart and life are the most precious things I could offer to Him. When my life is His, all the gold can be freely given. What will be my response? What will yours be? His time of favour is here. 

Peace!

Peace!

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Luke 2:14 KJV

It's hard to know where to begin, but as it has been pointed out several times over the last few days, the plan of salvation that was made manifest at Christmas had been laid out since before the Garden of Eden. It wasn't an afterthought; something God would put down as an accidental plan. 

It was a plan laid out by God since before the foundation of the world, revealed at Eden and at other times to the prophets of old, brought to flesh in Bethlehem, brought full circle at Calvary and then on a daily basis, lived out in the lives of all who have accepted Him as Lord and Saviour, and its full expression will be seen in eternity. That is the plan that is being spoken about in today's extract. 

And the message of this birth, as confirmed by the angel who brought the news to the shepherds, is the story of Christmas, and the basis of our joy. Imagine the great news of the birth, and the first to hear would be shepherds camped out at night, watching over sheep. This has to be a testament to the fact that the birth is a gift to ALL men irrespective of age, gender or race. This news seals the hope of man and guarantees his eternal salvation. 

Heaven must have been in awe of God's son coming down to earth that the host had to come down and sing. Heaven knew the person, power and prestige of the Son of God, having served Him, so His coming to earth had to be something special. It is no wonder that the host of heaven sang the song in today's extract, speaking about peace and goodwill being made available to all men. Heaven had just witnessed the whole earth receiving the kind of peace only God can provide.

This gift was called the Prince of peace in Isaiah. Heaven knew what the earth was getting, which informed the song the heavenly host sang. If there was ever any doubt as to what the son had come to do, read his own words, just before He died on the cross: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27 KJV. The earth received peace; not the type that is secured by superior weapons, but by a personal relationship with the Prince of peace. 

Just as the angels sang then, so do I also sing in praise and gratitude for all I have recieved. Earth received His peace; have I accepted His peace? The gift of life is offered for free; what would be my response? Heaven has testified of the good things the earth has received; would my life be a visible and audible testimony to this great gift? Remember, eternity is at stake here. What I do with the Son becomes the basis of judgment. It is peace and goodwill now; a time is coming when it will be judgment and eternal death for all who reject the Son. Now you know; what will you do? His time of favour is here. 

Like Us!

Like Us!

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14 KJV

First of all, the Word wasn't man. He is God, the One by whom the earth and the heavens were made. In fact, the Bible says that without the Word, nothing was made that was made. It also says that in Him was Life, which is the Light of all men. Man couldn't comprehend the Word without help, as Sin had become man's greatest problem. If sin could not be dealt with, man would have been lost forever, and the penalty for uncovered sin would have been truly fatal. 

But God in His infinite mercy thought it best to provide a way of escape for man to be reconciled to God. Options may have been considered, but none was found sufficient for purpose. What was the point of daily, weekly or yearly sacrifices that could only provide temporary cover, but couldn't forgive sin? This is why the Word of God, which is the person of Jesus, had to come in human form so He could be the perfect example of a sacrifice that God would accept as the perfect solution for sin. 

So, what did we get? The Word of God, by which the world was made, became the very source by which men of the world are saved. He became like the very ones He came to save; His glory is such that no mortal man can stand or withstand. If He had come in all His glory, no man could put Him to death, but He left all that glory in heaven, so He could be the perfect sacrifice for sin and the author of eternal salvation for all men. He came down as man, dwelt amongst us as man, ate and drank with us as man, and also died in that same human form, so we could know that even in that our human form, we have hope. He lived above sin, giving us the same hope that as we depend on Him, we also have the power to live above sin. 

He is with and in us, as long as we surrender our lives to Him. He has risen now, and His glory is fully restored. All who belong to Him see His glory. Don't forget: only those who surrender to Him recognise His glory and will enjoy the benefits of His presence. You do not expect a God who you do not surrender to to now release the full blessings of His presence on you. If I will see His glory, it starts with total surrender at the foot of the cross. The cross is the place of final strife with the devil over my soul, and as Jesus has risen, He has won the victory and offers it to us: who are called by His name. 

Are you for Him? Does He know me as His own? Am I paying lip service to the Word, or is He truly at the centre of all I am and do? He is full of grace and truth; He freely bestows these on all who come to Him. Just a warning: just as He is full of grace and truth, so is He capable of judgement when grace expires. A time is coming when all we see now will be destroyed by fire, and ALL men will stand for judgement. While His grace subsists, take full advantage. At the end of God's grace is eternal life. At the other end of a rejection of this grace is eternal damnation. As always, the choice is mine but the consequences are eternal. His time of favour is here.

