Made Right 3!

Made Right 3!

Lord, YOU have [at last] been favorable and have dealt graciously with Your land [of Canaan]; You have brought back [from Babylon] the captives of Jacob. You have forgiven and taken away the iniquity of Your people, You have covered all their sin. Selah [pause, and calmly realize what that means]! Psalm 85:1‭-‬2 AMPC

As it has always been said, it has to be repeated again for emphasis: God always punishes sin, no matter in whom it is found. God has no favourites when it comes to his demand for righteousness and holiness, He will not bend His will for anyone or anything. With that as the minimum baseline for discussion, today's extract then requires a review on that light.

God had punished his own people for their sins. The writer knew without a doubt the reason for the state of affairs. These were God's people, chosen by Him out of many others, to bear His name and to show forth His power and grace. But they had become complacent; forgetting who had called them and had sought after other gods. Of course, God, the One who will not condone rebellion, had punished them, just as He had said He would if they sinned. God leaves no one in doubt of His will, and all who will enjoy the fullness of all He offers have to live in line with what He commands.

Now, this is what is mysterious: God demands obedience, he punishes disobedience just as He warns. However, his love will not let anyone go. This is where God can never be man. There is a mystery behind a God who clearly states what He wants, how he wants it and what will happen if we disobey Him. He knows that we will struggle to obey Him, or we will just outrightly disobey Him, yet He shows us love all the same. As He punishes, He is seeking ways to return us back to Him. That is so evident in today's extract. God's favour was promised to all who obey Him, and even in sin, God's favour was never in doubt.

We have a God whose love isn't like the usual bit we see from man. He punishes sin, but that is not where the story ends. He also forgives, takes away and covers sin. The word 'Selah' appears at the end of the extract, asking me to pause, and calmly realise what it all means. None of the words we speak today will make any sense if it were not for the covering of our sin, offered by God. We would be lost, without hope and without anything to look forward to, if God had not chosen to forgive us. We stand where we are now by grace, nothing less. There is no room for pride or self elevation. No wonder I am asked to pause here, and realise what I have come to enjoy. It calls for joy, but it also calls for caution. 

If God did all of these for me, so I am not lost, can I then turn around and blame Him if I choose not to take advantage of the offer? If I choose to remain in sin, even when He offers me a clean state, how is that His fault? I have been put on notice, and there is no excuse. May the Lord help me. His time of favour is here. 

Made Right!

Made Right!

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23‭-‬24 NIV

God gave Moses the law, but He knew the law could not compel the righteousness He was seeking for. The law laid down the model of behaviour for all who followed it, but it could compel the kind of life that God intended. That is why there is an emphasis on the 'works of the law'. That is all the law had: works. Had nothing about the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a man, bringing out change from within and manifesting on the outside. That is what the law just couldn't do, because it was not empowered to do so. And you know, when you refer to it as 'the law', it means it takes prisoners and bends people who are under it to its will. 

In comes the righteousness that God wants, and it is the one that Jesus has come to establish, and which is only received by faith in Christ. It is free for all men, and it is a requirement for all who would please God, irrespective of their past or present mess. This is the crux of today's extract: ALL men have sinned. We inherited the nature through the first man Adam, and nothing a man does changes that fact until there is an inner work done in a man's life that only the Source of that work can do. All have sinned; has nothing to do with where you are now, or where you are going, but about where we all came from. Until the foundation is addressed, we will keep knocking our heads against the wall, seeking solutions where none existed. And this is another law, one that says that for you to enjoy all that is on offer, you have to submit totally to the dictates of this new law. One big difference though: under the law that made us conscious of sin, we didn't have a choice. We were under it by virtue of natural birth, but for the law that brings redemption, we need to take a step of faith and submit to it. 

By faith in Jesus, I get all that God intended when He sent his Son to die for the sins of the whole world. I get the total forgiveness that the law could not provide and I get the total cleansing from my wretched past which the law constantly reminded me of. So I have two verses today with two different and competing messages: one speaks to the finality of the natural man, and the other speaks to the finality of the man saved by grace. Both are eternal realities, and only one option is safe. God already laid down the eternal reality of dying without Christ, and he says it is eternal death in hell. He also makes it clear that by faith in Him, I get the eternal reality of reigning with Him forever and ever. 

Now, there is a choice to be made, and it has to be made today: which law would you submit to? Remember, both laws are in operation down here on earth, and men are daily submitting to one and denying the other. There is no fence on this one; you are either on the side of the law of death, or the law of life. And remember also that the law in operation in your life when the Lord returns for you, either at His second appearing or at physical death, becomes the basis of your eternal destination. Make sure it is the right place before it is too late. His time of favour is here. 

Love, Refreshed!

Love, Refreshed!

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 1 John 4:7 KJV

Today's extract is addressed to people referred to as 'beloved'. These would be people who have experienced the love of God and know Him on a personal level. They would have seen God at work, not out of their own personal goodness, but the unfailing love of God that would not let go. It is no wonder then why today's extract goes in the direction it does: if indeed I have benefitted from the love of God, His minimum requirement for me is to extend the same love to other people. 

I do not know how you see the instruction to love: as a reminder, an admonition, counsel or command. However you see it, remember: God does not force anyone to do anything. He has given us the freewill to choose Him, and as it has always been said, there are consequences to every action or decision I take. And as you notice, it says love one another. It does not ask me to love only those who are lovable or show themselves capable of loving, or who are able to reciprocate the feeling. My obedience to God is not tied to the reception or approval of man. 

Love is of God. God is defined as love. It then means that you cannot really define love outside of God Himself. If I have not yet taken God as my Lord and Saviour, whatever it is I have or show is not the real deal. This is where it gets difficult: Cornelius had a good reputation; he gave alms and helped the poor, yet something was missing: a personal experience of God. Without it, there is a limit to how much of God can flow in and out of me to touch other lives.

Whatever I do outside of God is not love. As long as my own interests are the focus of attention, it is not love. If men cannot, in some instances, reflect and wish for what I have, then I need to check again if what I hold on to is the genuine thing or not. God is love, and all who claim to know Him must be seen in the same light. Is that what I am? Is God seen in me? Does his nature flow through me? His time of favour is here.

