Wisdom!

Wisdom!

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

The verses before today's extract lays an emphasis on my relationship with God. They ask me to trust in the Lord with all my heart. It is quite easy to give off an air of total dependence on God; make all the right noises; hit the right notes and say the right words, but there is an hidden part of our lives that is plain and open before God. With human beings, I can get away with pretence, but with God, it is a whole different matter.

Pray, tell me, how do you identify and measure pride in a man's heart? Pride may sometimes become plain over a period of time, but its damage would have been done. It then means that my first consideration, as I seek to please God, is the state of my heart. I can pretend with man-made manifestations of false humility, but how do I see myself and the giftings of God upon my life? Do I see myself as indispensable or as a part of a divine body being fashioned by God into a tool He can use for His glory? 

What today's extract makes clear is that there is a right kind of wisdom and a wrong kind. As long as the focus is on me, my needs and how I can be better by my efforts, I am pursuing the wrong kind of wisdom. Today's extract makes it clear what the right kind of wisdom is: the type that fears God AND departs from evil. Note that there is an AND in that piece. You cannot do one and ignore the other. You cannot also get the order wrong. It is the full measure of the first one that makes the second one possible. Human nature is sinful, and sin is evil. No man can by sheer will, fear God; it is only possible to fear God when you know Him, what He loves and hates, which will take time. 

The fear of the Lord in my heart cannot be mixed with any other fear. I cannot play both sides and still fear God. I cannot be silent when it comes to evil; I must speak out as God directs. As I live, speak and relate as God directs, I promote God in all I do. I make him known; I celebrate his power and influence over my life; I make clear my allegiance and loyalty. So, the question remains:, when people come in contact with me, what is immediately obvious: ME or God? When I speak, what flows out: the dregs of fermented wine of pride, or the fresh fragrance of true wisdom that only God can birth and sustain? As always, the choice is mine. His time of favour is here. 

Do Good!

Do Good! 

See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 1 Thessalonians 5:15 KJV

The background to today's extract is a charge to people referred to as 'brethren'; not mere churchgoers, church members or simply attendees in a spiritual meeting. These are people who have been washed by the blood, purified and set apart for noble use. These are people who know the standard set up by God, and strive to live by these on a daily basis. These are the ones today's extract speaks to.

Parts of the commission for these people are noted in the verse before today's extract:......brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. If I do not have the essential materials, there is no way I can carry out these assignments.

How do I warn, when I don't know the warnings myself? How do I provide comfort when I don't know the Comforter Himself or experienced His touch at some point in my life? How do I support the weak if I am not also helped by God? And how can I be patient with all men, if I do not appreciate the work of the Spirit of God in me? So, before I can reach out and impact, there must be a work done in me first.

It is on this basis that today's extract will then apply. If I then know whose I am and who I serve, impact is non-negotiable. Men must know that I serve a living God and live by different standards. My life becomes a testament to the power of God and what it can accomplish in a surrendered life. Then, I can speak under God's authority and regulate my environment. Evil shouldn't thrive where I am, and even if it threatens, men know that I will not join in to promote evil. 

My life becomes a message. It is my responsibility, as God's ambassador on earth, to promote God's standard. I must see to it that evil doesn't thrive. I must see to it that good, God's style, is promoted by all I say and do. You see, all I do becomes the standard by which the life of God is revealed in me. I can never rise above my contents. If it is God, He will shine out. 

And this good must be seen by all men, believers or otherwise. Of what use is a life that doesn't point men's hearts back to God, challenging them to seek Him and please Him? The world seeks a difference; be that difference. His time of favour is here 

All Things!

All Things!

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 KJV

In context, Paul refers a lot to the word 'WE' in this entire chapter. It is good to place that word in context, so we know those to whom this passage is addressed. In several places in today's chapter, the identity of the WE is revealed: WE are debtors NOT to the flesh; WE are saved by hope; WE who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. It is therefore clear that the WE here refer to people who are no longer under the control and influence of the flesh, who have surrendered total control to the Spirit of God. Irrespective of colour, race or origin, the Lordship of Jesus over our lives makes us members of the same family and co-heirs of all that God has promised. 

And there is a quiet but obvious confidence in the One in whom WE all have come to believe. There is a KNOW here that fills my heart with confidence that there are no accidents when it comes to the One who calls me to Himself. It is not suspicion, supposition or assumption; it is clear confidence that whatever it is that comes has passed through the One who calls me to Himself. In that knowledge I rest. 

And it is not some things, but ALL things that are in focus here: the good and the not so good. When I know who I am and who I belong to, I get the clear understanding that I am in safe hands. As I read the story of men like Stephen, Jeremiah, Enoch and Paul, it is clear to me that even though their stories didn't come out as attractive, the fact that God approved of their lives shows that it is not what man thinks that matters but what God thinks. Man can call my life a failure based on human indices such as networth, bank balance and circle of influence, but if God says my life is all good, then it doesn't matter what any other opinion is. 

And I repeat again: this is for people who LOVE GOD, WHO ARE THE CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE. God's purpose requires that all that is tied to it works to that same end. God will not allow anything to happen that defeats his end purpose. This is a God of awesome power and amazing wisdom, who brings the end to pass in line with his purpose. I have a task here, and it is to be certain, beyond all doubt, that what I am presently engaged in is in line with God's purpose for my life. Why would I expend energy, time and resources on things that God does not promote or approve of? Why would I spend time on things that God does not reckon with? 

God's love for me opens the door for my heart to also love God in return. And for me to say the words of today's extract, it means that I have experienced the full range of events: the good, the bad and the ugly, but the conclusion will be today's extract: because I belong to the God who owns and holds everything in His hands, and nothing happens without His permission, I am at rest that even if death comes, it is but a phase into the fullness of all that God has planned for me. If who I know and what I hold is not worth dying for, then maybe it is not worth living or fighting for. His time of favour is here. 

Fully Satisfied!

Fully Satisfied!

I will fully satisfy the needs of those who are weary and fully refresh the souls of those who are faint.

Jeremiah 31:25 NET

In context, Judah had been pillaged and left in ruins. God had warned several times in the past about the dangers of sin and rebellion towards God, but the people had refused or neglected to listen. Punishment had come: exile, burnt walls, looted temple and despair all around. As it has always been said, God will punish sin, no matter in whom it is found. God has no favourites when it comes to sin. He didn't spare His son as He bore the sins of the world on the cross; I don't know who else He will spare then. 

This wasn't the time to talk about raising armies or soldiers, but of inhabiting Jerusalem and making it a place of residence and work. God was going to fill the towns with people, including farmers and herdsmen, so that normal life could resume. If I seek a life of peace and quiet, God is the only one who can guarantee it. If my ways please God, He makes even my enemies to be at peace with me. For a town to be inhabited by farmers and herdsmen, it has to be a town with relative and consistent peace and quiet. Do you seek this kind of peace? Has the world battered you, with sin making you weak and powerless? God is the only One who can fully restore you to His original purpose. 

And that is the crux of today's extract. In this context, Sin makes a man prone to attacks, and because God does not defend sin, the devil is able to attack. His attacks can make a man weary and faint, even to the point of death. This is why God's mercy must be my utmost pursuit. It was God's mercy that led to today's promise, and as you read, you get the distinct impression that God does not do half-measures. If he restores, He does it fully. If He forgives, He completely forgets. If He provides refreshing, you can bet it will be the full measure. 

Of course, for me to enjoy what God offers, I must admit my need of Him. God doesn't force Himself on any one or compel me to open the door of my heart to Him. He waits at the door of my heart, knocking, waiting for me to open up to Him. The choice is mine to make, but the eternal consequence of my choice has already been determined. His offer is still available; I must make the best use of the time I have whilst I still have it. A time is coming when mercy will expire and only judgment will apply. Today is your day of decision. His time of favour is here. 

