Renewed!

Renewed!

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16 KJV

There is a work that God is doing that will stand the test of time. He is doing some amazing work in the lives of all who are totally surrrendered to Him, and this work will be made manifest in the process of time. If you read the verses before this one, you find a glimpse of the work God is doing. 

First, there is a ministry given to me. It is not defined by me, but by the One who gifts and places men where they can best carry out His assignment. Second, all who have this ministry have received mercy. This is mercy that helps me carry out the terms of the ministry. As it is, neither the ministry nor the mercy is of me, but of God. I couldn't earn or deserve either, so there is no room for pride. However, the third pivot is my total surrender to and dependence on the One who owns the ministry and the mercy. 

In the course of ministry, hard times will come. God never promised anywhere that things would be easy, but He did promise us His presence. So, I carry His mighty presence, even in my weak outer cover. My body is dust, and will return to dust if physical death happens before his appearing, but while I am down here, his Life and glory will be made manifest in this same body as I strive to work for Him. 

Because of His Presence in me, I know where I am headed, which is eternal life with Him. This confidence flows from the assurance that His Presence can birth and sustain. This hope keeps me sane, even when the world is going insane. My inner man is renewed daily by its daily interaction with the inner witness of God: the Holy Spirit. 

Who is the person holding the reins of your heart and determining its daily pursuits? No amount of make up or body care can prevent the effect of time on flesh and blood. Flesh and blood were not built to last forever on this side of eternity.

Flesh and blood cannot inherit the  kingdom of God, but as I strive for that kingdom while I am down here in the flesh, I must keep my eye on the King of that kingdom as He strives to bring me into His kingdom when I am all done down here. So, which one am I feeding and investing in: the outer or the inner? Which one is really at work in and through me: the outer or the inner? Eternity hangs on my response. His time of favour is here. 

Turn Again!

Turn Again!

Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: Joel 2:12 KJV

The context of today's extract is the day of the Lord. We have heard it so many times that it takes a heart that is totally dedicated to God not to think it is no longer important. Since the days of our fathers in the faith, we have been hearing of this day, yet it doesn't appear that the world cares one bit. We have gone on our merry ways and kept on doing the usual and the sinful. We have discovered new ways to hurt one another, and to make life difficult for ourselves. 

And then there are those who are eagerly waiting for that day, yet do not really know what that day entails. From available records in the Bible, it is not a day to look forward to if you are not totally prepared. In some places, it is referred to as the day of wrath. He has also punished sin, no matter in whom it is found. Even his own chosen ones, the Israelites, had received a taste of what it meant to disobey God. Let it be known today that God has no favourites when it comes to sin. His mercy may make a difference down here, but it will be silent at the final judgment seat of God. If God could punish the people He set aside for Himself, how much more me?

That is the context of today's extract. God calls out to all of us, asking us to return to Him. He is not looking for fair weather friends, who are only along for the ride for what they can gain. He is looking for people who will turn to Him with All their hearts. God doesn't do half-hearted devotion; don't start if you cannot stay devoted to the end. Don't go looking for alternatives; they won't work because they are not God. 

And in the heart must lie the right attitude: fasting, weeping and mourning. Without pretence, these must accompany my acts of devotion. Fasting is not just abstaining from food, but seeking God sincerely and honestly. Weeping and mourning show remorse for sins and tell God that you really need His help.

God is calling again, as He has always done. He is knocking, as He has been doing since the Garden of Eden. He will show Himself strong in the lives of those who are truly committed to Him. Don't do hypocrisy; He is not the sort to be fooled by outward show. Come to Him; your eternity will be glad you did. His time of favour is here. 

Priorities!

Priorities!

Do what is right and fair; that pleases the LORD more than bringing him sacrifices. Proverbs 21:3 GNB

In order to fully understand the context of today's extract, let's look at the verse before it: You may think that everything you do is right, but remember that the LORD judges your motives. It is important to remember that we are dealing with a God of absolute knowledge; One who cannot be deceived. We may convince ourselves that we acted with the best of intentions; it doesn't mean that we think we are right. That judgment is reserved for the One who formed the heart and gave it its strings and powers of choice.

If I am conscious of the fact that God cannot be deceived by an outward show of piety, I will be careful of the things I do and how, why and when I do them. How do I know what is right and fair outside the One who is called the Just and True One? A knowledge of the world's laws and regulations is very good; it shows that you know what the law requires of you. But let it be known that the law does not of itself provide the strength and grace to live by its standards. You can have a moral code, and like Cornelius, do everything right, but there will always be something missing that only God can provide: the inner conviction that comes from His Spirit, and comforts us that we have all that we need to truly succeed in life. 

It is not your response to human laws that guarantees true success. Men have lived by the laws of men and still died miserable. But when you answer also to the higher standard of God's law, walking in his ways and seeking to please Him also, there is a joy that comes to you that nothing down here can replicate or replace. 

God's laws are made plain in His Word; He supplies grace to enable me comply. Obedience to His commands is the key to pleasing God. Sacrifices are also his command, but they cannot replace a heart of relationship and submission to God. I must not focus on the outward at the expense of the inward. I must not be so caught up with pleasing men and getting their approval that I neglect what God wants from me. At the end of the day, it is God's opinion that counts towards eternity. Am I pleasing God or doing my own thing? Eternity awaits your decision. His time of favour is here. 

Fatherhood!

Fatherhood! 

I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.  Thou shalt have no other gods before me.  Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:  Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.  Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.  Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

Exodus 20:2‭-‬4‭, ‬7‭-‬8‭, ‬12 KJV

The first 5 commandments 

In case you hear of any other god, or someone wants to introduce you to another god, or because of trouble, your heart is tempted to seek out other gods, let it be known today, that there is no other God. He is called The Lord thy God, because there isn't really any other one. All others are pretenders which will be found out in the process of time. For all the men God spoke to and used in the Bible, they all had different expressions of this God, but the conclusion was and is still the same: He is the Lord. Do I know Him as such? 

He is also the one who has authority over the past, present and the future. At the time this was said by God, the people of Israel were free of slavery in Egypt and were on their way to the Promised Land. He had taken care of their unattractive past, was presently keeping them on their way and had already assured them of their taking over the land of promise. All of these would point to one fact: You cannot assign God's mighty works to any other pretender. He is the One who does mighty things, the things no other power and initiate or sustain.

In the light of the above, this God then warns: you are not permitted to have any other God. You are not allowed to ascribe my mighty works to worthless gods, who cannot help or carry themselves, not to talk of helping others. God knows the human heart, and its tendency to raise idols. Our hearts need to worship someone or something, as we were made by an amazing God to offer Him praise. The devil came and corrupted that nature, so rather than give God the glory due Him, our hearts seek to attach themselves to visible, tangible objects. Unfortunately, if it is not God, it cannot be anyone else. God is a jealous God, guarding His name and keeping it from any pollution or dilution.

And then, remember: I never showed you an image of me, so you cannot claim that anything down here on earth looks like me. I possess heaven and earth, so there is nothing in either these places that can be equated with or made to look like me. Making images of me is an insult; I own all things, which were all made by me for my pleasure. How then can something made for my pleasure now turn around to demand my allegiance and obeisance? Think about it: if something I made to serve me and make my life better turns around to demand that I begin to serve it, imagine how that feels. When I make TV, music, fashion trends, political influences and connections, abilities, academic degrees and bank account balances my master, am I not making images of created things the master of my life, rather than the creator Himself?