Made Right 2

Made Right 2

For sin pays its wage — death; but God's free gift is eternal life in union with Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 GNB

For you to be paid any kind of wages, you have to be in employment of some sort, either on a full time or part time basis. You invest your life: a summary of time, effort, energy and resources. At the end of a set time, or the completion of the task, you get the agreed wages. Nobody pays you anything for sitting around all day doing nothing. If your job is to sit down and just hold up a sign, you are paid if you do exactly that. Apply that same picture to the spiritual. All men, born of women, took part in Adam's nature. We became sinners at birth because we inherited his sinful nature. We became employees of the man of sin, doing his evil work. You don't teach a child how to steal or lie; it comes naturally to the man of sin, because that nature is always attracted to sin. Since the man of sin works for the devil, guess who then pays the wages? Of course, the devil cannot give you what He doesn't have and if all he is entitled to is death, that is all he has to offer all who work for him. 

That is the sobering part of the first part of today's extract, as well as the foundation for the second part of the extract. Sin has its wages, so also does faith in God have its wages. The one you submit to is the one you work for, and is the one that will pay you appropriate wages. There is just one tiny but fundamental difference between these two masters. Sin is a slave driver, who deals in force and habit. God offers His own wages full and free, does not compel me to walk with or work for Him, but he places His gift on the table and leaves it there for as long as human life remains. The devil will steal, kill and destroy to perpetuate his own legacy and brand of work; God offers salvation and redemption free of charge, asking me to just believe in His Son. He doesn't demand a price from me; just simple faith in His Son. It will cost me nothing, but it costs God quite a lot. It will not cost me my life to take God up on His offer; in fact, my decision to accept God's gift seals eternal life for me. 

There is a finality about both options, and there are only two options. Don't be deceived by people who talk about several eternal options, especially when none of them has come back to share their experiences of the other options. Men have shared their experiences of heaven and hell and what is clear is that they are real. Both of them have to do with my work on earth. I earned the first by natural birth; I earn the second by spiritual birth. I earn the first by natural genetic makeup; I also earn the second by genetic makeup, but only when I partake in the blood of Jesus, and his blood makes me a member of his own family, whereby I become an heir of God and a joint heir with Christ.

So that you know what both realities represent, please note: both are eternal. Physical death is not really final in the sense that it is only the precursor to the real deal: eternity. What I do with the gift is the gate to that eternal reality. If I reject the gift, I cannot turn around and blame God for where I end up. The gift is on offer and remains so until physical death or rapture comes; then the gift is automatically withdrawn and the wages that fit my choice then apply. While I have time, I had better make the right choice. Eternity is too long a time not to be sure of where you will spend it. His time of favour is here. 

Faith Work!

Faith Walk!

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16 KJV

Perfection by human standards is not a requirement for God to use a life. God who made us knows our frame, knows we are weak, and He supplies the strength we need to please Him. This is the note on which today's extract starts. Sin made a mess, but Christ has come with a message: that in me, you can be all I have created you to be. So when we relate with one another, we need to remember that we deal with the all-knowing God.

When He charges us to confess our faults one to another, it is a reminder that we share a common bond: We come from the one and true God and have received grace to live right. Even when we go wrong, we can get strength and renewal through fellowship and prayers. Guilt is a deadly weight; trying to go it alone usually has unpalatable consequences; seeking self-justification by good works isn't the prescribed way of getting God's help. When we pray together, it is an acknowledgement of our helplessness and a sign that we know where the strength to live right comes from.

The end of today's extract is instructive: when a person is totally dependent on God, s/he is termed righteous. S/he has come to see God as the source of all things. When such a person kneels to pray, heaven pays attention because the person accesses heaven the right way and on the right terms. When such a person seeks God, God is moved to answer because his child, who is totally dependent on Him, living according to His standards and relating in grace with other people, has made an approach. Where do you stand? Who are you? Does God know you as His own? I have to answer the same questions. His time of favour is here 

Equipped!

Equipped!

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living, so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed. 2 Timothy 3:16‭-‬17 GNB

All Scripture is inspired by God: all that is written in the Bible, whether the accounts of battles and wars, or the love songs, or the accounts of generational conflicts, they are all written under the inspiration of God. As long as God permitted it to be written, there is a reason why it was written, and my first and most important priority is to find out from the One who inspired the contents what He actually wants me to know from what has been written. How would I ever assume that by human wisdom, intellect or contextual breakdown, discover the mystery that God himself has hidden in all Scripture? If I didn't write it, or inspire its contents, it does not lie in me to decipher it without help. 

Is Useful: if I will gain from the scripture, I must allow it do the work it was inspired to do. Too many times, we want to bend the Word of God to our own will; we want it to validate our own position, excuse our weaknesses or simply keep quiet while we break its rules, but let it be known today that God doesn't bend his rules for anyone, no matter how special or close to God they are. If God could demand right living from a man like David, a man after his heart, and punished him for what he did with Bathsheba, who is it then that God will not punish for u confessed sin? So, we know from today's extract that all scripture is useful, but its use, effect and impact are all based on my surrender and total cooperation with the One who inspired the Scripture. If I don't allow it do the work, how do I lay claim on its benefits? Another version says 'it is profitable'. You don't invest in the Scripture and end up bankrupt; you can't sincerely and truthfully invest time into the study of the Word of God and not impact your generation for God. 

Check out the results you get when you allow the Scripture take root: 1. teaching the truth; 2. rebuking error; 3. correcting faults; 4. giving instruction. Time and space will not permit a full breakdown of these four, but as you look at all four, what part of life is left out, that we think the bible is old-fashioned and can't meet contemporary needs? How did we get deceived into thinking that the Word of God could be manipulated by us to serve our own interests or agenda? It teaches the truth and exposes falsehood; it rebukes error and establishes the righteousness of God as the only key to all that God promises; it corrects faults, forgiving sins and giving a new lease of life to all who will make the approach;  and gives instructions on daily life to all who will listen. There is no limit to the sphere that the Scripture covers, and there is no end to the power of the Scripture to change a life. No man/woman is so far gone that s/he is beyond the grace of God.

And why does God lay out the Scripture this way; what is it about the Scripture that requires careful  consideration: that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed. He who seeks to serve has to do it according to the pattern laid down by the One who calls to service. If I indeed seek to serve God, I cannot serve the way I see fit, or serve the way I think I should. It has to be the way God has said He will accept. If it is not up to his standard, He will not take it. The equipping for the work God wants done won't come by human labour but by the power of God Himself. The qualification for service isn't by degrees or grammar and elocution, but by the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. When you see a man do Good deeds in line with God's will, that man understands the power at work. There is no room for pride or self-importance, but a constant desire to let God shine in and through you. Again, I take stock under God's abundant grace, and ask myself: what is the place of the Scripture in my life? Has it become just a novel, or is it my compass? Is it a spare tyre, remembered only in emergencies and no other time, or is it the steering wheel and engine, keeping me connected, impacted and impactful, and also functioning where God wants me to be. This is my greatest achievement: that the Word of God found a place in my life and my life profited eternally from it. That is all that will matter when we all stand before the judgment throne of God. You had better get ready. His time of favour is here 

Mercy!