Friendly Reminder!

Friendly Reminder!

It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22‭-‬23 KJV

Every day, I learn more about God and the mysteries of the ways He deals with man. You can walk with God for 30 years, and yet, in an instant, He can show you a side of Him that will suprise and amaze you and sometimes dismay you. There are no guarantees that because you are on assignment for God, your path will be easy and without stress. There is nowhere God promises such, and it will be folly to expect such from God. 

Men in the Bible who walked with God had days of dismay. Elijah ran when threatened by Jezebel, even though he had just dealt a mortal blow on the worship of Ashtoreth and Baal. We see here Jeremiah, a prophet, used mightily by God, yet in seasons of despair and pain. Some of the words he used in the chapter where today's extract is taken from are pretty harsh: compared God with a lion; a bear; an archer with arrows; one who takes prisoners and maltreats them. If this were mortal man described like this, we would most likely take offence and lash out, but we deal with a God who deals with us in some pretty amazingly merciful ways. I am yet to see where God killed a man for questioning Him or for highlighting doubts. God always comes through with responses, sometimes that will help me understand what is going on, or to comfort me that God knows what He is doing, even if I don't know how.

If I stopped at the tale of woes, I wouldn't understand the context of today's extract. The writer had seen bad days, but there was this ONE thing that kept him sane, and it was the unfailing mercies of God. This limited space can never be enough to explain the concept of God's mercy, but let us first define mercy, without the God in it. Mercy is 'compassion or forgiveness shown towards someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm'. In essence, I, the one receiving the mercy deserved punishment for some wrong thing done, but someone with the power to exact due punishment decided to waive it and take away the due debt. It didn't take away the fact that I did wrong, but it meant that my debt for the wrong had been forgiven. Now, combine this definition with who God is, and you get a picture of a God whose love for man is such that knows no bounds. 

It is His mercy that keeps me away from the consequences of my own actions. His nature is consistent; He leaves me in no doubt as to what His expectations for my life are, and He also supplies all that I need to be able to align with his expectations. He knows that I will fail or fall sometimes, but that doesn't change who He is, because it is His nature to be merciful. My faithfulness is not the reason why He is merciful; it is because of His mercy that I even stand a chance at life. And his mercy knows no limits. It is not subject to human whims and caprices, but it is based on the eternal love of an eternal God. And it is not based on times and seasons; God is not like the unpredictable weather. Every morning, I experience a renewal of His mercy and kindness. Every day is a reminder of who God is, who I am, and what I have been graciously given. The best I can do is to live a life that shows gratitude for all I have received. I must not take the mercies of God for granted, and excuse sin. God's mercy is great, and his forgiveness is total, but it doesn't excuse iniquity. God, help me to live a life of total appreciation of all you have done for me. His time of favour is here. 

Discharge!

Discharge!

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity.

1 Corinthians 16:13‭-‬14 KJV

This is the concluding part of the first letter of Paul to the Corinthian church. A few of the words of today's extract bear emphasis:

Watch Ye: if there is no fear or danger, these words have no meaning. If there was no fear of being attacked, robbed or harmed, this charge does not make sense. A person who is on watch is given a mandate, an area or substance to focus on, and clear terms of engagement. S/he cannot get distracted by things happening outside his/her control. You simply focus on the bit you have been assigned to watch. When I take stock of what I have been given, or what has been committed into my hands, I know I must watch. I cannot afford to sleep off or become distracted. Watching takes time and effort, and calls for care, caution and restraint. Am I willing to pay the price required to be an effective watch over all that God has committed into my hands?

Stand Fast in the Faith: in addition to watching, I must also stand fast. The picture that comes to mind is that of a soldier on duty, who cannot afford to turn his/her back on the battle. In order to stand fast, you have to be properly dressed for battle. You don't come to war dressed in flowing garb; the circumstances of the battle determine the appropriate response. And where I stand also matters: it has to be in the faith, if my stand will also stand the test of time. Men have stood on principles and policies, but the principles died with them. If my life's focus will outlive me, it has to be based on something that lives on even when I am dead. What else could it be, if not the life of Christ?  Only in Christ am I truly able to stand, and not only stand, but do so to the end of my time. 

Quit you like men; be strong: I am called to act mature, to give out publicly the fruits of my private investment of time, resources and search of God. How do people know I am a man, mature and ready for the challenges of life? Isn't it by my actions? Words are cheap; anyone can make claims. But when I act, I reveal all that is in me. And how do I act like a man, and not be able to stand against evil in my day? How do I claim I am a man, when evil seems to thrive around me? Am I silent in the face of evil? Do I condone it simply because it does not directly affect me? Can I be counted on when it matters? 

Charity/Love: and when the inner man is sorted, the outer can make sense. It is not a mistake that the outward impact is mentioned after the inner impact is settled. You can't get the order wrong and still expect to be all God intends. How do I love people for whom their interests do not align with mine? How do I see people the way God sees them, if I do not see them from God's perspective? How do I claim to stand for someone else when my own stand with God isn't right? How do I claim I love other people when the love of God has not been birthed in me? So, I see now that before I can flow out with all that God is, God has to first flow in and take all of me. Then can He be all that men see when they come in contact with me. He becomes the only person that my life reflects. When I stand, walk, speak or live, God flows out. Then my life has become a full reflection and discharge of all that God is. His time of favour is here. 

Sealed!

Sealed!

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life]. [Matt. 12:37.] Proverbs 18:21 AMPC

The book of Proverbs is substantially attributed to Solomon, touted as the wisest man who ever lived at his time. In fact, God's promise was that if Solomon followed God with all his heart, there will not be any king in Israel like him either before or after him. We know from recorded history how Solomon grew in wisdom and impact, because God blessed him. But we also know how he ended up, and how his heart was made to pursue after other gods. It doesn't matter how close your walk with God is; you just cannot switch off at any moment and think you have arrived.

Today's extract is one of the many vivid images captured by Solomon. The tongue is but one of the many parts of the human body, but its effects are eternal. It is not visible unless its owner opens the mouth, but once exposed and used, its effect cannot be ignored. The tongue is seen as powerful because of what it can achieve: death or life. That's deep. Why would the tongue carry so much power? Because the user has been made in the image of God and carries the same creative power its creator has. This is the reason why the one who will wield the power of the tongue must understand what is at stake. 

In that tongue lies the power to heal, help, kill or destroy. What flows out is a function of what has been sown over time, whether good or bad. The good doesn't happen overnight; it is the result of deliberate action. That's the indulge part. What do you indulge in: God's Word or the world? What catches and holds your attention: the things of God or the world's? Remember, what you indulge in, grows. Whatever you feed, grows and bears fruit. 

And the fruit of your indulgence will be personal to you first of all. If you were to be shown the quality of the fruit of your tongue now, would you be able to eat it with joy? Today's extract isn't so much a threat as it is an admonition to watch where I step, what I do, what I watch, hear or see. These are the things that lead to the things I say. 

What guards have I put in place over my senses? What daily routines do I keep to ensure that I am constantly nurturing the right and starving the wrong? And of course, there are eternal consequences to the use of this tongue. You cannot expect to be careless with God's creation and then expect no accountability or responsibility. God will demand from every life how we have handled all He has given. Whilst I still have time, I must take stock and make amends where required. Eternity is too long a time not to be sure of where you will spend it. His time of favour is here.

Action and Reaction!

Action and Reaction!