The Sign!

The Sign!

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 KJV

Judah was under seige by its enemies. When you read 'enemies', you will expect to hear they are nations from far away, but these were Syria and Israel. How could a nation that came from you hate you so much that it would come into a conspiracy with your arch-enemy to attack you? That is what sin does: reduces you to a piece of bread to be eaten by all and sundry. God took time to pronounce judgment on both Israel and Syria, not because the king of Judah was really upright, but because of God's mercy. We need to be careful about this God: if He could pay such a high price for our salvation, imagine what the punishment for unconfessed sin will be. 

God made promises to king Ahaz of Judah: He will punish Syria and Israel; both nations will be plundered. His promise: none of the plans of these nations will prosper or stand. What could it be that threatens your peace of mind; what could be so weighty that it would prevent you from seeing what God is doing in your life? God wants me to keep my eyes on Him; not my circumstances. Events have a way of promoting fear if you allow them; the secret is to watch out for what God has said concerning the situation you are in. Don't settle for popular opinion; make sure God's view is your one and only anchor. 

And God wanted Ahaz to trust His promise, so He asked the king to request any sign from him. If the king had asked for something that broke protocol, God would have done it, yet the king hesitated. His response seems to be all false humility, saying he would not tempt God by asking for a sign. Well, God would not let it go; He would give a sign Himself: If my word is to be trusted, it will speak into the future and still be found to be true. It doesn't matter what today looks like; it is about who speaks. If it is me, God, be rest assured that I have power to bring about whatever I say. 

So, what's the sign: the virgin birth, which in itself, is a miracle. How does a lady conceive outside the natural process? When God is at work, earthly rules don't matter. Joshua spoke, and the sun delayed going down for a whole day. Elijah prayed, and rain didn't fall, even when it was its season to. Peter walked on water at the command of this God. You see, earthly rules are only good down here as long as God allows them; He made them and they answer to Him. 

That sign is the Messiah who has come to save and deliver from sin. From the time these words were spoken, about 700 years passed before they were physically fulfilled. Time isn't an issue when it comes to what God can do. The Son was promised centuries ago, but God kept the promise, just as He keeps all the ones He's made in the past. He is faithful. His gift is the source of life, and His ever-abiding presence which His name Immanuel represents. No matter what goes on now, remember: you have and serve a God of absolute power. He saves to the end, not just for some time. He has defeated our greatest enemy: the devil, and sin his product. The sign has been made manifest; how do I respond? Would I believe or would I reject it? Remember, eternity is at the end of my decision and reaction. His time of favour is here. 

Always 2!

Always 2!

Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice! [Ps. 37:4.] Philippians 4:4 AMPC

In trying to define 'rejoice', there is a word that seems to run through the Google definitions, and it is the word 'joy'. Let's look at the options: 'feel or show great joy or delight' or 'cause joy to'. What this tells me is that there is a special significance to joy and I need to look at it more closely. 

It is also good to look at what being happy means, and by Google definitions, it means: 'feeling or showing pleasure or contentment' or

'fortunate and convenient.' The definitions for Happy seem to focus on what is visible and/or audible, while joy requires us to go beyond the surface so we can fully understand what it requires from us. 

It is important to note that after love, joy is the next fruit of the Holy Spirit mentioned in the Bible. This makes it clear to me that you can't have joy outside of the Presence of the Holy Spirit in you. Men can make you happy, by the words they speak or the things they gift you, but they cannot assign you joy, because you don't get joy by inheritance or willpower, but by relationship. Joy flows from God to all who know Him and allow Him rule in their hearts. 

And it has to be said that only in God can a man rejoice even when the physical realities around him make it sound silly. How do you explain men like Paul and Silas singing songs in prison after they had been beaten and wrongfully imprisoned? They had something in their hearts that the world and its issues could not take away or suppress. How does a Stephen being stoned to death be able to forgive those who were committing the grievous offence, and could still see heaven open? There had to be a Presence that the world could not duplicate. 

So, when I am asked to rejoice always, check out the context: IN the Lord, not in any man, or due to the favourable conditions around me. It is because I know God now, and He is the Source and Person behind all that I could ever need. Nothing outside of God can give you that which only God can give you. The devil deceives men into thinking there are viable alternatives, but what I need to keep at the back of my mind always is this: if it didn't come from God, it cannot look like God and will not end like God. 