Mercy!

Be merciful just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:36 GNB

In putting today's extract into context, Jesus is saying that if all you do is the normal, the usual and the expected, don't expect the unusual or the miraculous. The world has a paterrn of relationship and behaviour, and the world rewards all those who live by its patten. However, for all who swear true and faithful allegiance to God, you are called to a different lifestyle, pattern of living and pursuits. So, which do you live by: the Word or the World? 

The world does good to its kind because it knows it will get it back. The world loves those who belong to it and follow its standards because it knows it will be loved in return. The world borrows its kind from its own resources, expecting a full payment in return. That is the way of the world, so there is really little anyone can do to change that. But there is this very minor but fundamental difference: in the same world are people who answer to different standards and follow principles that are fundamentally different from the world. They love the way their Master Jesus loved and commanded them to; they give to other people the way Jesus their Master taught them to and even showed a perfect example of how that love should be. He gives rain to both the good and the wicked.

'Love your enemies; do good to them; lend and expect nothing back; these are just a few of the things that those who bear the name of the Lord Jesus are expected to live by in the world. They are not of the world, but they seek to impact the world with the life of God. How would people seek out the God I serve if I am not different? How do people seek the light of God in me if I am part of the darkness around?

And let it be clear again: today's extract was not really for the crowd. It was for the men who were chosen as disciples. Do I have God as my heavenly father, or is he one of those many options that I have? Being merciful is God's character, and all who claim to follow Him must walk in that same light. He laid down His life as a marker for how things should be, so for all who follow Him it can't be the usual and the expected. 

How do you define mercy: it is compassion or forgiveness shown towards someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm. Pause and reflect on the standard set out here: if God could forgive us our greatest sins, even when we deserved punishment, the best we can do is to extend that same grace to other people. Hurt will definitely come; human interactions aren't perfect but when both parties submit to God and allow His mercy flow through their thoughts, actions and decisions, the difference and impact will be clear. I ask again: which do you live by: the Word or the World. Eternity lies at the end of your response. His time of favour is here. 

Study!

Study!

Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 AMPC

Here was Paul, charging a young Timothy on the things he needed to take as important. Many things will fight for attention; many issues will demand change of focus, but when you know who has called you, what he has called you to and where you are headed, it is easy to avoid distraction and just focus on the important things. What are the key messages in Paul's message to Timothy? 

STUDY: You can never define study outside the investment of time, energy and resources. In the earlier verses, Paul reminded Timothy to endure hardships and raise teachers who would also impart the lessons of the gospel to other people. You cannot do any of these things without a clear understanding of who you serve and why you serve. Why do I need to study? Is it the secret to knowing God's mind per time, and be sure that your actions line up with His will? Is it in the eternal benefits of knowing who this God is? 

Whatever my reason for study is, God must be the focus and the target. If all I pursue is head knowledge with no heart experience, I cut myself away from all that God would have me know. Reading the Bible isn't just enough; even the devil quoted Scripture to Jesus at his temptation. It has to be far more than just memorising, reciting and singing it out; how much of it has become a personal experience? 

APPPROVED UNTO GOD: The reason why I study is so that I can be approved by God as one who speaks for Him. It can't be about reputation and popularity, or a desire to just stand before men so that my diction, education and elocution can shine through. It  has to be something more: a life that God can trust with the true riches of His grace and the deep mysteries in His Word. Does that describe me or you? 

It is unto God, not men, so man's opinions don't count here. It is unto God, so I am set free from men's expectations. I don't have to bend over backwards to please you; I just need to listen to God, speak as directed and leave the results to the One who owns men's hearts. When a man is approved by God, it doesn't matter what fhd quality and quantity of the opposition against him is; a man sent by God will always command an audience, even if it is just one. Paul charged Timothy, and we know the impact this young man eventually made. Focus on God; God will raise hearts that will listen to His Word through you. 

WORKMAN: I am a workman; not the master, not a lord, king or boss. Do I work on this basis? Do I need to be cajoled and begged before I am willing to work? Are there some assignments I consider beneath my status? A workman knows his tools, and also knows that his value is in the knowledge he has AND how he applies that knowledge to impact a situation. Of what use is a skilled workman who refuses to get to work and sits around all day? Of what use is a skilled workman who refuses to apply his skills where and when needed? If I were to employ a skilled workman who refused to do the job required, would I not probably find another one and never call the 'skilled' "workman anymore? 

It is WORKman, with emphasis on work. I must put in the work that reflects my ownership and assignment. No matter what I become in life; no matter the value of my networth or the possessions I gather, my eternal reality is tied to my understanding of what I have been called to do and how I do them. My eternal reward isn't tied to my looks, vision, value or greatness, but to the value of my work? How's yours? 

DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH: The importance of the substance of the work I am called to do cannot be overemphasised. I agree I am a workman, but on what? What is my tool of trade? It is the Word of God. It is not my word; it is not subject to my own interpretation or aligned to how I feel. The Word of God is the standard and the marker; and the amazing thing about it is that it can be applied to any and every situation. It does not bend to my will; I must align my life with its dictates or perish. It is as delicate as that. 

A man who is skilled in dividing the word of truth is a man who is totally submitted to the Word of God. How do you rightly diivde something you do not know or something you have not spent time understanding? It will not happen by willpower or force, but by diligent application and total submission to the author of the words. The key word in today's extract is and remains GOD. He is the owner, author and inspiration behind the Word, as well as the One who commissions the assignment, chooses and equips the vessel and determines the audience per time. The only thing I am asked to do is submit myself to the effort, time and resources required to ensure I am aligned with what God wants done. If I am a fit vessel in God's hands, there is no limit to what He can use me to do. The opposite is also equally true. If I will not submit, I cannot conquer. His time of favour is here.

Pray!

Pray!

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Mark 11:24 KJV

First, these are Jesus' words, not reported speech. Jesus had cursed a fruitless fig tree the day before, and today, the disciples saw that the tree had withered from the roots. The surprise was understandable, but the lessons Jesus wanted to teach are even more fundamental to our walk of faith. 

LESSON 1: He speaks to his disciples, not the crowd. In every generation, there will always be the crowd: those who make up numbers, who flow with all that is popular, and who have no view of theirs or any personal experience of Jesus. They are content with other people's testimonies. Am I one of the crowd or a true disciple? Can Jesus be talking to me as one who follows Him closely or as one who takes a view and an opinion from afar? 