Respond gently when you are confronted and you’ll defuse the rage of another. Responding with sharp, cutting words will only make it worse. Don’t you know that being angry can ruin the testimony of even the wisest of men? Proverbs 15:1 TPT

Let me quote here the shortened version of the piece above: A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

Proverbs 15:1 KJV. It is very clear that human relationships are one of the most complex things on earth. In fact, what today's extracts say is that there are several ways an issue can be resolved by human beings. If God could make about 7 billion people on earth with distinct fingerprints, with none ever the exact print of any other, then it means that there are over 7 billion ways of looking at or resolving an issue. 

The fact that I do not see it from your point of view does not always mean that you are wrong or right. It simply means that by communicating better, we can agree on how best to move forward, in the interest of all parties. After all, why would God put me in the midst of human beings who are so different from me, if not that He wants me to be his eyes, ears, hands and life, so that as I relate with people, God becomes evident in me.

It is clear also that human interaction will always lead to friction. Husbands and wives quarrel; siblings squabble; how much more people who do not share blood or race relations. Anger could be a natural outflow of this friction, but what you do with that emotion will reveal who sits on the throne of your heart and the one who dictates terms. The popular adage says: 'Every action has an equal and opposite reaction'. But this is the kicker: even in the spiritual, this statement is true, but maybe not in the way the world expects. 

The world demands that I meet force with similar force; God would have me do something similar, but from a different perspective: meet the force of hatred with the force of affection; meet the force of malice with the force of love. It cannot be inaction or indifference; that is against everything God calls His own to. Can light ever be ineffective or without impact? Where darkness reigns, so you know the value of just a liitle light? 

Have you considered the effect of just a little salt in food? God calls us both salt and light, because He knows what the world he has placed us in looks like. If I flow in the same direction the world flows in, how do I promote the God who wants me to do things differently? If my pursuits, priorities and principles are the same as the world's, how does the world ever get to see what it is missing?Each perspective gives what it has. The world cannot produce something outside what it has, and those who live by God's standard cannot also produce anything outside the One who lives and rules in them. 

And a warning at the end of today's extended extract: Don’t you know that being angry can ruin the testimony of even the wisest of men? For all men who will be all that God desires, anger must be an emotion under total control. It cannot and must not be allowed to rule me. God's Word couldn't have said it better than this: My dearest brothers and sisters, take this to heart: Be quick to listen, but slow to speak. And be slow to become angry, for human anger is never a legitimate tool to promote God’s righteous purpose. James 1:19‭-‬20 TPT. When you are tempted to lash out, ask yourself: would God be promoted or demoted in the eyes of the people watching/listening to me? After all, my physical lifestyle must be the proper reflection of my spiritual allegiance. I can pretend for a while, but the truth will always speak quite loudly as I live out my life on a daily basis. His time of favour is here. 

Serve!

Serve!

But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. Matthew 23:11 KJV

Moses received the law and taught it to the people of Israel. The latter part of Exodus, almost the whole of Leviticus and part of Numbers and Deuteronomy are used to teach the people the requirements of the law. We usually refer to Moses as the lawgiver, but for balance, let's look at three passages in the Bible:

a. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ. John 1:17 NET 

b. There is only one lawgiver and judge—the One who is able to save and to destroy...James 4:12 TLV.

c. And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord , and unto all the elders of Israel. Deuteronomy 31:9 KJV

It is therefore clear that God's original plan was that the Levites would be the teachers of the law, who would teach the people regularly and ensure that they knew what God's mind was on all matters. Fast forward a few centuries later, after several exiles, the post of custodian and teachers of the law had become politicised. Men who knew nothing about the law and its requirements had become teachers of the law. In fact, some were now known by the names 'Pharisees and Teachers of the law'. They could read the law of Moses, but from the interactions of Jesus with them, they knew nothing about what the law really wanted. 

Am I one of such people, with deep head knowledge about the law, but a deep lack of understanding of what the law actually requires? I can quote, teach, speak and read it, but does it make an imprint on my heart and life? Am I all about daily reading, yet no daily living? This was the accusation that Jesus levied against the so-called teachers of the law in his own time: men who could teach the law and tell men what to do, but whose personal lives were a mess, and a complete negation of what they taught. May I not be found to be a hypocrite, when I stand before God for judgement. By then, it will be too late to make changes.

That is the context of today's extract. Jesus speaks to the crowd and to the disciples, warning them about the dangers of following men who themselves do not follow God. He says: "Hear and listen to what they say, but be careful about the examples that you emulate.' These men had become masters over the people; in fact, the Pharisees and teachers of the law featured prominently during the events of the death of Jesus. That's how far away the teachers of the law had wandered away from the truth of the law. What am I holding on to: the tokens of men, or the truth of God's Word? Do I know what the word of God says, or am I just all about what I can get from it or how comfortable it makes me? 

And today's extract is the warning and encouragement to all who want to please God. Service isn't about position, but about impact. Men love the position but cannot put in the work the position requires. What the service is called isn't important; as long as I know who I work for and why I work, that is all that the law of the kingdom of God requires. The world emphasizes position as a measure of importance; God emphasizes service as the measure of submission. These two are fundamentally opposed to each other. You cannot achieve both at the same time, but you can by getting it right, be a blessing to your generation and also win God's approval. So, don't bother using the world's system to get what God offers. The way up is the way down. By total submission to God, a person learns the right way to serve God and also serve humanity. The world's view of greatness isn't the Word's view. How I pursue greatness will reveal which view I live by. And you don't get it right by accident; it is the result of a deliberate search for God's truth and total submission to it when you have found it. So, what's your view? His time of favour is here. 

Right Time!

Right Time!

For there is one God, and there is one who brings God and human beings together, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself to redeem the whole human race. That was the proof at the right time that God wants everyone to be saved, 1 Timothy 2:5‭-‬6 GNT

God's default setting, if there is anything like that, is the salvation of all men. After all, we are all His creation, and no one makes a thing for which its purpose isn't defined. And it is not enough to just hear or know about the Truth, you have to know the Truth and be saved, to fully enjoy all that God has purposed.

And it is clear from the Word of Truth that sin is the hindrance to all that God intends. And this is why he paid such a high price for sin to be dealt with in man. He calls himself the One God, which means any other god you may hear about is not Him. As long as the other god you hear about cannot offer the things this God does, then it is not the same God. 

And sin had caused a separation between the Creator and the created. One God, one Mediator, one problem, which was sin, and one solution, which is the blood of the Son of this God. By the blood, the dividing wall between God and man was bridged, and fellowship restored. The initial template was restored; the problem of sin permanently dealt with, the original plan instituted once again. If what you hold on to does not follow this pattern, please check again before it is too late.

If the One God says there is only one way back to Him, won't it be wise to seek out, check out and confirm that this position is correct? Why would I want to take a chance on my eternity by seeking out man-made solutions to an eternal problem?  Sin is an eternal problem, because its consequences will far outlive man, if it is not repented of. If an eternal God, who knows about the power of sin, makes an offer of life out from under the power of sin, it is only wise for me to take advantage of it.

Back to the beginning: all of these things that the One God did was to restore the default setting, which is the salvation of all men. He has done his bit; settled once and for all time the effect and consequences of sin, and provided a permanent way of escape into eternal life. He's done his all; would I give Him my all? Would I take advantage of the finished work of the Mediator, and be reconciled back to God? His love will not let go, unless I let go to the end of my life; then the consequences of my choice will apply. Eternity is too long a time not to be sure where you will spend it. His time of favour is here. 

Matching Lifestyle!

Matching Lifestyle!