And when I know this God, I accord Him all the honour He is due. His name is Holy, Righteous and True. He is the Lord of all the earth. If I really know Him, and belong to His family, I will not join others to mock the name I bear, or bring the name into disrepute. I belong to the family of the Most High, and I bear His name. It is a responsibility not to be taken lightly or mocked, and I am also warned that God will not take it lightly with anyone who takes that name in vain. Why, you may ask. I believe this is because I should know better. Don't forget, I claim to know the Lord and I belong to Him. If I then disrespect the name, how would the name work for me when I need it? If I disregard the name or regard it as worthless, how does the name then work for my advantage when it matters most? 

And as I work and walk on God's green earth, I must take time out to remember who He is and what He has done. My life becomes a public testimony to a private relationship with the Lord God Almighty. He has set up rest as a reminder of WHO He is, WHAT he has done, and WHERE He is taking me to. I use the time to reflect on His mighty works, and I am re-energised to look forward to yet more experiences of His power and grace. 

And then comes the human touch. God has taken time to explain how He wants me to relate with Him, seen in the first 4 commandments already mentioned above. Isn't it quite instructive that the first commandment relating to human relationships mirror that of our heavenly Father to us? I see God reminding me that the same way He deals with me is the way He wants me to deal with my earthly relationships and what better way to start than with my parental responsibilities? If I know and recognise God as my Father, I will not struggle to honour my own earthly parents. I do not read anywhere that the parents must 'deserve' the honour. It is not in my place to apportion blame or right to any party; I am just asked to honour my parents. The world teaches tit for tat, and we seek to smuggle it into the Word of God. Unfortunately, I can't rewrite the Bible, and God's Word cannot be broken. 

If I acknowledge that this God who speaks is the same yesterday, today and forever, it means that none of the things He commands here have been overtaken by science, technology, education or enlightenment. His standard remains the same, no matter how slippery the world's view on things are. You can bank on His nature and truth, and you can rest assured that if He has promised, He has the power to fulfil all He has promised. 

I take stock again today: do I have any other options outside of the Lord my God? Is He ALL or just one of the many options I have got? Am I paying lip service to God, while my life denies all there is about this God? Am I all about optics and human opinion or do I seek God's stamp of affirmation upon my life by living in complete obedience to what He commands? I remember, as always, that eternity hangs on my answer. His time of favour is here.

Liberty!

Liberty!

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 2 Corinthians 3:17 KJV

In putting this verse in the right context, it is important to know what brought us here. God had established a covenant with Israel, and had laid down terms and conditions for engagement with Him. The commandments on the tablets of stone were just a few of these terms, and Moses spent quite some time with God to receive these instructions. When Moses came down from the mountain where God met him, he didn't know that his face shone. No man comes into the Presence of God without an imprint of God becoming real and evident upon his/her life. 

Moses had to put on a veil so that the people could listen to him as he gave and taught them the words of God. The glory must have been quite awesome for Moses to have put on a veil, yet the Bible calls it fading glory, because there is a glory that God reveals in the new covenant He enters into with us. When God has met with me, his message to the world requires me to give it as He has given me, without any modification. There is a new relationship God wants to have: one deeper than an occasional visit to His presence. It is one where I practically carry His presence everywhere I go, so that men know that I have been with Jesus. They do not need to even hear me speak first; His glory will be so evident upon me that it cannot be ignored. 

Are there veils I have put in place to keep intact the old way God dealt with me in the past? Am I laying down markers only for how has God dealt with me in the past, while I have no prompts as to what God wants me to do NOW? I cannot deceive God, yet I try. I hide my intentions and motives behind attractive veils of fervent devotion and service; I live on the altar, zealous for the things of God, but am I hiding my real intentions behind the veils of pretence and hypocrisy?

It is instructive that Moses only kept the veil on when he spoke with the people of Israel, but he had to take it off anytime he had to go in to speak with God. The same applies to us now. If I will come to God and He will accept me, I cannot keep in place these veils. When a man turns to God, all veils are taken away. You cannot turn to God and at the same time turn to other self-help projects and schemes. Turning to God means acknowledging that your help is only from Him, and that you are focused on Him, to the exclusion of anyone or anything else. 

That's the context of today's extract. The Lord is the Spirit, through whom insight into who God is can be found. No man is truly free until s/he is totally bound to God, and no man is really at liberty until the Son is the reason behind that person's inspiration and perspiration. Wherever the spirit of the Lord is operating, no operation of the devil can succeed there, unless a man willingly surrenders to the operations of false veils. God wants to do a work of freedom in us, because He knows that as long as a person's heart is not free, s/he cannot open up that heart to allow God do the work He alone can do. He is still that same God, and for all who will come, liberty is on offer. Are you looking for the original template God gives? Turn now; He's waiting. His time of favour is here.

Lift Them Up!

Lift Them Up!

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. Psalms 121:1‭-‬2 KJV

There are actually physical mountains and hills around Jerusalem. A google search on hills in Jerusalem will produce at least 7 mountain ranges: Mount Scopus, Mount Olivet, Mount Ophel, the original Mount Zion, a new Mount Zion, the hill on which the Antonia Fortress is built and even one called the Mount of Corruption. This picture gives an idea of security and protection around that ancient city, and even the bible confirms that David built a fortress around Mount Zion and renamed it the city of David.

So, when you read that someone is lifting up his eyes up to the hills, you get the idea that there must have been some sort of comfort that safety was secured. The hills provided physical protection, yet we recall that years later, due to sin, the city of Jerusalem was conquered and its people taken into slavery. It then means that hills and fortresses aren't the real deal all by themselves; there is something else that is required. 

In these 2 verses are fundamental truths: there is a place for a personal decision: a lifting UP. No matter what goes on around me, I must learn to look up. It is possible to be surrounded by physical high fences yet be full of internal terror. Tell me, what physical measures can truly protect you from the pandemic ravaging the world today? Things around me can be depressing; events have become unpredictable, yet God says that I should look up. It then matters what or who I see when I lift up my eyes. The hills can give a deceptive picture of safety, yet from today's extract, it is clear that these hills are not enough. 

The writer knew this when he then wrote: my help comes from the Lord. We all need help, whether we know it now or not. There is nobody alive who has not been helped at some point in time. Walls are good, but then they are limited. Like the writer, I must realise that nobody else can provide the required guidance, protection and provision that the Lord is able to give. Men of old trusted in the Lord and their lives are testaments to what God can do with a life that fully trusts in Him. 

So, which Lord do you know or have submitted to? Which Lord do you look up to? Whether I admit it now or not, all my life, I will be looking up to someone of something. When a decision is to be made about career, marriage, residence, friendships, all of these would be based on my focus at the time. God wants to help me with all these decisions, but He does not force Himself on anyone. I must lift up my eyes to Him, seek Him out as if my life really depended on it, and trust that He will come through for me. That is His promise, and because He has made heaven and earth, they answer to Him and would provide resources in line with His will for me. I choose to lift up my eyes to the Lord. There are enough distractions around me. His time of favour is here. 

Believe!

Believe!

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. John 3:36 KJV

It must be noted that today's extract flows from the discussion Jesus had with Nicodemus, that teacher of the law. He knew the letters of the law, but he lacked knowledge about the spirit of the law, which simply pointed men back to Christ. It is never about men's qualifications or achievements, but a heart that first recognises its lack and seeks out True Knowledge, which is found only in Christ. 

In that light, the message of today's extract makes sense. The invitation is for every man, woman, boy or girl who would make the approach. And it goes beyond hearing and loving what you read or hear, but about believing in the Son of God. It is so important to emphasise this: if it was about good works, so many people will qualify. If it was about account balances, so many people will try to buy their way into eternal life. Thank God that nothing down here can take you into eternal life except your faith in the Son of God. 

It is faith that activates the seal of eternal life. Oh, the basis of your faith will show in your works. There is quite little about your life's choices that you can hide, because your outer life is proof of your faith system. Is the Son your basis, or are there other 'viable' options? Time will reveal all other priorities that took your time away; unfortunately, you may not have time to make necessary changes if you die without the Son.