LESSON 2: God knows we have desires, dreams and devotions, but these can only find expression and fulfilment, when they are subject to the control and influence of the Holy Spirit. There is a proper way of handling desires, as well as an improper way of doing so, and what I get is a result of how I approach it. Do I grumble, complain, argue or moan about my lot in life, or have I found the perfect way to lay them bare before God for his intervention?

LESSON 3: PRAY. The benefits of going to God in prayer never gets old. God is able to reach out and direct my life down the path he wants for me; He is able to dictate terms of engagement and approach, and how best His will can prosper in my hands. That is what prayer does. If we know its value, why then don't we take advantage of all the opportunities presented by God for me to talk with Him? 

LESSON 4: Faith is such an integral part of our walk with God. Without it, God makes it clear that we cannot please Him. Why would I waste precious time speaking to God about something I have convinced myself He won't do? If I come to God in prayer, it is because I know He answers prayers, and is able to bring to pass the things I am trusting God for. People of old lived and died on the basis of their faith in God. It didn't always end the way man would think, but it always ended the way God wanted it. The least I can do is to sit with God and let Him tell me what He wants from me, how He wants me to approach the assignment, and the things I need for the assignment. When God directs this way, impact is non-negotiable.

LESSON 5: Ye shall have them. God doesn't ask me to just keep asking, seeking of knocking; He promises me answers when I pray. I must leave room for and embrace his answers, no matter what they look like. They may not always start out the way I envision them to be, but I am sure that because I am his child, He will always give me what is best for me. I go out armed with the benefit of knowing God has got my back, and nothing happens to me without his permission. I have God on my side; I have all that my life needs. His time of favour is here. 

Perfect!

Perfect!

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18 KJV

Where do we begin? Is it about origin, source, content or target? Whatever it is I want to pursue, I had better be sure I know where it is coming from, whether it is the genuine article I have found and where it is taking me to. I am made for eternity; I must not let temporal and earthly things distract me. And it is important to underline the word IN. If I am to fully enjoy all that is on offer, I must be located right. God is the Source of all that i want to become; He is the One who knows what I need to get there, and He knows how it will all end. The only thing I am asked to do is to be found IN Him. No matter how hard I work, or how far I run, or how fervent my devotion, all will amount to nothing if they don't flow out of a life that has found its basis and foundation in God. 

What is fear: anything that doesn't permit the full expression of God in and through me. Today's extract says fear has torment. Why is this kind of fear such a crippling emotion? Isn't it because it is the opposite of all that God is, and all without God have it? If you don't have God in you, you cannot fake a heart of love. Love drives away any guilt you may have, as long as you are living in love. Fear cripples and prevents people from seeing the bigger picture. It keeps people from being able to freely express God's love. I take stock again, as all of us should do from time to time: what is driving my present pursuits and priorities? Are they all from a heart of love or a heart of showoff, pretence, hypocrisy or fear? Remember, as long as it is not God's love, it will not end well. 

And so I will know how much God is against fear, the final events of judgment in Revelation says that.....'the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.' Revelation 21:8 KJV. Living in fear has such terrible implications that God's love must be our daily pursuit. This love keeps our hearts focused and the fruits of our lives truly life - changing. So if I fear this kind of fear, I cannot claim any benefits from God because He does not waste resources on fruitless ventures. If His love makes perfect, imagine what the lack of God's  love leads to. 

So, what is it that you hold? Where do you live? Who dictates your daily pursuits? How do you make sure you end up where God intends for you? When this present earthly life ends, remember, a judgment is coming and the terms will be based on the finished work of Christ. Only in Christ and through His Work, Life and Love will my life be all it was created to be. Lord, come again into my heart, and deal with any wrong kind of fear so that my walk with you will be perfect. His time of favour is here. 

Pleasing God!

Pleasing God! 

For do I now persuade men, or God? 

or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10 KJV

Paul writes to the churches of Galatia, and the focus was on the ease with which these people had moved away from the initial teachings of Paul and had embraced another 'gospel', if that is what it is to be called. Paul and his companions had laboured for many years, teaching and preaching Christ but men with ulterior movies had come in to try and establish a contrary message. Note, as long as we are down here, it is a constant battle between Truth and falsehood. God is at work, and so is the devil. It will be foolishness to think that salvation provides a permanent barrier to hearing or encountering falsehood. It will keep coming, but who I know as Truth is strong enough to keep my heart from the deceit of falsehood.

Paul had to make it clear: if anyone, including himself, preaches any other gospel except what he had always preached, let that person be cursed. That is such a strong point, but one that has to be emphasized in this day and time. As I take stock of my own life, what have I invested my time in? Can I pray the same prayer: that if I ever preach or teach anything other than Christ and him crucified, let there be a curse on me? If I know the value of a human soul to God, I would not toy with it. If I know the joy that heaven has when a soul repents and turns to God, I would not want to do anything to jeopardise that soul.

And Paul's message in today's extract is quite telling: I am not after the approval or applause of men. I do not need or want it; it is of no earthly or eternal value to me. Paul says: let it be clear that God's approval is all that I need. Man is fickle, and he is more concerned about impressions, applause and popularity. A man who will impact the world has to free himself from man's expectations. You can't play both sides: please man and please God at the same time. Actually, if you can please God, God will raise men who will listen to the truth and be saved. But pleasing man should not be the motivation for what I do or say; it has to be that God is the author and inspiration behind all that I do. 

Note Paul's conclusion: if I still seek after pleasing men, I am not a servant of Christ. You cannot serve two masters. You cannot hold allegiance in equal measure to two different and competing eternal realities. Can that be said about me today? It is not about what I tell myself but about what God thinks of me. I must therefore seek his view for my life, not the ever changing opinions of men like myself. Who do I serve? Who do you serve? Who dictates your terms of service? If it is not God, it will not end well. His time of favour is here. 

Bread!

Bread!

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Matthew 4:4 KJV

First, Jesus is the Son of God. He didn't need the pressure, but would we have believed his offer of grace and help if He didn't go through the things we are presently going through now? He is the Son of God, yet He submitted to be baptised by a man He had created, and then also had to go through a private season of preparation for what was ahead. That is the second point: all of God's mighty work starts with a season of private dealing. What you see on the outside is a result of days, months or years of private preparation and intercession. 

All of God's assignments demand preparation. And if I think that God does not do anything to hurt his children, I would be right, as long as the basis of my thoughts has to do with the understanding that whatever God allows is leading me down the path of his perfect will. It was the Spirit that led Jesus to the desert to be tempted. Jesus knew what was coming, and so he prepared spiritually. The same too must apply to us. We cannot fight the battle ahead with man-made weapons, intellect, influence or connection. It has to be with the help of the One who knows what is ahead: the Holy Spirit. 