Whoever says he abides in Him ought [as a personal debt] to walk and conduct himself in the same way in which He walked and conducted Himself. 1 John 2:6 AMPC

It is easy to make claims, but the proof of the pudding, as they say, is in the eating. I can make all the required noises, keep up appearances, but eventually, the truth about my life's pursuits will eventually be revealed. One of the earlier verses before today's extract reads so succinctly: We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. The proof of my knowledge of God isn't based on books, mouth confession or popular opinion, but on my life's outward profession. I can be hypocritical or successfully pretend, but time is a revealer of secrets and intentions. 

Please note above the use of the word 'command'. God is not a negotiator, who will have to constantly present arguments to convince you to see his point of view. He has made his intentions and purposes clear in and by His Word, and he invites us to take a careful look at his Word and decide for ourselves what we want to do. God is a commander, who is referred to as the Man of War. His Word is referred to as a double-edged sword, a fire and a hammer. These things do not give a picture of convenience or ease but of the consequences of choices to be made. 

So a choice must be made; a decision taken. Words are cheap; my lifestyle must match up with my words. If I truly ABIDE in Him, my residence status must be obvious from my daily living. The excuse that 'I am human and God understands my weaknesses' is a poor excuse for not living in line with the standards of God. After all, God never asked me to live by my own strength or in my wisdom, but to depend totally on Him for all I need to live right. As long as I am depending on my own strength or wisdom, I will always fall short. The fallen human nature can NEVER be conditioned to align with God's expectations. It is that new life, born of God and sustained by Him, that must be the desire and pursuit of anyone seeking to please God. 

You cannot serve God out of a heart that is tied to the world. You cannot pursue your own agenda and still promote God. An example has been laid down for us, which is Christ's. His life becomes the example to follow and emulate. If people cannot see Christ in me, maybe it is because I am not living in line with His standard. The apostles didn't need to announce themselves;  their lives revealed the truth about their allegiances. The men around them saw a reflection of Christ in them. Can the same be said about me? Is it just a claim or actual reality? Has my commitment to God moved from mere words to actual daily lifestyle? Remember, time will reveal the truth about me. His time of favour is here. 

Live in Light!

Live in Light!

but if we [really] walk in the Light [that is, live each and every day in conformity with the precepts of God], as He Himself is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another [He with us, and we with Him], and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin [by erasing the stain of sin, keeping us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations]. 1 John 1:7 AM

The foundation: In the verses before today's extract, John testifies to having received the revelation of God. You cannot claim to speak for God unless and until you have heard or received anything from Him. It is what i have received or heard that I can announce to you. And if I claim to have received or heard anything from God, it cannot negate the nature of God. Nothing God reveals goes contrary to who God is. And John makes it clear: God is Light, Holy, Truth and Righteousness. Anything else you 'receive' or 'hear' that goes contrary to who God is cannot be from God. He is the message and he sends the message. It is about Him from first to last, and anyone who promotes anything or anyone else has not received that from God. 

If a man claims to have received or heard from God, yet is comfortable around sin, that man is deceiving himself. God and sin cannot dwell in the same heart, or control the same life at the same time. And because man is prone to deception, he can convince himself that he is on the right path. However, my opinion isn't what drives this narrative, but the opinion of the One who is Truth, Life and Light. 

I cannot truly encounter Him and still be comfortable around sin. I cannot truly encounter Him and my life will not bear the outward imprint of the inner workings of his life and light in me. How does a man carry light in himself and the world does not notice it? Can a man with light not stand out when there is darkness all around? And it is a daily walk; God is not asking me to live next year now, but to trust Him by walking with Him daily as He brings me to the place He had prepared for me. 

And as I carry light in myself, and you carry light in yourself, imagine the joy when we all come together in fellowship, which is also in line with His will. He is with us as light, and together, we all reflect His light. The world cannot but sit up and take notice. And it is not a one-off relationship, but a consistent outflow of his grace. His blood, shed on the cross, becomes the way out from under the power and curse of sin. 

Sin is a deal breaker, and it cuts one off from the life flow of God. If I will keep the channel of communication between God and I open, I must remain in the Light of God. If I will live a life of victory, the secret is in my connection with the One called Light. Does He know me as His own? Do I have true fellowship with Him, or am I just taking up space? My inner reality will be manifested by my outer relationships. If God lives in me, it cannot be ignored. If He does not, it cannot be denied. So, where am I living? Where are you living? His time of favour is here. 

Pure Joy!

Pure Joy!

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James 1:2‭-‬3 NIV

It is important to note the target of today's extract. James writes to the 'twelve tribes, scattered among the nations'. The tribes were scattered across several nations. It could be as a punishment for sin; it could be God's way to plant his chosen ones among nations so their lives could show off God's mercy; whatever the reason was, God was fully in charge of the process and the events. I must set my heart at rest that God is totally in charge of my life and the events that come around. God can displace because he wants to replicate his glory and honour among the nations. How else will the world see His light, taste the salt and experience His power if my life is not the visible reflection of all these things? These people had a covenant over their lives, yet it didn't prevent them from being dispersed. Most times, God's path to glory lies through the path of the storm. 

I must note also that the additional information relates to faith in God. These words were written to people who had come to trust in God, even though things weren't rosy. God does not call men to earthly comfort, but to earthly impact. He calls, gifts and places men where they would be of eternal value to Him. It could be in a strange land; among enemies; in the direct path of wicked people, but ultimately, the question would be: am I where God intends for me to be? And then comes the words of today's extract, where it is made clear that I must consider trials of faith as a thing of pure joy. It takes a man who sees God at work to rejoice in pain. 

I have two responses to unpleasant situations; you accept them as divine or reject them as demonic. The understanding I have of God will define how I respond. Men who laughed at the storms had a clear idea of the limits of the storm and God's undeniable power over the storm. For you to rejoice in a trial, you have got to have an idea how it works and how it ends. God leaves no doubt as to how trials work: they test your faith, they draw out its value and depth and teach you perseverance and endurance. 

Why do I need to learn endurance or perseverance? It is because where God is taking me to, it is the strength of character, forged through the fire of trials, that will sustain me there? Why does it seem that God doesn't commit important assignments into the hands of men he has not proved? Isn't it because He needs to know if His deposits of power and grace will be handled right and not be thrown to the dogs. It means I must embrace God's efforts to fashion me into a tool He can use. I can't sharpen myself; I can't build myself up by my own efforts. God has to be the One who builds me up into what He sees fit, since what He needs me to get done is defined by Him. 

Ultimately, the test of faith is a test of my love for God. How much of God would I hold on to when every other thing fails or falls off? And when the tests come, I face them with joy, because I know the One who I have come to believe. As I learn perseverance, I learn more about God and the way He works and where He walks. As I follow Him closely, I learn His heart and seek after His purposes. Location isn't as important as purpose, because no matter where I have been planted, God's reward for a life of service will be based on my fulfilment of His purpose. God is able to direct required resources wherever I am located, because He owns the heavens and the earth. So, I rejoice, resting in the confidence that as I progress in my learning, I know more of who God is, what he wants and how he wants me to walk and work. He knows that as I grow, he can commit more things into my hands. What great blessing it is for God to entrust me with His mysteries, because He knows He has my heart. His time of favour is here. 

Right There!

Right There! 

The Lord your God is in the midst of you, a Mighty One, a Savior [Who saves]! He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest [in silent satisfaction] and in His love He will be silent and make no mention [of past sins, or even recall them]; He will exult over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17 AMPC

There has been a central theme in most of the verses God has brought to our attention over the past few weeks, and it has to do with God's view of sin. It is clear that God will punish sin no matter in whom it is found. God has no favourite sons or daughters when it comes to sin; his hatred for sin was matched by the price He paid to ensure its hold over man is broken, when He have his Son as the price. Not even his chosen ones, the people of Israel, were spared when they sinned. Let it be known that the same standard still applies today. If God called it sin then, no enlightenment, education, acquisitions or affluence can change God's view. I must see sin as God sees it, if I will get all that God promises all who run away from sin and towards Him. 