And this is the message of the latter part of today's extract. As pointed out earlier, as soon as faith in Christ is sealed, everlasting life is also sealed. Death can no longer hurt me, because life in Christ secures me away from the grasp and power of death. The opposite is also true: rejection of the Son means the acceptance of the death penalty, which is the natural consequence of our sin. If I turn my back on God, can I turn around and blame Him for the consequences of my decision? 

The wrath of God against sin has been documented in the Bible extensively. God leaves us in no doubt what he views as sin and how He intends to carry out punishment. He also provides a way of escape; just one. Not two, but just one. There aren't so many ways to the God who calls Himself Lord and Master. Jesus is called the Way, the Truth and the Life. He is THE, not one of many. You want to escape the coming wrath? Make the approach to the Son today. Have Him, you have life. You lack Him, you lack life. It is as simple as that. His time of favour is here. 

What's In a Name?

What's In a Name?

The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. Proverbs 18:10 KJV

There is something mysterious yet fundamental about a name. We define a person's destiny by the name s/he bears. A name could speak of the life of a person just born or could be a prophetic declaration into the life of a person who is yet to be born. Whichever one it is, one thing is clear: names aren't ordinary. It is the first point of identity, which then determines the level of interaction and interest. 

Why would the name of the Lord matter this much? Could it be because it represents who God is to be one who calls it or wants to named by it? Men of old defined their lives by the name of God revealed to them. They stood against doubt and fear based on the name of the Lord revealed to them. Men like Stephen, John the Baptist and Paul the apostle endured trials and tough times simply because there was a revelation and personal experience of the name of God in their lives. If you would ask: "What is in a name?" The response is: "Have you experienced the name of the Lord? 

And it matters what the name is and what it can do. This name here is called a strong tower. But then, something is said about qualifying to come in: yet another name: the righteous. It is not about good works, abilities or connections, but about the nature of God which aligns with His name. The name is a strong tower, able to keep safe, but then, it remains a possibility until I am rightly named to take advantage of the benefits of the name. So, we find the offer of the benefits of the name, and we find the qualifications required to enjoy the benefits. Am I righteous, living daily on the strength and grace God alone gives, or have I found suitable alternatives? 

You see, so many people know about the name. They know it has power, but knowledge and experience are so different. 1 may lead to the other, but the former does not always lead to the latter. You can know all there is to know about a name, yet not enjoy a single blessing from that name. However, there is a name that when you bear and personalise it, it opens doors that had been shut, and makes the impossible possible. That is what the name of the Lord can do for all who bear it. 

So, by what name am I called?  And I see that I am required to RUN into it. It is not careless living, or carefree strolling, but a deliberate focus. A person who runs for safety does not bother with distractions or attractive propositions. S/he is focused on getting into the place of safety. There are dangers all around; seen and unseen. There are things that even age cannot explain, but when you are in the right name, you are safe from all dangers.

In the city of refuge, death is forbidden. Even if physical death comes, as long as it finds you in that name: the place of refuge, it is but a translation into true life. That is the eternal benefit of the name I am called to bear. The name opens doors and leaves an inheritance for all who bear it. So, I ask again: what name do you bear? I ask myself: what name do I bear? Do men know me by a name while I claim yet another name? Eternity hangs on that response. His time of favour is here. 

Getting it Right!

Getting it Right!

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

John 14:21 KJV

There is a level of HAVING. It is the season of reading, acquiring and storing up. You go into the Bible and read about God's mighty works of power and grace, and you get to know more about this God who calls men to Himself. The more you study, the more of Him to know. The more you study, the more of His Word you know, and the more you know about the things He loves and hates. There are quite a lot of people at this stage. We aspire to know, and we search out the Word of God, and we are proud of this position. However, this is not the final resting place. 

There is yet another level, that of KEEPING. This is the level God would have us move into. What do I do with the knowledge of God that I have acquired? Is it all about boasting about the knowledge, showing off the retentive memory I have, or is my life a mirror of the knowledge I have acquired? I note that there is an AND joining the HAVING and the KEEPING, which means that if I will please God, I can't do one and leave the other. The Christian life wasn't built to be lived like that. 

And Jesus says that both HAVING and KEEPING are the proofs of a life that loves Him. It isn't about what I claim, but about how I live. If God says my life has a lack, there is no amount of window dressing that will make it alright, if I do not address that lack. The benefit of having both is that I get the love of the Father, as well as the Son. When you have a personal experience the love of God, you know that there is nothing else that can take His place in your heart. 

And that is the secret of the manifestation and revelation of Jesus. The way to the Father is through the Son, and if I crave the love of God, I cannot ignore the Son. He is called the Way, the Truth and the Life, and NO ONE can make the approach to the Father outside the Son. No wonder he is the centrepiece of God's creation, and the Word of God Himself. He makes the invitation to all people, asking us to come to Him. If I come, I get to really know who God is. Through Jesus, God is revealed, as Jesus is the image of the invisible God. 

And this is the amazing thing: for all who come, there is a very personal manifestation of Jesus to that person. You cannot pattern your life after someone else's revelation; you have to seek your own. He wants to meet every life on a personal level, as it is your knowledge and experience of God that will sustain you on your journey. You can't keep looking over your shoulders at another person's race, wishing you had their own life. You have your own race to run, and at the end of it, your own personal reward. 

So, how are you keeping? Now that I know what the Father needs, I get the blessings promised when I do what has been commanded. He has laid down the process, and all I can do is obey. Nothing else, including academic degrees and grammatical constructs, will work. His time of favour is here. 

Get In!

Get In!

But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. Matthew 19:26 KJV

A little context: Jesus had just taught a young man the place of riches in the kingdom of God. The young man had a question then that still applies to us today: how do I make it to heaven? The young man had it all: riches, wealth and fame, but he knew something was missing. First lesson: it is not what you hold in your hands that guarantees you eternal life, but who you know. Riches come and go; wealth is fleeting. They will not go with you to the grave. You just must work out what is truly important. 

The young man had a question and Jesus told him the importance of priorities. You can have all the riches of this world but you must also have eternal life in you. Jesus knew the heart of this young man; he had zeal, but he wasn't ready to make the necessary sacrifice to get what was truly important. 

As I live my life from day to day, what contributions am I making towards my eternal dwelling? Am I all about just making the right impression, with no substance, depth or knowledge of God? Second lesson: wealth is good, but it is very limited. Seek it, but don't be ruled by it. There is no guarantee that you will always have it, but if you have God, you can never go wrong at the end of it all. 

The young man's reaction is so deep. He went away sad, because he could not imagine a life without the things he owned. And we can be like that sometimes, defining our lives by our account balances, net worth, circle of influence or family inheritance. We think these things can speak for us when the day of the Lord comes, but like God has always said, the day of the Lord is a day of darkness, but for all who know and have God, it is a day of joy. If the Lord were to make a demand for my life today, what would I tell Him? Determine today to sort out your priorities. 

And today's extract flows from the statement Jesus made about the difficulty of rich people getting into the kingdom of God. Is it because they rely on the wealth more than they trust in God? Could it be it is because wealth gives its holder a false sense of security? The disciples wondered if the rich could be saved, and Jesus' response here is instructive: by men's standards, things are hard or impossible. With God, all things are possible. 

Man is limited; God is limitless. Man strives for relevance through what he has; God promotes a man into impact and relevance through the knowledge of Him. With God, whatever you have in your hand is a mere tool; God is the One who best determines how best to use it to bring about His perfect will. As long as I am living for God, there are no limits to what He can do in and with me. I say again: man is limited. God is limitless. I depend on Him to help me navigate this strange world. I rely on Him to help me understand the right place and time for everything 

 gives me. May I not elevate created things over and above the Creator Himself. His time of favour is here. 