And the instruction to rejoice is repeated again for emphasis: this is not something to be taken lightly. Repetition strengthens memory, so when I am tempted to compromise or give in, I remember that I am helped by a God who can do all things. I keep my gaze on Him alone; nothing else has the staying power that God has. He is the One who can sustain to the end, and take me into the eternal rest He has always promised. Nothing else; nobody else has been able to guarantee that. By and In Him, I rejoice. His time of favour is here. 

Knowing!

Knowing!

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2 KJV

In context, these are the words of a man who knows what s/he has received and is grateful for it. It does not speak about effort or labour, but about the grace of God. Just a look at the chapter and verse before today's extract gives us a view of the import of the words of today's extract. It has to be emphasized again that God has no favourites when it comes to sin; He will punish sin no matter in whom it is found. Let this be both a warning and a comfort to all of us: God's Word is dependable and can be trusted. Just as it is true of His promise to bless, so also is it true of His promise to punish. 

And in that day thou shalt say, O Lord I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. These words come before today's extract and are words from a man who knows what He has received. It takes a man who has encountered God to speak these words. For a man who knows that eternal death is the consequence of sin, yet was given the grace to walk away with the salvation of God, you do not take that kind of grace for granted. And if this God could give me all of Him, what else will He withhold from me then? If He has already given me Himself, what do I lack? No wonder, the writer confirms: I will trust and not be afraid. 

And God does not stop there; He saves me from sin, and then supplies the strength to live right. He saves me from sin, then supplies the strength to live away from sin. Even when I do wrong, His Holy Spirit is there to lead me back to God and to make amends. By His strength, I can live right. By His grace, I sing of His mercy and salvation. I can say it with every sense of gratitude that I stand where I am by the grace of God. I can sing of the mercies of God and proclaim His power and grace to all who come in contact with me. He is all I need; He has all I need. He is the Great I AM;  Holy, Righteous and True and the Lord of all. 

I have a choice of a personal response here, just like the writer: Has God become my salvation, or is He just good for every other person except me? Is He Lord only when it is convenient or is He my Lord at all times? Am I bold, like this writer, to declare Him as my Lord, Saviour and Salvation or does it have to be dragged out of me? And in these strange times we are in, allegiance must be clear. Does God know me as His own? Am I proud to bear His name? Eternity is the prize at stake here. I don't want to get to the end of my life and realise I had held on to false tokens of strength and power, rather than the only One who truly keeps and saves. His time of favour is here. 

Always!

Always!

Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16‭-‬18 KJV

In the midst of the worst pandemic in our lifetimes, we read today's extract and wonder what God could mean. These words were written centuries before the events of today, yet they speak as loudly as if they were written for our present generation. As I read, I consider carefully what the words mean, and what model of behaviour they seek to command. As you can see in the words, these are not for discussion, negotiation or persuasion, but they are expressed as commands. I then have the power to choose how to react or respond: accept and obey the commands or reject them. The choice is mine and mine alone.

1. Rejoice Evermore: In the midst of pain and loss; the pressure of duty to country, church and family, God commands me to rejoice. What this tells me quite loudly is that I cannot find what I am looking for outside of the One who commands it. If He commands a thing, it is because its fulfillment and possibility lie in and with Him. I am yet to see anything God comamnds that He does not supply grace and mercy for. If I will find joy in the midst of the most depressing situation, I must find myself in God first and foremost. When I am in God, it doesn't matter what else comes looking; as long as it finds me in God, I will be alright.

2. Pray without ceasing: I try to find a reason why I am to keep praying, without any assurance of the answer I seek, but nowhere here does God tell me He has to give me the answer that I seek. Why do I pray: is it to bribe God to see my point of view, or to pray His perfect will into my earthly space? Am I promoting mine or God's agenda? Prayer is a command to all who will see God glorified, and as I pray in line with His will, I am establishing His kingdom down here on earth, as it is in heaven. Let it be known today that God's will be prevail; my best service is to joyfully align with His will, so that my life can be a vessel through which that will can be promoted and celebrated.

3. In everything, Give Thanks: this is the bit we quote a lot, but additional context will help. I am to give thanks no matter what comes my way, not because it is palatable, but because it is God's will that I do so. What God wants me to do is to look away from the situation and focus on Him. It may be difficult at first, but when you have tried it your way several times and failed, it becomes clear that you are best served to depend on Him fully. He does not promise bright sunny days everyday, but He promises me His presence everyday, and that is enough for me. The sun will rise and set each day, but God's presence isn't subject to the weather. It is as constant as the nature of God Himself.