And that God is introduced again to us: the Lord thy God, a Mighty One, a Saviour, the One with joy, with love and plenty of songs. For every situation His children find themselves, God reveals Himself to match the need. Here, his children needed deliverance from bondage and he showed up as the Mighty One, the Saviour. My greatest need isn't possessions, position, power or privilege, but the Presence of the Saviour Himself. Of what use are fat bank accounts, influence or affluence if my soul is not saved? He is not one who is just Saviour by name and popular opinion alone, but One who truly has power to save, as His name suggests. 

He needs to be IN and WITH me, if I will be all He has created, gifted and placed me to be. I cannot be content with images and symbols that look like the real thing, when He Himself is not present. Until I'm certain, sure, convinced and confident that He is in and with me, I must not dare say or do anything. And when He has come in and done His work, there is no one who can question him or reverse what he has done. When He has done his work, he rests. Who can speak and it comes to pass, when the Lord has not decreed it? When he places an open door of favour before a man, who is that person, born my mortal man, who can close it? 

He forgives sin and forgets them. He takes a man like Saul, cleans him up and releases him to the world as an object of grace and mercy, a testimony to his power of restoration. He takes men like Simon, Thomas and Zacchaeus, given to doubt and inconsistency, women like Rahab and Ruth, and turns their stories around and makes them testimonies of His mercy and grace. He cleans them up, and when He releases them to the world, even their bitter past becomes a sweet point of reference to the amazing grace of God.

And He sings. This is the God before whom the whole host of heaven falls down to worship day and night. Well, there is no night there, so I believe the songs go on forever and ever. If God could be worshipped and praised in this manner, imagine then how he will sing. And then he chooses me, a mere mortal man, made of dust, born into sin, as the object of his songs and affection. This should make me both ecstatic and awed. I should be glad that an immortal God chooses me as His own and showers His blessings on me, but I should also be awed, as there is an accounting that will be demanded for all that I was given. God doesn't waste resources, and He will give me all that I need for life and Godliness. When he has done his part, be sure that He will demand an account of my own part. What would it be? Can God rejoice over my present work and lifestyle? Is my present life an appreciation of what I have received from God? His time of favour is here. 

See; Do!

See; Do!

Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. Philippians 4:9 KJV

Paul understood the importance of learning, receiving, hearing and seeing. All of these things flow from a lifestyle of careful observation, dutiful study and diligent listening and studying. There is no part of these things that come by accident, where a man learns, receives, gears or sees anything of value without some effort. Gold is not seen on the surface, where a man can walk along the road and pick it up, unless another man had done the work of digging and left it out for another to find.

Paul understood the importance of the investment of time and resources, and he had done the bit he could, so he could write down these words as encouragement to the Philippians. And before I can put out my life as an example like this, the question I have to answer is this: have I paid the price in the investment of time, resources and private study, so that my life reflects these investments? Am I all noise, words and no substance? Do I tell people what to do, while I do the very opposite? Am I all about hypocrisy and deception, a life full of drama, but empty of the power of God? 

Look at those key words: learned, received, heard and seen. Paul learnt from the best in his own age. He put himself to study, and then he could stand before others to teach. No man can give you what he does not first own or hold. A man cannot transfer funds out of an account into which there has never been any deposit. You cannot give what you don't have, and you cannot receive from me what I have not first received from the original owner. How do I speak and convince you about something I myself have not heard or believed? How do I convince you to hear when I have not heard anything from the true source Himself? And when I put out my life as an example for you to emulate, can I be proud of what I am and do, if my life's pattern was shown back to me? 

The above are just a few of the concerns I must consider and resolve, before I dare put myself out as an example to others. I must not stand and tell you what to do, when my own life is a lie, and looks nothing like what I teach. I must not teach something I have refused to practice, or encourage you to follow a path I have refused to personally tread. 

Live!

Live!

And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Galatians 5:24‭-‬25 KJV

There is a statement of fact as well as a statement depicting ownership and possession in the first part of today's extract. I note that it says 'they that are Christ's'. It is not about what I claim to be, but what my ownership structure is. I can make all the claims possible; keep up necessary appearances; strive to convince you my drama is genuine, yet none of it matters more than how Christ sees me or what He says about me.

What is then expected of those who have sorted out their ownership structure? Their way of life, pursuits, priorities and mannerisms will all reflect this status. If what excites me are the things that should be crucified; if my heart lusts after dead works; if I pursue after the things that have no eternal value, maybe I am yet to fully understand what my ownership structure actually demands from me. 

Crucifying the flesh must be something already settled, part of my past. The flesh, with its affections and lusts, can NEVER work with Christ. The two are extreme positions; parallel lines that can never meet because they come from two different sources, promote different agendas and have different eternal realities. Anyone who still struggles with the flesh and its lusts needs to sort out the ownership structure. You can't play both sides or sit on the fence. You are either all in or all out. 

I can convince myself that God knows I am human and weak, but would God really accept total surrender to the flesh? Would he allow me get away with sin, simply because I am human? Why then did He give his Son, and testify that the reason why the Son was manifested was to destroy the works of the devil. Why did He give up His son and pay such a high price, if I would still plead 'being human' as the excuse for sin? 

So, I have a decision to make: the choice of living. Where and How I live define where and how I walk. There is a life pattern for all who will walk in line with the Spirit. The Spirit defines what is acceptable, and I can choose to align or defy. It can't be both at the same time, and it can't be neither. I note that the living is to be IN the Spirit. This shows residence and consistency. You don't flow in and out of the Spirit as you please or at your convenience. It has to be a continuous and consistent lifestyle, testified by the Spirit of God as genuine. 

So, what's it going to be for you? I ask myself also: how am I living at the moment? The NOW is the preparation for the eternal. I must get the life right down here, if I will enjoy the benefits and blessings of the eternal life with God. His time of favour is here. 

Watch Out!

Watch Out! 

For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. 1 Peter 3:12 KJV

The eyes of the Lord: We are talking about the Creator of the eyes, as well as other parts. The human eye is described as an amazing part of the human body, and it consists of many parts, which include the sclera, the pupil, the iris, the cornea, a clear lens and the retina. Each of these parts has a specific function, and working together, they underpin the sense of sight. If the human eye is this complex, imagine the power, might, vision, foresight and wisdom of the One who created it. 

If man can replicate the function of the eyes and create closed circuit systems, as well as satellites in the sky to look at what is happening millions of miles away, imagine the awesome power of the One who is at the heart of all that man is. If man can manipulate technology to view anything he desires, then man must fear the Lord whose eyes can see ALL that goes on down here on earth. 

The Ears of the Lord: the human ear is an organ that serves two main functions: hearing and balance. The human ear has three parts: the outer, middle and inner ear, all of which aid the functions mentioned above. I say again: if the human ear can be this complex, imagine the amazing creative design of the One who made them. 

The Righteous and the Evil: Then comes the distinction in the present reality and the eternal destination of all men. All men are seen and heard by the One whose eyes see and whose ears hear all, but there is a consequence attached to how I live before the One who sees all. This is a God of absolute knowledge, who cannot be deceived by outward piety that is empty of the inner Presence of God. 

I can keep up the pretence; men can applaud and celebrate me; people can be very happy to have me around, but today's extract reminds me that what is truly important is not what men see, hear or say, but what God sees. God's eyes and ears are always open, looking and listening to men and seeking those whose lives He can shine in and through. 