The End!

The End!

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Revelation 21:4 KJV

A time is coming when all you think you know, understand or can explain will change. A time is coming when the familiar and the usual will give way to the eternal. God is promising a new phase of life, one unlike anything this world has ever seen. What are these things God is talking about?

First, the present earth and heaven will pass away. If I can trust God to fulfil other promises of blessings, why should I doubt if this promise will come to pass? When you consider the pollution and evil of this present earth, and you consider the holiness and purity that God desires and demands, you know it is impossible for this present earth to inherit all that God promises here.

Second, it is part of our human nature to undergo difficult times. There will be pain and death, as nobody is promised eternal life this side of earth. We are down here for a little while, as we prepare for the eternal. When God returns, he promises an end to pain and tears. Of course, when death has been defeated permanently, what else can give you pain? When God has dealt permanently with the source of all pain, what else has power to make me cry?

Everything you think you know now will change. Everything you think you are familiar with now will pass away. It must be emphasised here that this promise is for specific people: those who make it into the new earth and heaven prepared by God for those who have been washed by the blood of Jesus. You can claim all the promises in His Word, but if He doesn't know you as His own, how would you enter into the new place He's preparing? 

This is therefore another call to all men: the Lord is coming soon as He has promised. He warns ahead of the time that I need to put my house in order, get my priorities right and stay true to His call upon my life. Whatever I see now belongs to the old, no matter how much we dress it up to make it new. The new is coming, prepared by God for all who trust Him to the end. Are you looking ahead to the new? Are you in a place of readiness, so He meets you prepared when He comes? Eternity hangs on your response. His time of favour is here. 

Testify!

Testify!

God’s splendor is a tale that is told; his testament is written in the stars. Space itself speaks his story every day through the marvels of the heavens. His truth is on tour in the starry vault of the sky, showing his skill in creation’s craftsmanship. Each day gushes out its message to the next, night with night whispering its knowledge to all. Psalms 19:1‭-‬2 TPT

When people express doubt as to the existence of God, today's extract is just one of the many passages that underscore how foolish that position is. If you have never seen God with the naked eye, just stand outside at night on any day, and see the mighty array on display. 

Let me just share a few definitions here: the moon is a satellite in the solar system; the sun is the star at the centre of the solar system, and is called the most important source of energy for life on earth; the many stars we see are called astronomical objects consisting of luminous spheroid of plasma held together by its own gravity. The earth is called the third planet from the sun, which is itself another star, and for now, the only astronomical object known to harbour life.

Did you notice even how complex words are used to describe the simple things we take for granted every day? Every day I wake up, I am reminded that there is a Power at work, holding up all things and making them work as they should. Once in a while, He reminds me that I cannot take Him for granted. 

I read today's extract again and I am reminded that if I listen well, I will hear God's creation giving Him praise and testifying of His awesome power. His splendor is a story being told; his testimony is written in the stars as they confirm His might and power. Outer space, as confirmed by those who have made the unique journey beyond the earth's space, is a vast expanse, the limits of which is not known. The truth about his mighty wisdom is on public display in the sky, and day after day, night after night, there is a constant stream of information about the awesome power of God. 

The question then is: Am I listening? Is God able to catch and hold my attention through the things He has made and done? Please note: the whole essence of the public declarations of creation is to point to God as the Power and the Presence. Any attempt to worship these things is a lack of understanding of what creation is saying. God wants me to see Him at work through the things I see daily, so if all I see are the mighty mysteries, yet I do not submit to Him, then the whole essence of creation’s testimony is lost to me. 

God is at work. His work is seen in so many ways, but ultimately, all of his works praise Him and testify of His awesome power. When I have considered all these things, do they move me to submit to Him? Do they awaken in me a desire to know more about Him? May my life not waste the testimonies of God. His time of favour is here.

Inner Workings!

Inner Workings!

with all humility [forsaking self-righteousness], and gentleness [maintaining self-control], with patience, bearing with one another in [unselfish] love.

Ephesians 4:2 AMP

How does God expect me to walk? If I owe my allegiance to Him, he must have the final say in my pursuits and priorities. Now, this is the unusual part: all of the attributes mentioned above are first and foremost internal, before they can be seen on the external. The world has taught us hypocrisy and pretence, where we keep up appearances because we do not want to be labelled. So we strive to keep up, maintaining the external while the internal is deficit. Unfortunately, it is only a matter of time; internal deficit will always be made manifest.

Humility, gentleness, patience and love are the attributes mentioned in today's extract. Do you also know that these are listed as the fruit of the Holy Spirit? It keeps getting clearer that today's extract is not for people who have not submitted to the Holy Spirit. How do you bear the fruit from seed that you have not yet surrendered to the ground? Once the seed has left the hand and gone into the soil, with nutrients provided, the seed will bear fruit. My life cannot produce these 'fruit' unless and until my life is dead to all that is flesh and alive to all that is God. When my life is sown into the ground of God's life, fruiting is inevitable.

And when the God-connection is secure, impact on humanity is non-negotiable. We want to impact man, yet we do not surrender to God. We want to hold on to what we have, forgetting that all that we have cannot achieve the mighty things God has in store. Only by total surrender can God's life flow in and through me. Then the world will know that of a truth, I live by different standards and answer to a different master.

So, how do I work and walk? How are you walking and working? If God were to demand an account today, what would yours look like? Would God be satisfied with the fruit of my life at the moment? Is there anything I need to start doing differently? Only by the help of the Holy Spirit would I make it to the end of the assignment I have been given; not by my own strength. His time of favour is here. 

Experience!

Experience!

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. Psalms 28:7 KJV

It is first a personal experience before it becomes a public testimony. Walking with God never keeps you from difficult situations; these situations only tend to prove the contents of your inner man. David was a man after God's heart, but he was first human, which means that what made him great wasn't first about what he was, but who he pursued after. If I will be a life used by God, I must sort out my pursuits and priorities. If they are not first about God, then I cannot lay claim to the promises on offer and I cannot claim the blessings of David. How would I live like Saul the king and what to end like David the shepherd?

And David's pursuits and priorities shine out from today's extract. You see, God is so many things to so many people, but who you call to on the day of trouble becomes your strength and shield. God help you if your strength is not the true One. We all need a place of strength and protection. There are dangers all around us. The world is not getting any safer, as man keeps thinking up new ways to hurt other men. Yet, in the midst of all these, God asks: who is your strength?

Check out the testimony after the personal experience. David could not have said he trusted in God and was helped, if he didn't first know God and how he worked in and for him. We can live on the altar and enjoy its outflow, but it will not do us much good if we do not move into a personal relationship with this God. We must not be content with just the outflows at the expense of the source. If I have the source, I have all the benefits. If I don't have the source, it really doesn't matter how much I acquire. 

So you see, the inner controls the outer. My personal relationship with God becomes a public testimony. He is MY strength and MY shield. My heart is settled on God. My heart rejoices in God. I have MY song to praise God with. You see how all I do flows out from who I know. It is so important to sort out my life's inner content before I can dare face the world. 

So, where do you stand? I hold on to God for dear life. I realise that life is too complex for me to face without the help of the One who is called Strength and Shield. As I call on Him, I am promised answers. I may not always get what I want, but what could be more than having God on my side as I face the uncertainties and inconsistencies of the world? In God is the only help I need. His time of favour is here. 

Dwelling!

Dwelling!

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalms 91:1‭ KJV

So many decisions to be made: so many choices to be settled. For everything that God does and gives, He makes it open to everyone. He is a God who sends his rain on the good and the wicked, and he makes the gift of salvation available and open to all men, irrespective of colour, race or creed. The gift is for ALL men, which reflects in today's extract, which starts with that invitation: He that dwelleth.