So, where is the place of situations and circumstances? Where is the place of problems and burdens? It's not that they do not exist; it is that I have found my anchor in someone that is more dependable than anything else around me. Situations change and are quite fluid, but the Word of God abides forever and He is able to hold me to the end of time. What else could I need if my eternity is secured? His time of favour is here. 

Same Measure!

Same Measure!

Tolerate the weaknesses of those in the family of faith, forgiving one another in the same way you have been graciously forgiven by Jesus Christ. If you find fault with someone, release this same gift of forgiveness to them. Colossians 3:13 TPT

First, we note that today's extract is addressed to Christians, believers who have come under the same roof of faith and are making that important journey to heaven. This is proof that fellow Christians can also miss the mark and offend you. We are all weak, and we stand only by grace. Our human nature makes us weak and vulnerable, and only by a daily surrender to the help of the Holy Spirit can we daily live right. It will be folly to assume that the church is a place where everyone is nice and sincere. It is a place of pruning, weeding and growth, and as you know, growth and development have a price. 

Second, we have received forgiveness from Jesus too, and it is expected that just as we have received it, we should extend the same to other people. However, like the parable of the unforgiving servant, we can sometimes think the rules don't exactly apply to us, or that this person has so offended us that we can't be expected to just forgive and let go, just like that. Unfortunately, the standard of forgiveness by Jesus is so high that even future sins have been forgiven by His blood as long as they are confessed and forsaken. If a God like Him could let go of all that we did, what could any mortal man do to us that would become so unforgivable that we mortgage our eternity? Is there any hurt so important that we are willing to hold on to it all the way to the throne of judgment? 

So, in the event that another person offends us, we are to offer them what we ourselves have received from God Himself. Well, that is if you have truly received forgiveness. A man can only give out of what He already has, and forgiveness is easy when I know what I have also received from God. I was weak too at the time Jesus came and shed His blood; I didn't even appreciate what He had done at the time, yet He did not withdraw His offer. He extends His arm to me, offering me life eternal. This is the same grace I must offer to others, no matter their past or present. 

All of us are making this journey to heaven. We will need each other to stay focused. No one was given the full measure of grace to stand or walk alone all the way to heaven. We need each other; we grow by fellowship and we conquer by unity. Let us not allow our earthly differences become the stumbling block to our eternal reality. It's forever and ever we are speaking about here. I don't want to come to the end of my earthly life and realise that I had held on to grudges and faults. It won't be worth it. So, i depend on God's grace for this journey. May His grace be always sufficient. His time of favour is here. 

Light 3!

Light 3!

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16 KJV

Interestingly, check Google for the definition of light and almost all of them use the word 'light' to define itself. The one definition that stands out is this: the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible. So well said. Light is the thing that by itself both reveals things and also helps you see them. It is one thing for light to reveal the truth of any situation and it is yet another thing for you to see it as it is. This is the beauty of light and why today's extract is so important to my walk with and work for God. 

I note also that this is first an individual walk, before it becomes a public ministry before men. If i do not have light in myself, what is there for men to see and to glorify God for? It is called 'your light' because all who bear allegiance to God need to have His nature and power flowing in and through them. I cannot shine on your behalf, and you also cannot shine on my behalf. I must get my own light, and this is only possible when I have the Light of the world living in and shining out through me. 

And the ministry of light is before men, not spirits or angels. I wasn't saved to sit down complacent, but to show off who lives in and works out of me. Light is amazing, but its value is seen in what is made possible by its presence. By light, the works of darkness are revealed. By light, the works of the devil are made manifest. By light, revival is recognised and promoted. Jesus saves men and then leaves them on earth so they can be the bearers of and witnesses to the light. I am saved to be a blessing to my generation; not to just bear the name, but to proclaim the name to the ends of the earth. 

And when I live right, God is glorified. What is the purpose of my life if not to bring glory and praise to the One I represent? Ever seen an ambassador of a country remain on duty after changing allegiance to another country? If I have declared allegiance to Jesus, His life and light must be apparent and evident in my life. If I am not shining out with His light, then I am not true to the One I claim to represent. As I walk on this journey of faith, I must keep at the front of my heart that heaven is the final destination. This earth where I am placed is just a preparation for the real thing. As I wait, I shine on. As I wait, I bear true allegiance to the Kingdom of the One who saved me, and placed me where I am. I rely on his grace to help me impact the earth He has placed me. His time of favour is here. 

What is Man?

What is Man?