Check out the position of the eye of the Lord: over all who are righteous. He is a guard, a watch, a presence over the righteous. Nothing gets to them without passing through his court first. Why the righteous? Because righteousness is His nature. Men who live right live in line with His will, and there is no way He will not move heaven and earth to bless them.

He also hears when they cry out in prayer. These are people who know that God is the only source of strength and help, and they can never run out of the need for help. It is man's prerogative to deceive; it is God's nature to be true to His promises. When God says he sees and hears, it is my responsibility to ensure that I am where I can be seen and heard, or doing what He can see and be glad to bless me. God's eyes are too pure to behold iniquity so if there is anything I must hate, it is sin. If God calls anything sin, I must not call it any other name than how God sees it. 

If God has turned His face away from you, who then can help you? If God hates the evil you do, there is no way He will pay attention to you until you have addressed that thing He hates. So I can fully understand the implication of God turning His face away from me, remember that God turned away and forsook His Son, whilst He hung on the cross. If God could treat his own son that way, please note that God will deal with sin, no matter in whom it is found. The power of sin and evil has already been dealt with by the cross, so my help over sin is found in the One who defeated sin. 

What would it be for me then? Do I consider myself able to take care of myself outside of God? Or am I fully dependent on God for all that I need for life and Godliness? Remember, my daily decision is the basis of my eternal reality. May the Lord not turn his eyes and ears away from me. May my life please Him, so He can display His splendour in and through me. His time of favour is here. 

Tomorrow!

Tomorrow!

Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Matthew 6:34 KJV

Take no thought: a conscious effort not to burden myself with the things I have no control over. Anxiety, worry and fear over the unknown has been built into the DNA of the fallen man. We steal and store up treasure for ourselves on earth, because we are uncertan about the challenges and demands that could come. We assume that bank account balances, political connections and influence will come through for us when the need arises. We forget that we are only given the NOW, not the next moment or LATER. No man alive, not even with the help of science and technology, can accurately predict the end of the hour, not to talk of tomorrow. Yet, we fret and scheme and plan, assuming that we can by sheer will or structure, prepare for the unknown tomorrow. 

Take no thought: it is a personal conscious decision, not one I can discuss as a group. It is a conference call, but the personal outflow of a heart that is settled internally, not one given to multiple worries and cares. And I note that my thoughts drive my actions. I may convince myself that I am not worried, yet my actions may reflect the opposite. I could deceive other men like myself, but when you deal with the Creator of the heart, you know that there is no deception that can succeed with Him. 

Tomorrow will worry about itself: each day has its concerns and events, and it will demand reactions and decisions from me. Each day that God appointed for me was already written down in His book before even one of them came to pass, so from God's perspective, there can be no suprises for me. I am the one who needs to get into God and find out what His plans for my days are. When I know them, the fear of tomorrow has lost its hold on me. When I know what God wants me to do NOW, the fear of what tomorrow holds no longer has a hold of my heart. I leave the worrying to tomorrow, the day that has not yet come. I leave tomorrow to worry about if it will come, what it will bring, and how it will end. For me, my heart is on the One who will bring me safely into tomorrow, and as long as I am in His will, there is nothing in that tomorrow that I need to fear. 

Each day has its own trouble: True, in every respect. We are in the NOW. All around us, trouble rages; storms rise; winds blow. There is a lot going on NOW, and the Lord has already indicated that these are the last days. Would it not be wise to live in the moment, careful about my decision NOW? Won't it be wise for me to appreciate each second God gives me, and not fret over things I have no control over? Won't it be wise to ask God to direct and keep me in the daily experiences I will have, and not fret over what tomorrow, a day I know nothing about, and cannot prepare adequately for? Lord, keep me in the NOW, let my heart seek you NOW, let every worry and anxiety in my heart over the unknown tomorrow be taken down, so I can enjoy all that you have made available for me. Help me set my pursuits and priorities right, so that I can BE who, where and what you made, fashioned, gifted and placed me to be in the NOW. His time of favour is here.

Give Him Room!

Give Him Room! 

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Colossians 3:15 KJV

Context: Paul was speaking to the 'elect of God', who had been chosen by God, washed by His blood and called into unity in the body of Christ, represented by His church. It doesn't matter what name I call myself or how people address me; if I don't belong, I don't belong. No amount of window-dressing, adherence to practices and conventions or hypocritical pretence can make it right;  I must belong to the elect of God to make a claim on the things that are on offer here.

Lessons: 1. It doesn't matter what the storms that rage on outside are. As long as I have sorted out my inner state, I will be alright. The reason why there is so much tumult in our hearts could be because we have not given God total control. We pray for his intervention, and when we are done praying, we pick up the burdens again, because we think God may not just know how to solve them. Until my heart's control centre is sorted, I cannot make a claim on the peace that God offers.

Lesson 2: This peace only applies if it is allowed to reign and rule. God will not share his glory with anyone or anything, and if he is not Lord over all, he is not Lord at all. Check out every man in the Bible who followed God with a divided heart and check out how their lives panned out. Ruling means being fully in charge, dictating daily pursuits and priorities. Can that be said to be the case in my own heart? Is God really the Lord of my heart or do I have some 'viable alternatives' lined up if the first option does not come through?

Lesson 3: As long as I claim part of the Body of Christ, I am called to walk in peace with other parts of the body. How can one body fight with its other members and be able to function normally? Unless I cut myself off the body of Christ, then can I totally avoid any issue of any kind, but if I will relate as God commands, I must remain part of His body, enjoy the blessings this union brings, and learn the lessons that interactions must also bring. God doesn't promise that there won't be issues; we all come from different backgrounds into the body of Christ, but the cords that bind us together are stronger than the issues that threaten to separate us. That is why he offers His peace now, ahead of whatever issues we may have to contend with. We fight over control, influence, position, power, culture and tradition, forgetting that Christ isn't returning for people who 'look' like Him, but for people who are IN Him when He returns. So, where are you presently located: just IN church, or truly IN Christ? 

Lesson 4: It ends in thanksgiving. When I consider all that Christ has done to bring me to where I presently stand, I know I am a product of grace, not good works. I am certain that it was the love of Christ that drew me to Him, not my good looks or amazing service. My one and only response then is to live in daily appreciation of all that I have received and presently enjoy. If I know it had nothing to do with what I earned or deserved, there is no room for pride. So, in appreciation of all that I am and have, and all I have come to know about this God of love who calls me to Himself and gives all of Himself to me, I say THANK YOU daily and regularly. Nothing more need be said. Would you also give Him room in your own life, so He can do what He has promised? He waits. His time of favour is here. 

Even If!

Even If!

For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee. Isaiah 54:10 KJV

When I read verses like today's extract, I am reminded of the power, might and mercy of the God who calls me into a relationship with Him. The whole of this chapter is a brief window into the mind of God; the One who hates sin but Ioves the sinner, and who gets angry and can punish, but can also show incomparable love. This is the God who calls me to Himself. I must respond with joy, fear and awe, as I recall from the Bible the way He deals with sin. 

Here is a nation that God called His own; he gave them a land that they didn't work for or earn, yet they found ways to hurt Him. They rejected him and turned to other gods, and just as He had consistently warned them, He punished them for their rebellion and disobedience. Let it be repeated again: God will punish sin, no matter in whom it is found. God has no favourites when it comes to sin. 