And when Jesus had stayed away from food, and at the end of the fast and prayers, the devil showed up. It is in our most vulnerable times that we must be careful of the choices we make and the decisions we take. The devil wanted to tie Jesus down to external and outward show of power to prove a point that He was the Son of God. Just as he did with Eve, he wanted to take God's Truth, spin it around and present it to Jesus as an attractive, self-indulgent option. Just as he told Eve, if you do what I tell you, you become wise and you become like God. Till today, the devil's tactics have not changed. He offers man the option of playing God, without any accountability to anyone but self. 

Jesus' response is quite instructive: He didn't bother addressing the question of His sonship, as that was not in doubt. He went down into the root of the matter: what is truly important to man's eternal destiny? Position, possession, provision and power are mere earthly tools which without the assurance of God's presence, are all a waste of time. If all I focus on are what makes my earthly stay comfortable, how do I prepare for the eternal? Bread is good, but it is limited to the physical. It is manifestly unable to sustain the work that God wants done. 

It is the Word of God that truly sustains life. Bread is good; but bread cannot sustain me in the place where God wants to take me to. Bread will come into the mouth and still pass out of the body as waste, but when the Word of God comes in, it leaves an eternal impression on that life. Bread cannot guarantee eternal life, but the Word of God, if accepted and believed, guarantees the kind of life God alone can birth and sustain. Which one am I truly pursuing? Which one lies at the heart of my daily pursuits? His time of favour is here. 

Winning!

Winning!

Do not let yourself be overcome by evil, but overcome (master) evil with good. Romans 12:21 AMPC

Human relationships are complex. As you read about history and learn how man has evolved, one thing is clear: no amount of head knowledge can help understand the complex nature of human relationships. There is no science or study that makes human interaction more bearable. How then am I expected to live day by day if I am to align with today's extract? What must flow out of me if I am to live up to the standard that God has set? 

First, let it be noted that God didn't create man to go it alone. At the time of creation, he made them male and female, only as gender specification but also as purpose and spiritual implications. He gave each specific genes which could be passed down from one generation to another, but He also gave specific characteristics which could not be passed down, to make it clear that human life was both specific and generational. How then can I live as if I am only for today and not spare a thought for my generational impact? How do I live as if there is no accounting to be done, or that I am my own master, lord and king, answerable to no one else but myself? 

God gave man dominion over all He created but did not give any man dominion over other men. God's instructions to man involve love to other people. However, the devil came in and introduced sin into the lives of the first family: the unhealthy competition of superiority or wanting to be better than all other people. Till today, we suffer from the same deceit, thinking we are in competition with one another for available resources, forgetting that the potential of God's earth cannot be fully mined or exhausted by man. 

What today's extract seems to present is a picture of warfare and victory, stating that I must be willing to contend for the things that are stated here. It won't happen by accident and it won't happen without conscious cooperation on my own part. When I have encountered evil from another person, what stops me from giving as good as I get is the understanding of who I am, who I follow and where I am headed. If I know that I serve, follow and inhabited by a good God, what flows out of me has to reflect who lives inside of me. How does a mango tree produce oranges without any grafting? The fruit will always look like the seed. 

And it is not about inaction or indecision, where I can get away with the defence that 'I didn't do anything'. With God, he expects my response to always flow in line with my faith. When I see evil and keep quiet, am I not encouraging more evil? When I see evil and I am able to respond with good, am I not telling the observing world that evil isn't the best and only option? Evil never gets defeated by greater evil, because evil only knows how to give birth to more evil. But when I tackle evil with good, I make it clear that I answer to different standards and that the good God lives in and works through me. 

And good always overcomes, even when the immediate does not always align in that direction. Stephen being stoned must have looked bad at the time but imagine the benefits that flowed out of that into Saul's life. No matter how bad things look, remember: as long as I keep responding with good, God always comes through. So, as I check my life in the light of God's Word, what is being stored up right now? In my private moments, what am I focused on? When a demand is made on my deposits, what will flow out? May the Lord help me to be his visible and audible representative on earth, so men can find God in and through me. His time of favour is here. 

Mercy!

Mercy!

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. Psalms 51:1‭-‬2 KJV

Here was David, fresh from his sinful encounter with Bathsheba, and the murder of Uriah her husband. How did a man, loved by God, chosen by Hm to be king, given a kingdom and promised a dynasty that he didn't really qualify for by birth or pedigree, come to a point where another man's wife was his pursuit? How did a man after God's heart pursue after the things that went clearly against God's heart? 

This is a warning for me: I must never get to a point where I think I got it all figured out. Sin is not finally defeated until Satan is locked up forever. As long as this earth remains, the flesh will continue to threaten and I must keep depending on the finished work of Christ to overcome sin. I can't depend on ability, connections or influence; it just has to be a total and daily dependence on God alone. Even when I have been saved, there is a daily walk, a daily dying, a daily fighting that must be done to preserve that which I have received from God. 

At least, when David was confronted with his sin, he didn't make excuses, or hide from God. He simply went to God and cried out the words of the extract above. When I know I have done wrong, how do I respond? Am I quick to justify my actions or go to God for mercy? It is a delicate situation: God hates and punishes sin, yet His mercy seeks to forgive and restore. It is my reaction to sin that defines what I get. 

The devil can magnify the guilt of sin so much that we feel unworthy and think that God cannot forgive. That is a lie of the devil, as there is no sin, except the sin against the Holy Spirit, that God cannot forgive, if I truly repent and go to God for cleansing and restoration. His love is such that it will not let go until the end of time. No matter how bad the sin or deep the stain, the blood of Jesus is such that can cleanse thoroughly, deal with the root of sin and birth a new life in a man. 

We all need washing. There is no man alive who doesn't have a past which God wants to deliver him from. There is a man of sin that has to be put to death if a man would be all that God intends. However, like David put down here, God doesn't force his ideas on anyone. I must come as I am, with my baggage, certain that what God offers is more than enough to deal with my baggage. As David cried to God, so we must also cry to God for mercy. 

This washing is the deep cleansing from the inside that only the creator of the heart can do. It is not a focus on the outside: hypocrisy, eye-service and pretence, but a surrender of my heart to the One who made it and can heal it. Have I surrendered my heart to God for Him to do what He alone can do? And the benefits of God's washing is both earthly and heavenly. I get to have peace of mind down here, with a life of purpose, direction and impact, and then at the end of it all, I get to live with God forever and ever where He is. When I consider what 'forever and ever' means, I do not want sin to toy with my eternal destiny. No matter what the past has been, no matter how deep the stain of sin goes, God is able to wash it all away. No one and nothing else can. His time of favour is here. 