But then, the invitation requires a response. It is open to all men, but the only way to get the full benefits of the passage above is to give the right response. Men have come to God for so many reasons in the past: there was a man who wanted Jesus to bid his brother divide the inheritance with him; there were others who came looking for Jesus to make him king because he had fed them with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. 

The reason why you come may not always be apparent to the next man, but you had better be sure that you cannot deceive the creator of the heart. Motives and intentions are laid bare before this God, so when he demands a response to his invitation, it is only for my good that I make sure I come with the right one. And the right response has to do with long term investment of time.

The secret place of the Most High is mentioned as the choice of residence. If it is secret, why is it mentioned so publicly here? Could it be that his offer is to the public, but the response is personal. You come into the secret place of your own freewill; you seek Him out because you know the benefits and blessings of that secret place.

Being in that secret place places you in the company of the Most High. There are things that can no longer happen to you as a result of your new placement, and there are now things that have become inevitable as a result of your new placement. Your choice of residence makes it impossible to sit on the fence and be non-committal. The new placement calls for particular actions.

I cannot dwell with the Most High and still be struggling with sin. Those are parallel lines that can never meet. If I am still struggling, then maybe I need to check my residence status. Have I created my own high walls, or am I dwelling in the secret place provided by God Himself? All other secret places have vulnerabilities, because they are made by mortal men. The immortal God is the only one in whom I am truly safe.

And dwelling is so fundamental here. It means to stick to a particular subject matter, to the exclusion of any other thing. If I have options, I am not dwelling. If I keep thinking I am better off somewhere else, I am not dwelling. It is a place of settled assurance that where I am is the best place I can be. No matter what then happens, I have already settled the question of my residence and I know that where I am will get me where I want to be. If I build a house of mine, do I move out simply because the rain is heavy or the storms are quite strong? As long as I am sure of the foundations of the house, I rest assured that I am safe IN that house. That is the same assurance I must have in God. The storms will come, the winds will blow, the rain will beat upon us, but if they find us in the secret place of the Most High, we can rest assured that we are safe. 

And the shadow of the Almighty is so wide reaching that if all of us down here decided to abide in his secret place, we would all find space. God is called the Almighty, and experience in His Word has shown that through all the ages, no one ever trusted Him and ended up destitute. The world has its definitions of success and impact, but let it be known today that outside of the safety, protection and guidance God offers, nothing else will work. You want to be safe; you want to end well; find that secret place and stay there. It is not a place of public affirmation or where crowds find easily. It is a search borne out of personal conviction, and the benefits are eternal. His time of favour is here. 

Established!

Established!

But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 KJV

In placing today's extract in the right context, we look at the first 2 verses before this one. Paul asks for prayers for 2 main things: prayer that the Word of God may have free course and be glorified, and that God will deliver him and his team from wicked and faithless men. These 2 prayer points are quite fundamental to the understanding of today's extract. 

In any assignment or task God will give to any man, the Word of God must have prominence. The Word of God must have unfettered access into any life that will profit from it. How does God's Word work wonders in an unsubmitted and unbroken heart? How does the Word of God work in a life that has competing interests going contrary to what the Word of God has clearly laid down as rules? 

The first thing then is to answer the questions of control and access. Who is in control of my life and who has access, or who can access my heart? Does God have free course over my life or am I in total control of my life? The Word of God never lacks the power to make impact, but the effect it can make is subject to my submission to its power and influence. 

Paul then prays for deliverance from wicked, faithless men. Why would this be important? Could it be it is because such men hold the power of influence over men whose hearts have not been brought under the control and influence of the Word of God. You see, there is nothing like an empty heart. There is always a power of influence over a man's heart. Whoever is in charge determines its reaction or reception to the Word of God. 

So, the question that must be answered by each man is this: WHO is in charge of your heart? God does not force Himself on any man. And the 2 prayer points go together; we pray to avoid trials and tough times, but how does God refine me and make me fit to carry His precious Word to lives who need to know Him? Can I avoid trials and still be prepared to be used of God? Paul didn't ask for deliverance so he could walk away from difficult people; his prayer was required so that God's Word could do his Work in the lives of men who needed it. And this is still the situation today. 

Men will oppose and resist whatever seeks to address the issue of sin in their lives, but God's Word has been proven, time and time again, to be sufficient to address this problem, if that life will allow the Word to have free course. And that is the essence of today's extract. All of the above are possible only in Jesus. God is faithful, and He will move heaven and earth, suspend natural laws and 'break' protocol, so His Word can have free course. He is the One who is able to establish a man, get him grounded, and keep him or her from evil. 

Why is the part about 'stablish' so important? When a man is grounded by God, it doesn't matter what the quality and quantity of the opposition is. If the man is not grounded by God, it does not matter what the quality and quantity of the human support system is. He is faithful to His Word, because His Word is the power and agent of change in the lives of all who allow it work. He is faithful because never has he lost any battle with the evil one, and all who trust Him are eternally safe. 

Things will happen on this side of eternity that I may not understand, but there is no doubt in my heart that because God is faithful, I am safe from the power and influence of evil. In these strange times, I need the mercy of God to do its work in me. I cannot help myself; I cannot make it on my own. I ask again: WHO is your support system? Eternity hangs on your response. His time of favour is here. 

Right Cover!

Right Cover!

Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and disregards the offenses of others]. 1 Peter 4:8 AMPC

In the verse before today's extract, we see Peter again harping on the end of all things. We are indeed living in strange times, and there is a code of conduct that is required for the times we are in. The verse before this one speaks about being sober, watchful and prayerful. These attributes all point to the physical, mental and the spiritual. To walk in line with God's perfect will, there must not be any external influence so strong that it can affect the inner equilibrium God wants in my heart. If I am sober, I am able to guard my paths, words and actions. If I am watchful, I understand the times and seasons I am in, and I am able to act accordingly. If I am prayerful, I keep the line of communication with God clear, so that if there is a change in direction, I can adjust accordingly. These form the foundation for today's extract. 

It is the man or woman who has aligned with the paragraph above that can live in line with what today's extract says. Let it be known that there is little or nothing anyone can do about the contents of his/her heart. The contents will flow out at some point in life, and men will see me for who I am, and what my pursuits and priorities have always been. That is why being sober, watchful and prayerful is quite important. It sets the stage for how I relate with other people. If I am drunk and unstable; if I am not reliable or dependable; if I do not know how to act at specific times that call for careful thought, how would people be free to relate with me?

My clothing therefore reflects my inner state of mind. This is what people see and which may form their conclusions and interactions with me. If I am to put love above all things, it means that there are other attributes I must have in place also, with love as the thread holding them all together. It is a heart that is sober; free of external influences like malice, bitterness or hatred that can love the way God commands. 

And it is love that covers a lot of sins, just like the love of Christ that covered all our sins. We have the perfect example, and we are charged to follow it. Love is that one attribute that can be seen, felt, touched and experienced. It may sound odd that among believers, you would still be mentioning sins, but as long as there are human interactions, offences and hurt will happen. How I react is the outflow of my inner equilibrium. If I will live the life I was formed and gifted to live, it has to be based on the strength, grace and help that the Creator supplies. 

Am I stable enough for service or do I still need to take time off to be sober? Am I watchful and prayerful, and properly dressed for service or do I still need time to sort out my inner balance? My answers will impact eternity so I had better get them right. His time of favour is here. 

Wait!

Wait!

Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. Psalms 27:14 KJV

I do not yet see the Lord, yet I am asked to wait ON Him. As I type this, the time to be raptured has not happened yet, though it may happen before anyone else gets to read this, yet I am asked to wait ON the Lord. The word ON here is significant; it gives a picture of a servant who is standing alert, watching and waiting for the master's instructions. He is standing at the place of service, waiting for the next command. He is totally focused on what the master will ask him/her to do next. The main consideration now isn't his/her own comfort, but to please the One on whom s/he is waiting. 

It really does matter on whom we wait. Are we waiting for the results of our financial influences to materialise, or are we waiting for the results of our schemes outside of God to bear fruit? I dare say that if you are not waiting ON the Lord, your waiting will NOT bear the kind of fruit mentioned in today's extract.

The one who waits on the Lord is also charged to be of good courage. This would mean that there is a bad courage, or one that is not related to waiting ON the Lord. As long as there is anything else guarding my heart that is not the Lord, that is a bad courage. As long as it is not God who is pulling the strings of my heart and giving it its daily doses of strength, direction and peace, whatever courage and confidence I have will be found out soon to be a bad one. You see, anything outside of God is not built to last the distance. 

Men of old who went far with God had their anchors firmly fixed in the courage God alone births and sustains. They knew the storms, wind and waves were coming, but they also knew that they were only safe when they were guarded by the One who is Strength personified. I ask again: Who/What gives you courage? 

So, when I have sorted out my allegiance, I can claim the blessings. What follows after the command to wait ON the Lord is the assurance of strength for my heart. Why would my heart require strength? Is it because the human heart is easily open to deception? Is it because the human heart is prone to worry, fear and anxiety? 

The fear of the unknown tomorrow, the uncertain future and the present dangers all impact the heart. However, when God strengthens the heart, these negative imprints cannot leave a mark because the Strength of Israel has done a work on that heart. Has the Lord done a work in your heart? Is there a definite imprint of his hand upon your heart?

The verse under consideration ends again with the charge: wait ON the Lord. It cannot be overemphasised what the benefits of this charge are. It takes a man who has experienced these benefits to state again and again that we should wait on the Lord. There is not one record of anyone who waited on God and was disappointed. The world's records may show it as loss or death, but with God, a life that trusted in His strength to the end would never be lost. Do not let the world's definitions define your life; God wants to do His work in you so that His life and work will flow out of you to touch lives. Would you let Him? Would I? His time of favour is here. 

New Heart!

New Heart!

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26 NIV

Reading the words of today's extract, It is very easy to assume that the people referred to here were the best of people. They must have done something right to deserve the amazing work God was promising to do in their lives. It will be nice to read up one key verse just before today's extract: This is what the Sovereign Lord says: It is not for your sake, people of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone - vs. 22. 

The first lesson here for me is this: there is nothing I can bring before God as my good works that deserve mercy. All that God does is about His name and His Word. Every time I speak, act or interact with people, I am either showing God off, or promoting self. And let it be known that God always seeks to take glory in and through me, so I must be careful to ensure that I am living in line with this divine arrangement. 

Another lesson for me is this: God can do anything, even go against nature, to prove that He is God and deserves my total devotion. He created the heart, yet can also give a new heart. No man/woman is so far gone that s/he is beyond God's grace. And nobody draws near to God unless the Son draws such a person to Himself. A new heart means that the old one wasn't doing what it was built to do. That is the power of sin. 

Sin destroyed the initial template. Sin made it impossible for God to use the polluted heart. The only way God would be able to impact the human heart was to take away the old heart and give a new one. How does this work: you get a new heart by total surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. You acknowledge you cannot help yourself, and you allow Him do the work of salvation and redemption through His blood. His blood has cleansing power, and can make the foulest clean. 

When the heart is clean, then God can make use of it for his glory. When the heart is under His control, there is no limit to what He can achieve through that life. Maybe the reason why we are not experiencing the full demonstration of God's power is because we want to hold on to the controls. We are afraid to let go, thinking we can't control the outcome. With God, you can never really be in charge. You have got to let Him do what He alone can do: change a life from within, so that the world out there will certainly know that this is a life touched by God. 

Have I truly surrendered all to God or am I still struggling to let go? Can God count on my total surrender or does He have to struggle for time with me, along with other 'important' things? The choice of control is always mine; the consequences of that choice is always eternal. His time of favour is here. 

Kept!

Kept!

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. Psalms 23:1‭-‬2 KJV

I may not admit it; I may not want to own up to it, but I need guidance, discipline, protection, provision, safety, all from someone who knows my deepest fears. This confession comes from a position of relationship and personal experience. It is not for general application, where a man can hide under corporate fellowship to claim the blessing. God may give it, but of what use are blessings without the knowledge of the One who gives and sustains them?

Am I a part of the sheepfold of the Shepherd, or have I found an alternative fold that looks like the real thing but is not? The first verse here is the control verse; the one where I must sort out who I am and who I belong to. The rest of the chapter flows from this identity. 

Want is a fundamental part of the fallen human nature. I do not want, not because I am not human, but because my sustenance is not the type the world can explain, hinder or limit.

He MAKES me...... The shepherd knows the value of rest. He knows the value of quiet and refreshment. Even when I think I need to hurry and hustle, He MAKES me lie down. When I think it is best to strive by power, he reminds me that He is the One who can guarantee true rest for me. I may think I don't need it, but rest is part of the package from the shepherd. If I do not take it, He can compel me if He thinks it is best for me. That is why He is the shepherd, not me.

He LEADS me..... I can't go ahead of Him, as I do not know the way. He has to lead, I have to follow. The initiative about where to go and when to go lie with Him, not me. In all of these, I am the recipient, not the initiator. My opinion isn't really required here.

What is it about green pastures or still waters? Is it about nourishment even whilst working? It is a place of perpetual fruitfulness and nourishment, even when I am away from actual work. I do not have to keep working, labouring and grinding away; even when I am led to rest, the place of rest is also a place of nourishing. Psalm 1:3 says I am like a tree planted by streams of water.

No matter the storms, the winds or the waves, I am safe where he leads me; not because all around me is quiet, but because there is quiet inside me. He speaks about rest before He speaks about storms and trouble, because He wants me to know that in Him, it doesn't matter what comes at me. If I am where he has planted me, the storms find me in and with Him. So, where are you presently located? Are you kept IN His sheepfold, or do you have your own schemes? His time of favour is here. 

Looking for Reward?

Looking for Reward!

Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [greatest] reward. It is the Lord Christ whom you [actually] serve. Colossians 3:23‭-‬24 AMP

If I understand my position, I will not struggle with what I have been assigned to do. People with an identity crisis need the right context, description and full information on reward metrics before they can commit to serve. Unfortunately, if I am a servant, properly so called, as is the context of today's extract, then the choice of work is not an option. The only option available is what today's extract covers: my choice of availability and response. 

So, the main consideration isn't whether the work brings me recognition; it is first whether this is what the master wants me to do. The value of what I do has to do with WHO commissions it, not WHAT I will gain from it in the immediate. I also note that the value of the work I am to do isn't specified in monetary terms. Too many times, we seek work that can be monetised, and our output is often determined by the input of our bank account balances. Today's extract just says: whatever you do, wrok from your soul. The heart, motivation and inspiration behind the action also matter. Men cannot see hypocrisy, which goes back to whether I understand WHO I am working for. Men may not identify hypocrisy, but God can.

So if I know I work for the Lord, it won't matter who is the human instrument used to supervise or oversee what I do. If I know I work for the Lord, I know my reward isn't from men. What can man give me, compared to what God is able to make me? Man can only give out of what he has; God is able to make me into something beyond even my own wildest dreams. My earthly service is a function of God's call upon my life, as my life was built to serve others. I was gifted and planted to make an impact on the lives of people around me, but the ultimate goal is to understand that this present earthly phase is just a preparation for eternity. It does not all end down here. 