So, God punished, but his love just couldn't ignore the pain. He forgave, and then made some promises that are in focus in today's extract. If you will trust the promises of anyone who pronounces them, you check out the pedigree of that person: can He be trusted? Has He made such promises in the past, and was he able to fulfil them? When you have proven the pedigree of the maker of the promises, then you can trust that whatever it is you clearly heard him say will come to pass. 

A good example: the flood of Noah. God made a promise then that He would not destroy the world again with water the way He did then. About 6,000 years have passed since then, and the promise still stands, so it means that this God is able to do all that He has promised. Check out the verse before today's extract: For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. 

In that light, when you read today's extract, you get the picture of who this God is. He is ready to disrupt natural laws in order to bring about His promise. He is ready to suspend nature, just as he did for Joshua, when his name is at stake. When God swears, it is serious business. He can move hills and mountains; after all, they are his creation and they answer to him. However, his Word is immutable. The natural world as you know it may change or be displaced; created things can fall out of sync. But when God says that his kindness will not depart from you, he means that He will watch over his word to ensure that for you, it comes to pass. When he says that the covenant of his peace will not be removed, it is because his peace is not subject to human machinations. His peace is not tied to the economy or my bank account balance, but to His power, mercy and nature. It is His peace, so you need to be IN Him to enjoy it. 

Who then is the person to whom this passage is addressed? It is to people who have enjoyed God's mercy and forgiveness. They are not full of self help or themselves, but totally surrendered to the God of mercy. If I will enjoy this mercy, I cannot claim self-importance. God's mercy and man's self-importance cannot coexist in the same human vessel. As long as I think I have it figured out, I do not need help. As long as God is the only one I look up to, then his mercy becomes my benefit. Where do you stand? His time of favour is here. 

Personal Example!

Personal Example!

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

It appears to me that service flows out of a relationship with the One I seek to serve. I look at the verse before today's extract, and it says: Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth. You cannot look at service without first understanding the relationship that underpins that service. Why is hypocrisy and eye-service so rampart in our society today? Isn't it because we have only been told what is right and acceptable; we have not found it for ourselves. We follow dogma and what 'they say', yet there is no personal touch, no personal encounter with the One we are charged to serve. We don't even know who 'they' themselves follow. I cannot truly serve someone I have not learnt to follow, and I cannot truly follow someone who I do not even know how or where he walks and works.

Like was said, relationship always precedes service. No matter how hard you try, you cannot change that order. Fearing God is the key to acceptable and reverential service. And this is the thread that runs through Joshua's message here to the people of Israel. Joshua had experienced firsthand what the benefits of fearing God was: he (with Caleb) was spared from death in the desert when other contemporaries died. He saw God do mighty things to Jericho, Ai and the Jordan River. That must have weighed on his mind as he stood before the people, close to his death, charging them to decide for themselves who they would serve. 

Please don't forget: service flows out of relationship. Service is the outward proof of an inner walk with God. No matter how much I charge you to serve God, it will remain labour until it flows out of a heart that has been taken over completely by the fear of God. Check out today's extract: the people carried gods from Egypt, through the wilderness experience. They saw God at work, yet they ascribed his mighty deeds to other gods. Even when they came into the land of Promise, there were still other options available. It then means to me that no matter how hard I try, I cannot completely rule out other 'gods' competing for my heart. There will be suggestions, attractions and distractions, but I must not forget that there is eternal danger in following after other gods.

On my life's journey, there will be options offered to me. Their fathers served other gods, and here the children are given the option: you can hold on to your fathers' gods, or you can also follow after the local gods of the land, or you can follow after the God who brought you out of Egypt. The choice, as always, is personal. The consequences of each decision are also made clear, as was seen in the stories of the people who followed after such false options. God leaves no one in doubt as to what we stand to lose if we do not follow Him. 

And so that there will be no excuse, the leader makes it clear what his own choice is: I will serve the Lord, and not just me, but my entire family. This is leadership by example; not just telling, but showing how it is done. And it is a decision that will not only affect you, but the children and generation coming after you. How did the nation of Israel reach a point, a few years after Joshua died, that the Bible records that every man did as he pleased? Was it that the people only followed God as long as Joshua was alive and because they didn't know God for themselves, they fell away to their other gods because there was no one to keep reminding them? 

What's my excuse for my present pursuits and priorities? Is it that no one follows up with me, that is why I am walking in the path of ungodliness? Would that be the defence when I stand before the judgment seat of God? Can I hold anyone else responsible for my decisions? It does not appear so. The choice is always mine and mine alone. Men and women will come my way, offer me suggestions and options, but because this is a personal walk, I must decide how I will walk it and how it will work out. No one can go to heaven or hell on my behalf, so I had better be sure that I have chosen right. What will it be for you too? His time of favour is here. 

Tempted 2?

Tempted 2?

But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. James 1:14‭-‬15 NIV

Following on from the devotion of 2 days ago, where we established the fact that God does no evil, it was emphasized that God cannot be tempted by evil, neither does he tempt anyone. Where then does temptation come from, and what gives it the power to upend man's life and lead him into damnation? Why is it important that we examine the origin of sin, its power, its limitation and God's one-off solution to sin? I believe that an understanding of who God is, what He has done, will help us know what we stand to gain if we accept the gift on offer. 

You see, if we examine the first sin of disobedience by Adam in the Garden of Eden, there was a position God had placed the first man. He had daily and regular communion with God. He was given enough work to do in the Garden, but he was also warned about the dangers in the Garden. So he had relationship, he had work and then he also had limitations. All who will recognise and overcome temptation must know and understand these things. For all of us, we have been placed on God's earth to fulfil a purpose. My differs from all who read this, but they all flow into one ultimate purpose God has for all of us: eternal life at the end of our shift on earth. 

He has provided the context for that purpose, as well as the resources required for the fulfilment of that purpose. Anyone who will achieve his/her purpose must strictly adhere to the conditions and limitations laid down by God. God does not give anyone free rein to do as s/he pleases, but there are conditions and environments under which God's purpose can be fulfilled. You cannot lie down on a bed of adultery and expect the Holy Spirit to work in and through you. You cannot continue in sin and expect the grace of God to abound.

That is what gives today's extract its context. For anyone to be successfully tempted, he has to be DRAGGED AWAY AND ENTICED. It is hard for the devil to successfully tempt anyone who is totally focused on God. Peter focused on Jesus and was able to walk on water. As soon as he took his eyes off, he began to sink. As long as I do not allow my heart to be dragged away and enticed by the other evil options available, I am fine. This is why the work of God is always done in the human heart, not the brain or the body, but the heart. The heart is the seat of battle, where the dragging away and enticement is done. Once the heart is successfully enticed, danger is near. 

The danger can still be averted if the desire is nipped in the bud. For evil desire to conceive and give birth to sin, it takes time. That time could be used to flee whatever it is that is encouraging that temptation, or to change the channel you are watching, or to change the friends you move with or to change the entire environment, or to just cry out to God for His help. You must use the time between the conception of desire and its giving birth to take concrete steps to avoid sin. As soon as sin is given birth to, the end changes. If sin is not repented of, the end of it is death. That is why the Bible says when sin is fully mature or fully grown, it leads to death. 

As long as I realise I have sinned, God gives opportunity for repentance. As long as I realise that I need help, it is available as soon as I ask for it. I must not allow sin to mature before I deal with it, otherwise I will be courting eternal death. Don't take my word for it; check through the entire bible and point out just one person who sinned and got away with it. There is always forgiveness for all who repent, and it is left to God to sort the immediate or delayed consequences, where applicable. 

The message is this: God has done all there is to do to guarantee life for us. We must take advantage of this and flee all appearances of evil. We must avoid situations that lead to sin, and be quick to examine our lives and motives in the light of God's Word. Eternity is at stake here, and forever and ever is too long a time for me not to be sure where I want to spend it. His time of favour is here. 