Noise; Love!

Noise; Love!

If I were to speak with eloquence in earth’s many languages, and in the heavenly tongues of angels, yet I didn’t express myself with love, my words would be reduced to the hollow sound of nothing more than a clanging cymbal. 1 Corinthians 13:1 TPT

The world loves drama. The world is focused on the things it can see, feel, hear, taste or smell. The senses become the guiding light for the world, and even in its courts of law, evidence is tied to what you can prove using these senses. However, the Word of God seems to flow in a different direction. What makes the Spirit tick isn't so much what is outside and can be backed up with the human senses, but what flows from the inside out. Everywhere Jesus speaks in the New Testament, He kept referring to the inner work that God does in a man's life which then manifests on the outside. It then means that if all I can point out in my life is that which is physical, and nothing about the work of the Holy Spirit inside me, then I cannot, with certainty, claim that God is at work in me. 

Today's extract brings this out in sharp focus. I can seek the knowledge of men that helps me to speak in several tongues of men. I can seek spiritual knowledge that also helps me to speak in the tongues of angels. Yet, there is a foundation on which my speaking must rest if it is to turn out right, and that is the foundation of love. I may be able to navigate complex situations by being intellectual; I can speak out deep mysteries about the spiritual plane, yet there will be no substance to it because all I do is not predicated on the nature of God, which is Love. 

The importance of love cannot be overemphasised. Think about it: how does a person seek knowledge outside his/her area of comfort, and not have love as the basis of the search? How does a person seek to speak spiritual and angelic mysteries, and not have love as the foundation? It then means that it is not the search that matters to God, but the foundation and reason for the search. If all I desire is to shine out and be on top, I may get there but I would have burnt bridges behind me which I will not be able to go back on. If all I desire is to be noticed, I may get that, but get nothing of God's approval or backing. 

And what am I without God's approval? What can I achieve if I am not helped by God? And how can God help me if I do not place myself under His control and influence? And Love is the inner and outer proof of a life that has been totally surrendered to God. Such a person isn't seeking recognition for its sake, but that God may be glorified through all he does. A person who has God's love in him/her does not struggle for impact or impressions. I do not need to shout to be heard; I just need to allow the flow of the Holy Spirit in and through my life. Every other thing a life produces, which is not inspired by the help and presencs of the Holy Spirit, is noise. And how do people deal with noise? They shut it in or out; it is confined to a place or space, with limited or no impact anymore. If I will move the world for God, the secret isn't in what I say or do by myself, but WHO lives in and works through me, inspiring all that I say and do. His time of favour is here. 

Not Me!

Not Me! 

For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:13 AMP

In every life on earth, there is a work in progress initiated by God. At the time you were born, you may not know it, but God doesn't make lives for which He has no plans. Let it be known today that no man, no matter how smart or savvy can conclusively determine what the future holds. We can take steps and plan for the future but God has the prerogative on how my life will turn out. This is why the discovery and pursuit of the purpose for which I was born becomes life's most important achievement. 

If God is all powerful then, why does He hold me responsible for my actions?  If He is free to mess up my plans so He can institute better ones, why do I bother making the plans then? I believe today's extract helps shed some light. It is a measure of submission and cooperation at the same time. It is a measure of dependence and guided effort at the same time. God works, yet He demands I also work. 

How do God's work and mine correlate? God knows I do not have the strength or wisdom to effectively plan for the future, so He provides guidance and leadership that will help me as I plan. He supplies all I need to succeed, but then, He does not go against the exercise of my freewill. His work in me makes me His own, and wakes up in me a desire to obey and honour Him. 

But then I must act on the lessons I have received. Of what value is a life that has been given help by God, yet neglects to take advantage of that help? How do I become all that God wants if I do not at least find out what it takes to begin the journey of achieving all that God has created, gifted and placed me for? God does the provision of grace, strength and power to do all that He commands, and I must supply the rest by making myself available for God to use as He pleases.

And long before men will applaud the work they see on the outside, God has to first do His work inside me. When the work inside me is settled, outward impact is non-negotiable. And it is called a work, because it takes time and effort, as well as my cooperation. Let me not focus on outward impact which is empty of the inner change that God's Spirit is able to birth and sustain. I place my hands in God's own, where I know He is able to make me all that He plans. His time of favour is here. 

Right Combination!

Right Combination!

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5‭-‬6 KJV

We read passages in the Bible that speak about God coming into the human heart, so He can do a work in it. We read where He stands at the door and knocks, asking that anyone who hears his voice should open the door and let Him in. This tells me that my heart is fundamental to the work that God wants to do in my life, and the heart is the seat of the battle for control. If my life will flow out with God's nature of mercy and truth, God's Word that is full of mercy, grace and truth has to find pride of place in my heart. A man cannot give what he does not have. You cannot place a demand on an account into which you have made no deposit. Credit cards don't work in this context.

The world celebrates what it can see, feel, taste or touch. This is why it is easy to deceive people who live by what they can see, feel, taste of touch. My senses were given to improve the human experience, not to replace my experience of who God is. The senses are limited to the human experience, and have not much value when it comes to my spiritual walk. No physical eye has seen God, yet there is no doubt that He exists. If I will then enjoy all that God intends, I cannot fully rely on what the senses tell me. That is why today's extract starts off with that hidden, private part, before it seeks to manifest publicly. My public life is a reflection of my private investment.

That's why today's extract starts by asking me to trust in the Lord with all my heart. Before I can make a case for public impact, my heart has to be totally sold out to God. If there is even a slight chance that the devil may have some small foothold in my heart, trouble is ahead. It has to be ALL my heart; not a part of it. Does God hold all or a part of my heart? And you see, nature abhors a vacuum. At no time can a heart be empty. You are either full of God or full of something/someone else. It then matters who is fully in charge. Your control point will always reflect in your life choices. If it is not the Lord in charge, it must be someone else. 

The AND that connects the two earlier parts of today's extract shows that you cannot do one and leave out the other. I cannot claim that I trust God, and then seek to do things my own way. I have to acknowledge God in ALL my ways, not just in some convenient times. The way ahead is unsure; there are no indices that man can find to accurately predict what will happen in the next few minutes. We make plans; we read the weather; we plan ahead for holidays, but we also know that in an instant, things can change. That tells me that I can only be safe in the knowledge that God is in control of the universe and nothing happens without His permission. If I am in Him, I am in the safest place possible. Even when storms rise and winds blow, He can direct me even through the path of the storm, and no evil can befall me. It doesn't matter where His path leads through; as long as He commanded it, it will always end well. 