Look at the splendor of your skies, your creative genius glowing in the heavens. When I gaze at your moon and your stars, mounted like jewels in their settings, I know you are the fascinating artist who fashioned it all! But when I look up and see such wonder and workmanship above, I have to ask you this question: Compared to all this cosmic glory , why would you bother with puny, mortal man or be infatuated with Adam’s sons? Psalms 8:3‭-‬4 TPT

Just had to bring out today's extract in this version, as it seems to capture the dilemma of the writer at the time, as well as lay the foundation for all the confusion and study that has gone into the place of man in God's creation. Let's even leave out the many accounts of creation out there: the theory of evolution; the big bang theory and others and just simply appreciate the amazing wonder that is the world we live in. There are parts of this universe that is yet not discovered or tapped, and there are discoveries yet to be made, even with all the advances man has made. Man has been to the moon and back;  discovered planets that we never knew existed. Yet, it seems that man is the focus of God, not necessarily the amazing things He has created. Why is this?

If the account of creation as told in the Bible is to be believed, man is the only part of creation that God asked heaven to join Him as He worked. It was as if God was looking for a partner of some sorts; someone who He could reach, touch and inspire with His nature and power, to also do the same mighty things God is capable of doing. No wonder man was created with these words: make man in our own image, after our likeness, and let him have dominion. These are words of authority, power, responsibility and accountability.

Man was made with the mind of a representative of God being in charge of all that Gos had made. There were majestic lions, awesome mountain ranges, stars so bright and sun so hot that any of them could be seen as the high point of God's creation, but no, it had to be man. Maybe the weakest of all that God had made, even made weaker by the effect of sin, but yet, God would bestow His grace, power, strength and mercy on this puny man. If this doesn't bother you just a bit, but enough to make you pause and ask why, maybe you are yet to fully understand your place in all that God wants for you.

All through generations, God seeks mortal puny men to carry out His great assignments. He works with the generations of men to first start, then extend and establish His will and purpose. He doesn't count on the stars or any other part of creation for this; just you and I. From Abraham, David to Peter, we see God walking with ordinary men, yet establishing eternal purposes in and through them so that even today, we are still partaking of this divine arrangement. When I think I am all that there is to achieve all that God wants, I will get into trouble. When I think I am the best thing to happen to my generation for reasons other than the fulfilment of God's purpose, I have not began to live. 

My life only finds true expression when it is lived in and through the One who fashioned it. I cannot know what is best for me, as I was not there when God was creating me, and He didn't seek my opinion or permission before He planted me where I was born, and led me to the place I am in now. My best gift in this season is to ask God to clarify for me what His purpose for my life is. This way, I am not distracted by the pressures to be like another person, or to envy another person's story or path. It is an individual experience first and foremost, and as we all find out our divine purpose, the pursuit of excellence becomes the norm. So, have I found out the WHY behind my life? Am i seeking God for the right reasons or just for what I can get from Him? His time of favour is here. 

Light 2!

Light 2!

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. Isaiah 9:2 KJV

Isaiah prophesied about the coming Messiah. Here was a prophet who has to minister to the land of Israel at a time of great iniquity and rebellion against God. God had said He was going to punish His own people for their sin, and even the nations He had used to afflict His people will also be judged. This is God: One who punishes sin, no matter in whom it is found. With God, sin will always be sin, no matter who commits it, and death is the eternal consequence of sin. As the rule applied to his own chosen people, so does it apply to us today. 

Israel suffered for its sin, yet God was still sending a message of hope, salvation and redemption. This means that God is not vindictive, but one full of mercy and grace, if men will repent and return to Him. In the past, God had punished, but now He is doing a new thing. And there is no end or limit to His mercy: all men are invited in to come and partake of the mercy that is on offer. From the land of Zebulun and Naphtali, to the land beyond the Jordan to Galilee of the Gentiles, the message remains the same: the Light has come. It doesn't matter what has gone before; the light has come. It doesn't matter how terrible the past has been; the light has come.

Make no mistake about this: sin is darkness. It doesn't matter how polished or educated you are now; you need the Light. It doesn't matter how men applaud you now; you need the Light. It is not just any kind of light, but the Light that comes into the world and offers a way out of sin and darkness into the marvelous light of God. The Light has come, but He will not force Himself on anyone. It is a decision I must make, and soon too. The light shines on, but a time is coming when the light on this side of earth will be switched off, and judgment will be the only thing left. Before that time comes, and all who are left in sin are lost forever, you do have a choice to make. What would it be: Light or darkness? Remember, choices have eternal consciousness. His time of favour is here. 

He Comes!

He Comes!

And you, too, must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you are not expecting him. 