And there is a reward. Oh, man can reward for service. Nothing wrong with that. If I know from the start that my reward is from God, then the motivation to please God is there from the start. The reward is noted to be an inheritance, meaning it is stored up for me, based on my relationship with the One I am working for, and to be handed over to me at the end of my service. Every other thing I get down here is just for this earth: applause, recognition, commendation, praise. These are only fit for the earth. I must not labour for the things of this earth, at the expense of the real thing: the inheritance from the Lord. I do not want to stand before the ultimate master of all the universe with all my earthly rewards, and discover that I had laboured for all the wrong reasons and for the wrong rewards. Lord, let me not be defined by what men call my work, but to labour to please you. That's all that counts. Eternity is too long a time not to labour towards it, and ensure that my present work is storing up rewards in line with the inheritance I am to receive. His time of favour is here. 

Serve!

Serve!

Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28 KJV

A little context: Zebedee's wife recognised the power, kingship and authority of Jesus. She came in to see the Master of her 2 sons, James and John. She started with worship, but the real intent was negotiation of power, position and privilege for her sons. I must beware of deceit, where I go through the motions simply because of what I want to get from God. If God doesn't give me because He knows the motive, what happens to my worship? Am I in it for what I can gain and get or what I can give back to God in appreciation of all He has done and is still doing? 

For all who are already peddling power, position, influence and privilege or seeking these things, beware of a heart that seeks for the wrong reasons. It is never obvious to the next man, but it is as plain as day and night before God. With God, you cannot hide a heart of hypocrisy behind a lifestyle of public service. Men may applaud and appreciate what you do, but you had better be sure that God is also applauding. Of what use is statues of recognition here on earth, while heaven has no true recognition or record of my service to God? Isn't that a big waste? 

It is the way of the world to milk power and position. How else would you recognise power if it is not flaunted? However, for all who answer to the Son of Man, we live by different standards. The path to true greatness, from God's perspective, is through service; not service so that people can recognise and praise me, but service simply because God has to be glorified. 

Today's extract makes it clear that Jesus was comfortable in the knowledge that He knew who He was. He had no point to prove, so He knew He wasn't defined first by his titles but by what He did, and so, no service was beneath Him. He is the Son of God, who came down as the Son of Man, so He could walk in our shoes and feel what we feel today. He didn't promote his position because it was not under threat; He simply came and served, and those who know Him and walk in His shoes are better off for it. 

How then should I relate? What is the path to relevance and impact? The example of Jesus is the perfect one. Serve from a heart that understands who s/he is, and not what other people say. Serve because you know the One to whom the service is being rendered, not because anyone sees or knows it is you. Serve out of a heart of devotion to God; a heart that seeks God's glory and appreciates all it has received from God too. God will not take less than all of me, so I had better not give Him less than all I am. If I am to get into the trenches and get my hands dirty working for God, would I do it with joy, or would I be afraid of people's thoughts and feelings? If the public platform or pulpit is taken down, what is left for me? Would I still truly serve? Impact and relevance, God's style, awaits your response. His time of favour is here. 

Respond!

Respond!

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20 KJV

A little context: this is the letter written to the church in Laodicea by the One who introduces Himself as 'the Amen, faithful and true witness'. It seems to me that when I say Amen to prayers, I am invoking the name of this God speaking here and I am also acknowledging His power. He is called a witness, which means that He can testify to the things that have happened, are happening now, and will also happen in the nearest future. So when a person like this speaks and says: "I know your works", you have to sit up and take notice. He's not one to be fooled by external showmanship. 

And by this fact alone, a decision is required from me. Knowing all I know now about God, and certain that I cannot deceive Him, what is required of me? God already indicates that He cannot deal with lukewarm people; I need to make up my mind what is going to happen going forward. Would it be much the same as always, or a new direction under God's leading and direction? 

And the writer goes on to tell the church what only a witness could know; very personal and private things. I am sure there would be people who would have applauded this church as a model for others, or would love to be associated with it, but the view of the witness was that the church was not all it presented itself to be. And at the end of the day, the view of the witness is all that matters. 

And the witness doesn't leave things in a mess; He diagnoses the problem and proffers an eternal solution. He stands at the door of the heart, seeking to come in and make the necessary changes. Without that inner Presence, there is not much that will change on the outside. We can keep up appearances, or we can come to the Witness for help with present and future challenges. 

He will not force Himself on me, but He will not always contend with me forever. Just as the church was told, so does He tell me now: open up to me whilst you still have time. Events around the world point to a shaking of all that's familiar. Would you want to face these uncertain times without the help and support of the Witness? He is knocking; open up to Him and let Him do what He alone can do. Your eternity will be glad you did. His time of favour is here. 

Available?

Available?

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. Isaiah 6:8 KJV

This vision came about in the year King Uzziah died. Who was this king, and why is his death mentioned? Here was a king who was 16 years when he became king, and he had a wealth of advisers, particularly Zechariah, who understood God's visions and helped train the king in the way of God. He was helped, until he became great, but when he became great, he cast off all restraints and took on work that was not his to do: a priest. When I seem to succeed, do I remember who helped me and is able to sustain me? Could it be that when Uzziah cast off restraint and became 'independent', God stopped speaking and revealing Himself? No wonder the same year that the king died was the year God's glory was revealed to Isaiah.

For all who will see God's glory in His fulness, every pride and self-sufficiency must cease. Until self dies, God cannot be revealed. I may go through the motions, get a glimpse of some display of power, or even experience God at work in people's lives, but where does that leave me? Am I content being just a valve that lets out, and not a vessel that retains the oracles of God? Am I content being a signpost pointing others to the way, while I have no desire to walk the path myself?

The king died, and the glory of God was revealed. Isaiah knew this was different, and realised he was unclean. Actually, in the light of God's glory, nothing of man is worthy. When you experience it, you know certainly that qualifications, abilities and skills do not count. Like Isaiah did, the only thing that counts here is a total surrender to the fire of purification and cleansing, so I can be a vessel that can speak the words of today's extract. 

There is no use of a person whose life has not been cleansed by the fire that comes from God's Presence. There is no way I can heed the call of a God I have not surrendered to. Sin cannot stand in the shadow of the glory of God, so if I will have a personal experience of this glory, I must run away from sin. Isaiah understood this and cried out to the only One who could cleanse. We must do the same too if we will experience the glory of God in all His fulness. It was the glory seen that made Isaiah see his own deficiencies. That is what God's glory does: reveal us to ourselves, so we see ourselves as God sees us, not as the world sees us. The world may celebrate and applaud us, but it really matters what God says. If God says we are unclean, no amount of outward celebrations or human approval will change the verdict. 

And the cleansing was done with fire. The tongs of cleansing was taken from the altar. There is nothing else that can cleanse me from sin, except the deep, penetrating flow of the blood of Jesus, the water and the fire of his Word. Every dross and dirt will be washed away, and then I can hear clearly what the message and mission is. It seems that Isaiah never heard the voice of the Lord until the cleansing had been done. And it is quite important to stress here that men may claim God has spoken, but for me, what is key is that I have submitted myself to the cleansing process, and I can hear God speak.

How do I stand before people to declare the mind of God if I have never heard his voice? What would I say and how would the words I speak convict hearts if they are not backed up by the purifying power and fire of God Himself? The assignment, the place of assignment, the scope and target of the assignment are not mine to determine; these are all God's prerogative. My one and most important contribution is my availability. Am I really available? Am I after impact on my own terms or impact as determined and rewarded by God?

At the end of it all, it won't matter what people thought or said or how they reacted to me. The only thing that would matter would be: Did I do what God wanted, when He wanted it and how He wanted it? Eternal rewards hang on my answer. His time of favour is here. 

Light

Light!