The question then remains to be asked: who is in charge in there? It is not what you tell people that matters, but what flows out from and through you. Does God hold and own all of you, or can self, sin and the devil still find some room in you? Remember, eternity is at stake here. We will not always be down here; we are preparing for eternal dwellings. Today is the season of preparation. Please be sure that God is fully in charge. His time of favour is here. 

Sure Ending!

Sure Ending!

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Psalms 23:6 KJV

There is a certainty attached to all of God's promises. If God says it, then you know you have the backing of the only Power in the world, with all others mere pretenders. There is a confidence that God's Word gives, when you consider the words in Hebrews where Paul says God swore by Himself that He will bless Abraham. And we know how that promise turned out. So, there are lots of precedents that give us assurance that as long as God has said a thing, God's nature is such that He will not waste words or joke with what He has said. 

So, here I read another promise by God that his nature, which includes goodness and mercy, shall follow me. Before I jump at the promise, have I placed myself in a podtkono position where his goodness and mercy can follow me? Do I keep at the front of my heart that God's eyes are too pure to behold iniquity? Do I remind myself daily that my walk with God must be preserved as holy? A daily consciousness of what God demands from me will keep me away from sin and keep me in the light of God's nature. 

The verses before this one also tell me how I can align with the promises made. Is God my shepherd, or do I have other masters who dictate terms for me? Is He the one leading me where He wants me to go, or are there competing voices all shouting to be heard and who determine what is important for me? Am I open to his correction and instruction by his rod and staff? Quite easy to claim the promises and conveniently forget the conditions that make it possible for the promises to apply. God is not a magician with a pause and play button, who performs for my entertainment. He is the God who demands total surrender to His instructions if I will enjoy his investments. 

And when I go in the consciousness that God is there for me always, the only response is for me to dwell in His presence all the days of my life. When I know that God has my back, I can face the world and all its challenges and pains, because I am assured that this present earthly phase is just what it is: a phase. Death is therefore not the ending as most people think, but the path into the fullness of today's extract. Physical death is but an appointment all of us must keep if the Lord tarries long enough, but what happens when you open your eyes in eternity becomes your eternal reality. 

While I am down here, I live in the daily consciousness that I am walking and working towards my eternal dwelling. By my daily choices, I am preparing for my home with God. Would I want to live on the altar of church down here and have no place in eternal dwellings? Would I want to gain the whole world and be celebrated down here, while heaven has no record of my life or service to God? If I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever, I must start to prepare for it right now. Is my present pursuit headed towards eternal life? His time of favour is here. 

To His Glory!

To His Glory!

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 KJV

The law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death. That freedom is born of the Spirit of God, and empowers a person to live in line with the dictates of God. It does not mean that the law no longer applies to me, but I now have the Presence and Power of the Most High God to help me keep the righteous requirements of the law. It then means that those 'Do not taste' or 'Do not eat' rules are not binding rules on me, as long as I live by the righteous requirements of God's laws. 

However, that freedom is not the whole story. Even though I am not bound by the law of sin and death, my life has become the signpost that points people to my own Master and Saviour. I am not bound by the law of sin and death, but my life must show those under it what they need to do to be free from it. No wonder Paul says in a verse not too far away from today's extract that: You say, “ Under grace there are no rules and we’re free to do anything we please.” Not exactly. Because not everything promotes growth in others. Your slogan, “We’re allowed to do anything we choose,” may be true—but not everything causes the spiritual advancement of others.

As I read the words of Paul above, I realise that the freedom Christ offers is that of the Spirit, which connects my inner man to God, enables me hear Him, and be led by Him. However, I still have to make impact down here, and one sure way to do this is to let the Light and Life of the One in me to shine out. If I live for myself alone, or I pursue my own agenda, how does God get noticed in and through me? In fact, no true disciple of Christ lives for himself, but we seek to make God known in all that we do, no matter how 'insignificant' it may seem. 

It was food and drink that led to some conflict that Paul had to address here. Remember it was also food that led to the conflict that then led to the choosing of the first deacons in the Bible. Let it be known that there is nothing the devil cannot manipulate to further division, discord and disunity. If we are truly subject to the law of the Spirit of life in Christ, we will not let the devil work in and through us to the destruction of the faith of another. Why allow what goes into the mouth and out of the body become hinderances to the work of God that leads to eternal life? Why sacrifice the eternal because of the ephemeral and the temporal? 

Doing all to the glory of God requires a deep knowledge of who this God is, and all he wants and hates. It takes time and effort to know God, and it is a journey that all who claim to know Him must undertake. Nothing must become so important that it takes the place of God in my life, and nothing must be too much to sacrifice in order to make God known. After all, I was made to give and bring God glory, and that life's purpose can only be fully discharged when my life is showing it off. It cannot be hidden or ignored. Let nothing, not even food and drink, become stumbling blocks to the move of God in another person's life. May the things of this world not mortgage the eternal things that God wants to do in and through me. His time of favour is here. 

Touched!

Touched!

He heals the broken-hearted and bandages their wounds. Psalm 147:3 GNT

It cannot be overemphasised why we need to keep away from sin. God has always made it clear that He hates sin. Whatever He calls sin is sin, no matter how 'enlightened' or 'mature' the generation is. He held Abraham to His own standard, as well as Daniel and also Simon Peter. Right from the days of biblical accounts, God punishes sin. He didn't let Adam off the hook because He made him in his own image, and He didn't let Cain off the hook either. In all instances of the Bible, man was punished for sin. If this is the standard as laid down by God, what gives us the confidence to think that we can escape punishment if we walk the same path as these people did? 

Today's extract speaks about God and his mercy towards Jerusalem. Israel and Judah had sinned, and God had punished them. They had gone into exile; the walls and cities of Judah had been burned down, even though some were fortified cities and fortresses; the temple, the symbol of pride and the 'physical' representation of God's presence, had been burnt with fire and its treasures taken away into other lands. Let it be said again: God will punish sin no matter in whom it is found. God has no favourites when it comes to His Word, and all who obey are blessed and all who disobey are punished. It is as simple as that.

However, the story doesn't just end there. God punishes sin, but His mercy just doesn't let go, until it is too late. As long as I am alive, I am never too far away from God's mercy and grace. God's nature is grace, mercy and forgiveness, but it is also about standards. You can't take one and reject the other. So, God punishes but He also blessed. He disciplines but He also embraces. He applies the rod, but He also applies the balm. As I deal with God, I must keep this understanding at the front of my mind. 