Defined Differently!

Defined Differently! 

But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. Luke 6:27-28 KJV

Jesus speaks here, addressing those 'who hear'. This message is not for the world; it is not for churchgoers or highly moral people; it is for all who will heed the words of Jesus and take specific action to live by what is commanded. Am I one who just has ears but does not hear? Have I made up my mind on what the Bible says, with no desire to obey? 

In fact, have I sorted out the One with authority to speak into my life and determine its course? If the wrong authority speaks into and through my life, then there is really nothing God-like that my life can produce. Life is all about choices, and today's extract pins down the need to decide how I am to react to people who will come my way on this journey of life. 

And you can bet this is beyond just the sense of hearing. People with the sense are able to perceive words or sounds generated, but the challenge here is to determine the appropriate course of action based on what is heard. He who has an ear, let him hear is a universal message to the seven churches in Revelation, and the message is not the usual, the normal or the expected. 

Just like the passage before us, Jesus isn't calling me to what is normal. If you want normal, be content with the ordinary and the usual. Dealing with men the way they deal with you is the usual and the expected. Hating those who hate you and dealing tit for tat to people who treat you badly is the way of the world. There is nothing unusual about that, until you decide to do the very opposite. 

As long as you are not willing to rock the boat of the world's standards, you are fine. As soon as you decide to align with what today's extract teaches, you are in trouble. And no wonder Jesus warns ahead of time, so you don't feel abandoned. And I am not asked to react based on the other person's view or response to me. 

Nowhere does Jesus command me to love so that I can be loved in return. In fact, the other person's perspective isn't the basis of my own actions. I am not asked to wait until the other person does the good thing; I must just do the good, in line with what I have been commanded. Then and only then can I lay claim to the blessings my obedience is assured of. 

And my heart is the inner witness of lips that speak of what I have stored up in my heart. Loving my enemies isn't first a physical act, but a spiritual one. The fallen human heart is not able to comprehend this instruction, which is why today's extract, as stated above, is for those who choose to hear. And it is not passive, where I do not have to say or do anything, and people will know my honest and noble intentions. By God's standard, it doesn't work like this. Love them; bless them; do good and pray for them. 

How can anyone do these unless s/he has had an encounter with the One who speaks here, and can provide the required strength to live in line with His commands? You can call a conference where these things are discussed and encouraged; you can use all the best grammar to fashion out a code of conduct; yet nothing will happen, because you won't get these things done by compulsion, negotiation or deception, but by total dependence on the power of the Holy Spirit. This is truly for those who hear. Am I one of such people? Are you? His time of favour is here. 

Tempted?

Tempted?

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:, James 1:13 KJV

For temptations, it is not a matter of IF but WHEN. As long as man is of the flesh, on physical earth, with all human senses functioning well, there will always be temptations. Being a child of God provides you with the inner strength and presence to help live right, but you may have no power over pop ups on your Internet browser, or suggestive and lewd pictures on websites that you legitimately visit for work, research or viewing. However, whatever you do next with the power of choice that you have been given, defines your defence. 

Or do I turn around and blame God for giving me the sense of sight if it leads me into sin? Do I blame my feet for walking into danger when all the signs were there that I should not have been there in the first place? We blame God for the decisions we take, making it look like God created robots, who cannot think or decide for themselves how to act or react. God made us in His own image, and even with sin, we do have the knowledge of good and evil. We know when our actions aren't good, even when we try to explain it away. We dig up excuses to justify what we do, yet it doesn't take anything away from the fact that we are responsible for our actions and decisions. This is personal responsibility, which clearly means that nobody can go to heaven or hell on your behalf. You make that decision solely on your own, and this decision is evidenced by the things you do and how you live now. 

I cannot hang the responsibility for those decisions on God. God does not do evil, no matter how the world tries to explain what is going on now. When God made the earth, even heaven testified that all He did was very good. Even when sin came in to tamper with the template, it could do nothing about God's original nature and plan. You cannot tamper with something you did not create or originate, and you cannot pollute something you do not understand its source. You can muddy up parts of it or try to distract, but as long as you cannot affect the source, you have no power over its outcome. 

It is for me to look inward and ask myself: what is in or around me that is creating the opportunity for sin? What do I need to do; what changes do I need to make; what direction do I need to travel if I am to avoid sin and its consequences? I must ask myself and also provide answers to these questions if I will not be overcome by the wiles of the devil. God always provides the means of escape from temptations, but I must place myself where He can reach and help me. If I am always comfortable around sin, like Cain, I may not be able to overcome when it strikes personally. If I depend on God, who makes a way of escape out of sin, then I have all I need to overcome. 

The nature of God is such that sin cannot exist where He is. Even His own son Jesus was not exempt from this hatred of sin when he hung on the cross for our sin. If sin cannot exist where He is, it means that I cannot claim to be in God if I am also in sin. Both are parallel lines that will never meet no matter how long or thick you draw them. God cannot produce anything contrary to His nature or lead a man down a road that He won't go down with you. So, when next you are in a situation you know will lead to sin, pause and ask yourself if God will go down that road with you. If you are sure God is not involved, then you are sure it is not the right path. Now I know, I must make the right decision. Ignorance will not and cannot be a valid excuse. His time of favour is here. 

Invest Now!

Invest Now!

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6 KJV

Dedicate your children to God and point them in the way that they should go, and the values they’ve learned from you will be with them for life. Proverbs 22:6 TPT

Open sources, such as Google, define 'Train' as to: 'teach a person a particular skill or type of behaviour through sustained practice and instruction. So, from the outset, we know that what today's extract tries to show us is that the responsibility of training children is non-negotiable and must be done from the point of clear knowledge of what is required. How do I train a child if I have not been trained myself in the things I want to impart? How do I train children, if I am myself rebellious to authority. How do I instill obedience in a child if there is no personal example to show? This is one of the saddest realities of our time, where examples worthy of emulation are becoming few. 

So, the task of training requires that the child is taught a way of life or action, and this is done by sustained practice. You do it over and over again until it becomes a part of you. As it has been said: practice makes perfect, and repitition strengthens memory. You don't leave the task of training a child to chance, to the Internet, to older friends or other parents like you. The task is mine as a parent, a father or mother, and God will ask for an account from me as the parent He gave me these lives to nurture. 

You don't make assumptions that the child should know what is right; no one chooses God or the right by default. Sin took care of that option. You don't learn to lie, cheat or steal, and every man, in his/her natural state, will do all of these. And you don't wait until the life is formed before you strive to shape or sharpen it. You do it while the life is still brittle and moldable. I believe that is why the bible uses a child and not an adult. Adults are mostly formed, and sometimes the impact of the world on their hearts is difficult to completely remove. But a child is open to suggestions, and the more of God you introduce to the child, the more of God the child will know and respond to. 

And your input now will stand in good stead when the child grows old. If nothing is sown, how do you look forward to a good harvest? If I have done nothing to improve a life, why should I be disappointed when that life produces nothing of value? That early investment guarantees that the child will remember what you have said and done, and in the face of the most daunting trials, have guidance as to what to do. Pity the child that has been left to his/her devices early on, and now has to take life and death decisions without any knowledge of the One who has power over everything the world can throw at him/her. 

So, am I an example anyone can emulate? Is my life a worthy reason for any child to look up to me for guidance? Remember, you cannot give what you don't have, and it is from the resources stored up in your heart that you will draw on when life makes a demand. May the Lord help me to be an example of grace to all who come near to me, and may I not be responsible for the eternal damnation of any life. His time of favour is here.