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Matthew 5:14 KJV

First of all, the world is in darkness. You can couch it in favourable language, or seek to water down the severity of the condition of the world, but God's verdict is that the world is in darkness. And lest I think it is about physical darkness, the world has found ways of generating light. We have harassed the power of the sun to do great things, but we have not found a way to deal with the darkness of the human soul, brought on by sin. The solution to this darkness is nothing that the world can provide, because it is the problem. It is not subject to the authority of the True Light, so any impact on the world would have to be from outside the world. That's where all who bear allegiance to the true Light come in.

Who is this piece addressed to: YOU. Yes, if you are one of the followers of Jesus, subject to His Lordship and Authority. Light can only be produced by anything that has light in itself. You cannot give what you don't have. It also means that if I will impact the world as light, I cannot do the things the world does. Whatever makes the people of the world comfortable cannot be my own practice. If I find myself comfortable with the standards of the world, then maybe I do not have the light in myself. If I find compromise and blending in easy, then maybe I do not fully understand what I have been called out of and called into. I cannot sit on the fence; the fence is too thin and too high  to stand indecision. I am either in as light or part of the furniture.

I do not see where my consent is required before Jesus makes the declaration here. My choice has publicly defined my allegiance. The day I took Jesus as Lord and Saviour was the day I took in His light. Imagine then the insult to His name I claim to bear if there is still no difference between the usual practices of the world and the things I engage in. I am in the world to impact it as light, not to be part of the rot I was planted to address. I am in the world, and I need to get things done, but I must be careful that my actions reflect my ownership and allegiance. If men cannot see the difference, just as the Christians in Antioch in the days of Paul stood out, then maybe I do not yet understand what exactly I have been called into.

There is no hiding place for all who bear allegiance to Jesus. Your life is opposed to the standards of the world, so if you do not expect opposition or resistance, then you may not fit into this description. All who bear light are like a city set on a hill: no room to hide, constant attention and both true and false statements spread about you. That is the price to be paid for the choice you have made. How would you stand for something that the world opposes and expect no pushback? How would I take a position against what is popular with the world and expect applause?

If you are looking for the path of least resistance, the world is your playground. It loves and supports its own and will not resist anything that aligns with its mode of operation. However, if heaven is your ultimate goal and Godly impact your earthly desire, then allegiance to Christ is the key. Just as you cannot hide from the world, you also cannot hide in Christ. Who you are will shine through; my choice of allegiance is made plain in my daily interactions. Am I light or am I part of the darkness that the light of Christ has come to eradicate? Where do you stand? His time of favour is here. 

Comforted!

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psalms 23:4 KJV

Here we see that there will be times when it seems that the Shepherd is not there. It will seem that I have been left to my own devices. The experience of the shadow of death is something all sheep must go through. We are sheep in a world of wolves and lions, who care nothing about the sheep and are willing to tear us to pieces. As soon as I start the day, it has to be a daily routine of total dependence on the Shepherd.

Let's not forget: what gives me courage in the face of death isn't what I know or have, but who I know and belong to. You can live near, know the name of the shepherd, even be friends with some of the sheep of His fold, but the ultimate question is: "Does the Shepherd know you as His own?" You can live all your life on your church's altar, yet that cannot secure you a place with God in Eternity. The  Shepherd guarantees the safety and security of all who belong to his fold. He says He is with me. As sheep, I must never lose sight of this truth. It is this truth that the devil will attack, because he knows that once he can convince you that you are alone and without help, he can swoop in to consume and destroy.

What are the instruments of the Shepherd to achieve this state of safety? It is the rod of discipline and self control and the staff of guidance working out God's purpose for my life. No sheep can escape it unless it is dead or has changed ownership, but as long as I belong to Him, this is a necessary part of my making. And what do the rod and staff achieve: comfort. 

It sounds ridiculous, but with God sometimes, nothing is ever what it looks like. How can something the world understands to be pain be something that brings you joy? How does an experience meant to break you down build you up? How would this comfort work and what does it mean? This comfort is God's way of saying "I have got your back". It matters in whose hands these things have been formed and fashioned. They can never work against the sheep in the fold of God unless the Lord allows it. The Shepherd is like a pharmacist, sure and certain of the ailment as well as the appropriate prescription to treat the illness. 

So I rest and relax in the love, care and attention of the Shepherd. I know that I am safe in Him, since nothing happens without His permission. I know the Shepherd, and that is enough for me. I know who I belong to and serve, and I know that all that He applies will end up for my good. What greater comfort can anyone give? His time of favour is here. 

Forgive!

Forgive! 

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

Matthew 6:14 KJV

Closely linked to man's relationship with God is man's relationship with a fellow man. Jesus had just taught his disciples about prayer, and one of the attributes of his model prayer is a request for God to forgive us, even as we forgive those who also offend us. It is my relationship with God that drives my relationship with other people. If the vertical is right, the horizontal will also be right.

So, I come to God, claiming He is my Father, taking time to pray and ask Him to bless me, yet I am not willing to let go of hurts and slights by fellow men. I am willing to receive forgiveness from God for the terrible things I have done, yet I am able to convince myself that other people do not deserve the same level of grace I have received. That is hypocrisy at its worst. 

If I know the value of what I hold, it will be easy to let go of anything else if it means holding on to that precious thing. If my relationship with God is of value to me, nothing and nobody will be so important that I will have to let go of God to lay hold of it or them. And it is a function of choice; as always, God never forces Himself on anyone.

And lest you think you can deceive Him, remember He is the creator of the heart. He knows honesty and hypocrisy when He sees either. Men may be fooled by outward piety, but God is moved by the contents of my heart. If I will walk with Him and walk into the benefits and blessings He has promised, my heart cannot afford multiple controllers. It has to be God, if it must end right.

And the law of sowing and reaping applies to all. God tells us what to expect from what we do. If I will live right and end well, I must watch my daily input and output. You can pray every hour, or have a great reputation with outsiders; what you sow into your walk with God is what you also reap from it. You sow mercy, you reap multiple streams of mercy. You sow malice; imagine the multiple streams of what you will be getting. Need a predetermined end? Start now to sow the right actions and responses. His time of favour is here. 

Fear? Power?

Fear? Power? 

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7 KJV

There is a God who reigns and rules over the affairs of men. He is the Creator of heaven and earth, and all things answer to Him, whether they know it or not. He is also the One who in His wisdom, assigns to all things He has made what they have been formed to do. Man keeps trying to tamper with this template, but in the final analysis, man will realise that all his efforts only helped to establish the purpose of God for his creation. 

And I note that this is the true God, not the many versions the world tries to sell to us these days. It is in the light of the above that today's extract makes sense. For all who will surrender to this true God, there is a gift He has given. I note the word given not deserved or earned. You can't walk into the gift by virtue of the way you look or the value of your bank account balance. It is a function of your allegiance and surrender to God. 

The gift is even made clearer when you consider what it is: the spirit of power, love and of a sound mind. These attributes reflect who God is. He is the one and only powerful one, and He is also called Love. If you don't have Him living inside of you, how can you make a claim on the spirit that reflects love? If you are so dependent on what your arm, knowledge, connections and influence can get for you, how can you lay claim to the spirit that emphasises total dependence on God alone? 

And you cannot take one and conveniently ignore the others. It is a complete package; with God, you get all of Him, even including a sound mind. You have the ruler of the universe in charge of your affairs, and He directs all you do. The world may be shouting or groaning; you live by a different economy, one sustained by God's grace. 

If you don't have Him, then the first part of today's extract applies. You will have fear, whether you are ready for it or not. Nothing in the world makes sense at the moment, so you do not have the spirit that God gives, you would have fear, because the heart can't be empty. So, which one do you have? Eternity hangs on your response. His time of favour is here.