Luke 12:40 GNB

As usual, there was always a crowd wherever Jeuss went. People followed him from all over Judea, listening to Him and seeing His miracles. There was one thing though: He didn't allow the pressure of the crowd to lead Him into compromise. His teaching stayed the same, whether the audience was the crowd, the Pharisees, the scribes, the Sadducees, the teachers of the law, or even His disciples. First lesson: it doesn't matter who it is; God doesn't lower His standard for anyone. If He calls a thing sin, no amount of education, enlightenment or exposure will change it into anything else. I must come to Him in His terms, or I should not come at all.

There was a crowd around Him, but Jesus specifically spoke to His disciples, warning them about the things that would happen at the end of the age. The message of eternity is a spiritual message; not too many people can bear it. You speak about heaven and hell; people laugh. They respond with the usual message: if God is a God of love, why would he create a hell? The question is: if God is a God of love, why does he not force us to love him? Why not create robots who have no choice but to love their creator? That is the power and mystery of choice: I get to choose God by myself, not out of compulsion, but from a heart that appreciates all it has received. 

That heart has a choice to make: accept or reject the love of God, as expressed in and through Jesus His Son. He is called the Son of Man, because He came like man, so He could feel what they feel, and be able to offer eternal salvation to all men. He came and died of his own freewill; He rose again, sealing redemption for all who will accept the gift. And for all who accept, we are kept on earth as a reminder of the gift that has been given and all that we stand to gain.

He then promises: I will return one day to take with me all who are eagerly waiting for me. While I wait down here, I must be careful of the things I do. Am I really ready, or am I paying lip service to the God who calls for sincere worship? While I wait, am I truly preparing for the day of His return? He will come back; that is certain, but because we do not know when, we cannot afford to be careless or to live as we please. By salvation, we bear allegiance to the One who saved us, and His desire must be our utmost pursuit. 

Nobody knows the day of that return, but we can be ready when He comes back. The secret is in being ready, alert and on guard against anything that can pollute body and soul. We won't be down here forever; we will be going home soon. Do you have a home where God has promised, or are you yet to secure eternal dwellings for yourself? Remember, the Son of Man came as man so I would have no excuse for sin. His power is able to defeat sin if I trust Him, and when He returns, He will take me home. All of these are words spoken by God Himself, and if there is any truth to what He had said in the past, you know that this one too will come to pass. Now you know; are you ready? 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

Today's extract again shows that everywhere Jesus went, there was a crowd waiting for him, and waiting to listen to his teachings. He was quite popular, but this wasn't ever His motivation; the hearts of men and the question of eternity were always the paramount interest in His teachings. Can we say the same about us today? Are we still concerned about the souls of men or about our own comfort, convenience and circumstances? Are we motivated to work by the desire to be popular and accepted, or by the desire to impact lives for Jesus? 

This same scene was where Jesus dealt with the adulterous woman, who the scribes and Pharisees had brought to Jesus for judgment. They had judged her already, But Jesus had just one message: if you are any better, apply judgment. If you know you are any better than the next sinner, cast the first stone. And we know how that ended: every single accuser left. The crowd is not an ideal way to measure what is in line with God's will, or what He accepts. You don't know God's will by coming to Him with an air of superiority. You know God's will by sitting down at His feet and submitting to His teaching. You know God's will by accepting your limitations and allowing His Spirit run the rule over all that you are and do. 

He was teaching the willing listeners when the scribes interrupted. He dealt with them, silencing them, and then returned to the listening crowd. We must proceed with that same heart: focused on who the Master is and what He wants. We must focus on the message about Christ and cut out distractions. Jesus went back to the listening crowd and told them again who He is: the Light of the world. In me, you have light to light up your path so you know how to walk and where to go. You have a choice here; between the Light I am and the darkness of the world. By Christ's express teaching, anyone who follows the world walks in darkness. I can accept it or reject it; it doesn't change what Christ has expressly laid out. 

Have I met the One who calls Himself Light here? Who am I really following? Who am I patterning my life after? Who provides inspiration for my life? Sin brings darkness, and anyone still in sin is in darkness. Jesus has come to offer the way out, and has introduced Himself to us as the Light. He is many things to us, but here, in the context of the hypocrisy of the scribes, He is known as the Light. Have I met this Light? Have I submitted my life to Him? Does He even have any control or influence on what I do and how I do it? This Light leads to Life. This life is the type that never ends. This life is secured by the One who died, rose again and now lives forever: an indestructible life. 

He is THE, not A. He is the Light, not a light. He has no alternatives; He is all there is. He is not one of many options; He is the Only One. I may think I have options, but eternity demands a clear choice between two extreme eternal realities. There is no fence on this one too; you are either all in or all out. Will you remain in sin or will you seek out the Light? Am I content with darkenss or for the sake of my eternity, will I seek out the Light that dispels darkness? As always, the choice is personal but the consequences of that choice are eternal. His time of favour is here. 

Bear!

Bear!

Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 KJV

What is a burden: Google says it is 'a load, typically a heavy one'. It means that a man with a burden knows he has something that weighs him down. It is first personal, but then you read today's extract and you get the impression that God wants that personal burden to become a shared concern. How does this work? Essentially, it means that I must recognise the fact that just as another person has his/her burden, so do I. God has not created one human being as being more special than another, but He has created each person as a special one, with peculiar experiences and paths. As I journey, some things become expedient and important, and may become burdens that I need help with. That's where you come in. 

This shared experience means that there is no room for backbiting or malice or rumour mongering. It does not allow me think that the other person's burden isn't as important as mine. It does not allow me pick and choose what kind of burdens I can help with, as long as God gives grace. Pick your targets carefully, but let the grace of God flow in and through you to be a blessing to other people. It leaves no room for discrimination or selective courses in bearing burdens: I am to do it for all who need help, irrespective of colour, race, creed, disposition or religion.  

We all go through stuff; the fall of man guarantees that we will need help to navigate the world of sin and rebellion that resulted from Adam's disobedience. That's why God places fellow men around me so that I can be helped. He places mortal, broken men like myself beside me, so I can know and understand that it is by helping each other that God is glorified. It leaves no room for mockery or any feeling of superiority. Just as the person I am helping has burdens, so do I. I am not sent to another as being above reproach, but as someone saved by grace and helped by God.

Sure you know now from the above what the law of Christ is: something He also submitted to and lived by: that is the law of love. His life is a visible expression of that love. At the time He showed me love, I also didn't deserve it. In fact, I was long gone in sin but His love just wouldn't let go. He bore my own burden, maybe the most important one, and then He asks me to extend the same grace to other people. If I know just how much I have been helped, I won't struggle with helping other people. If I know what the grace of God can do in a person's life, I will not hesitate to be a channel and outflow for that grace.

I ask God for help so that my life becomes a blessing to people around me. What's it going be for you too? Are you content with daily selfish living, or do you really want to be a blessing in this generation? Help is available, only in and through Christ. He is the embodiment and expression of grace and help, and in Him, all that I need to make impact and be a blessing are provided in abundance. Get Him into your life, and you will be a blessing this world hasn't seen yet. His time of favour is here. 

Sowing and Reaping!

Sowing and Reaping!

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. Psalms 126:5‭ KJV

Right from Genesis, the law of sowing and reaping has been established. God makes it clear that as long as the earth remains, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will not cease. No matter how dark the night is, the day will always break. Rain may fall; the winds may blow, but it won't always be like that;  the sun will also shine and the heat will come. As long as this earth remains in place, the law that whatever I put in the ground will come back to me is in place, and the power of God will ensure that it remains so. God's law cannot and will not be broken. This law isn't only about physical sowing, but it impacts the entirety of the human experience.

What then does this have to do with today's extract? The context was the restoration of Israel from captivity. The nation has gone into sin and had been punished with exile. I say again, as it has been said several times, God will punish sin, no matter in whom it is found. God has no favourites when it comes to sin and the same standard He held David to is the same standard He's holding us to today. God had restored the fortunes of Zion and the nation was rejoicing. God still seeks to do the same today; He is plenteous in mercy to all who call on Him, and repent of their sin. 

What kind of seed am I sowing today? As I live on a daily basis, what kind of fruit is to be expected from my life? Am I giving to thoughtless living, as though there will be no account to be rendered for how I live my life? Do I really think that God will not hold me responsible for my actions? Let it be known that with God, nothing you do is in vain. He is watching, and His reward is with Him, and He will give to every man according to how his work shall be. Every day that I live, I need to be reminded of the coming judgment or account rendition. 

A man who sows in tears is a man who is careful about the quality of his seed and the condition of the ground he is putting the seed into. He is not a man given to careless living, but one who considers his actions carefully. He knows that thoughts lead to actions and actions have consequences. Am I one who sows carefully, thoughtfully considering where I am putting in my seed, careful about how my actions impact the lives of the people who are around me? Look at all the factors that determine a good harvest: the heart and attitude of the person with the seed; the quality of the seed and the conditions of the ground in which the seed is to be sown. 

The day of reaping WILL come. It is a non-negotiable part of the sowing process. How I sow is a reflection of my expectation of reaping. If I sow with an attitude of pride, I should expect a harvest in line with that attitude. If I sow in tears, reflecting a heart that is burdened with the expectation of a good harvest, and careful to ensure that all I do is in support of that expectation, God says that I will reap a harvest in joy. I can't start a project first before defining exactly what I want to achieve; therefore, it can be said that the expected end is what defines the actions that lead to that expected end. 

So, how's my heart? Where are my seeds and in what condition are they? Have I laid the groundwork for a good harvest by investing the right kind of time, resources and preparation for that expected result? Remember, your heart is the key to your harvest. If it is right, the end result will also be right. If it is not, no matter how hard you push it or how much effort you put in to try and fake it, it won't end well. I have been warned; thevreponse is my personal choice. His time of favour is here. 

Looking Up 2!

Looking Up 2!

constantly rejoicing in hope [because of our confidence in Christ], steadfast and patient in distress, devoted to prayer [continually seeking wisdom, guidance, and strength], Romans 12:12 AMP

Just like yesterday's thoughts, hope is a very key word in my earthly journey. Without it, there is nothing to look forward to. Without it, the promises of God have no anchor in my heart. The reason why I can rely on God's grace to weather the storms of life is because of the hope that greater days are ahead. Even Paul wrote those immortal words in 1 Corinthians 15:19 AMPC: If we who are [abiding] in Christ have hope only in this life and that is all, then we are of all people most miserable and to be pitied. There has to be more to my life than what this present earthly phase has to offer. 

So as I wait for the manifestation of all that God has promised me, what is the prescribed code of conduct? What is expected of me, as I keep my gaze on the One who is able to bring me into the place He has prepared? 

1. Constantly rejoicing: I note that it does not promise me that my external circumstances will always align with the requirement to rejoice. No matter what the external looks like, the internal must always reflect joy. It is not an off/on switch, used at will or at random, when I please, but it must at all times be switched on. Joy isn't the absence of outer stress, but it is the presence of inner comfort. It is a Person who gives joy, not power, possession, position or prestige. If it were about account balance, people on the Forbes list would be the most joyous. Do I have the Person of Christ living in me, or am I all about optics and image? Who you have defines what you get and what you give out. 

2. Steadfast and Patient in Distress: of course, there is always a lesson to learn in distress. How would I learn it if I do not stay the full course? How does God teach me all He needs me to know, if I do not submit to His leading and teaching, no matter how long the lessons take? As I wait, I learn patience and submission to God's will. There are things that God can take away, but He may not do so at the time I want Him to, not because He is powerless, but because there are eternal lessons in it for me. 

It appears that the only way God can actually teach me patience and steadfastness is by distress. It is easy to claim that I will serve God when all is well around me, but life has shown that earthly comfort is lthe easiest way to become complacent and self-centered. When I know I am nothing without God, and that all I am is from Him, it leaves no room for pride. When I know that my life's fulfilment is tied to my total submission to Him, life becomes less complicated. 

3. Devoted to Prayer: why do I pray? Is it to bribe God into doing what I want, or is it just to fulfil all legal righteousness; is it a sense of duty or as today's extract makes it clear: continually seeking wisdom, guidance, and strength? I pray, because I know I don't have all the answers, but the One I pray to does. I pray because I don't know what tomorrow will bring. My knowledge and my ability to impact or change things are limited, but I call on a God who has no limits. He is able to change situations, circumstances and people. There are many plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's counsel that will stand. 

I continue to seek God's wisdom, because nothing of me can secure my tomorrow. I seek God's wisdom because He knows what tomorrow holds. I seek his guidance because I don't know how best to act in any situation; my way may seem right to me but only God knows where it will end. I pray so that He will guide me in the way I should go, so that I may get the results that He desires. And I pray for His strength to enable me hold on to God, no matter what comes my way. So many things will happen on your life's journey that no bank account balance or circle of influence can take you out of, but when you have God in you, there is a provision of strength, an abundance of wisdom, and a depth of guidance that will see you through all that life throws at you. 

This is the foundation of the hope that is birthed in my heart. This is the reason why I can look forward to the experiences, no matter how dire. I don't have all the answers, but I have God, and that is enough for me. I don't have all that I think I need now but I have all that really matters: God. When He is there, every other thing makes sense. When He is not there, it doesn't really matter what else you have or who else you know. Lord, keep my eyes on you alone. His time of favour is here.