So, He punishes the sin, but He also heals the broken-hearted. He wounds, but He also heals. That is the balance about God that I must recognise and respect. There is no point to speaking about God's love without speaking about His judgments. So, if I will access this grace, God has to do His Work in me and I must let Him. If today's extract will be true in me, I must surrender to and cooperate with God, so that whatever it is He wants to do, He has free rein to do as He pleases. Only then will I turn out exactly as He purposes. His time of favour is here. 

Getting It All!

Getting It All!

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. Proverbs 9:10 KJV

It is not a common thing to find a single sentence where wisdom, knowledge and understanding are all mentioned. We also make the wrong assumption that the environment or experiences shapes the things a person's life produces. Actually, I believe it is more than all that. Environmental factors are good, but no matter how well you cultivate corn seed, place it side by side with millet seed, nurture and give it all it requires to make it grow as millet, it will never produce millet. It then means that what we see on the outside isn't so much about the environment but about the work that goes on in secret, away from eyes. That is the main thrust of today's extract.

We hear a person speak, and we define him/her as wise. How did we make that conclusion: it wasn't first about the way s/he dressed, or even the grammatical construct of what was said, but the silent message and power behind the words spoken. For a man to be truly wise, the foundations are laid in secret, away from roving eyes. The fear of the Lord is called the beginning of wisdom. You can't place a physical price on it, because it is not the sort of thing you can buy on the open market. You can't force it to happen; it is a product of private cultivation and daily nourishing. You can't touch or see it or point it out in physical terms, but there is no doubt that when you see a man with the fear of God, his entire life reflects it. 

I note it says it is the 'beginning' of wisdom, and like all things sown, it requires nurturing and watering. You don't plant a seed and go to sleep; you provide nutrients, keep weeds away and make sure the soil remains at peak levels to sustain the seed. And when I come to know and fear God, my journey towards the fulfilment of all that God wants has started. I keep searching for more and more of God. I make sure I know what He loves and seek to do just that. It is this knowledge of God, built up and sustained, that is the basis and essence of understanding. 

If I don't know who God is, how do I know his ways? I may not always know the why behind his actions, but a personal knowledge of God helps me to accept and embrace his dealings. I may not always know where he leads, but my knowledge of God tells me He can't lead me astray or into trouble without providing a way of escape. The more of God I know, the more of Him I realise I don't really know. That keeps me grounded, and helps me seek Him more. Thinking I got God figured out is the greatest mistake a man can make. May the Lord help me to fear Him. That fear is the healthy type, that will lead you to eternal life. If you don't have, you will get into trouble. His time of favour is here. 

Searched!

Searched!

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalms 139:23‭-‬24 KJV

Before I venture into praying the words of today's extract, am I sure I fully understand what this passage talks about? I am asking the Lord God Almighty, the One referred to in various parts of the Bible as the all-consuming fire, before whom nothing is safe. There is nothing that remains the same when it encounters the fire. This is the One called the Most Holy One, in whom there is no sin and whose eyes are too pure to behold iniquity. There are many other descriptions about God that time and space will not permit me to add here but this is the idea: before I open my mouth to pray a certain kind of prayer, I had better be sure that I know where it will end. 

Let's look at the prayer: the whole chapter speaks about God's amazing power. As David learnt from personal experience, no one can hide from God's penetrating gaze. His eye is on the sparrow, as well as the mighty mountains. Nothing is too small or too big for his attention; after all, He created all of them. So, when David prays the words of today's extract, it comes from a place of personal experience of this mighty power. And it means that the man who can speak these words knows what is coming. 

If you don't pray the words, it may not be a problem, but when you look at the end of today's extract and see the eternal benefits of God's dealings with a man who He had worked on, you are better off asking God to do His kind of work in you. You see, the natural man struggles with everything that God commands. It is not natural for man to want to obey God, because God's laws go against everything that the natural man craves. But when I surrender myself to the control of the Holy Spirit, I can the kind of help that makes me live right and end well. I can't do it by myself; I need the help of the Most Mighty to get to the place He has prepared and gifted me for. 

So, would you join me in praying the words of today's extract, and ask God to do what He alone can do in you? Eternity is at stake; things will not always look like they do right now. Surrender to Him; his dealings always help and lead to eternal life if I endure and delight in them. His time of favour is here. 

Be Still!

Be Still!

The Lord will fight for you while you [only need to] keep silent and remain calm. Exodus 14:14 AMP

The context: Israel had just left Egypt after centuries of slavery. Israel was camped by the Sea when it saw the war horses and chariots of Egypt coming after them. The fact that I am on God-ordained assignments does not mean that the devil will not come after me. The fact that I am at work for God is the surest way to get the devil's attention. So, as I seek to walk with and work for God, the first lesson on the agenda is that I must take stock of what I am getting into. God does not promise me a life free from pressure, but He assures me of His Presence and Power. Those are enough for me. 

God's Bit: and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord, then complained to Moses, claiming that being in Egypt as slaves was better than dying at the Sea as free people. They completely forgot the mighty hands that had worked against Egypt, to the point of killing all the firstborn sons, yet the people cried to God and also grumbled against Moses. What is it about pressure that makes us prone to sin? Why does it atimes appear that trouble pushes us away from God? Why would I wish to go back into iniquity simply because the path ahead is difficult? Like it has been said, nowhere does God promise you roses without thorns, but you are assured that even though you are pricked, prodded and pinched, your purpose, place and partnership in and with God are not in jeopardy. 

My Bit: God has promised me all of Him; what then can I give Him in return? Today's extract gives an insight. There is really nothing I can do to improve on what God wants to do, and there is nothing I can do that can change his mind if He does not want to. That must be clear from the beginning. Nothing I do can make God go against His Word, but there is a place for me to exercise faith in getting all that He has promised. How would I know what He has promised if I don't read His Word or listen as He speaks? How do I move out at his command if I don't even know what He commands? For me to stand still, be silent and calm in the face of an oncoming storm takes clear sight of what God has said. You don't stand or rest on a feeling; it has to be a certainty; clear assurance that this stand is sanctioned by God and is in line with his will. Whatever God ordains, He sustains. If he commands it, he controls it. 

After all, which of us can determine the outcome of the battle we are to face, if we don't even know who we are fighting? If God says be still, better be still. Your input will not make a difference; if he says move, you better move; your standing still may lead you into trouble. Really, been silent and calm here was for this season of the lives of the people of Israel. When it came time to pick up the sword and fight, they had to. When it was time to just blow the trumpet and shout, they did, and they defeated Jericho. It really isn't about inactivity or just being relaxed; it is about knowing the seasons of God's dealings with you and acting accordingly. The Lord fights, and He gives direction as to what He needs me to do. Obedience unlocks the fullness of the blessings He has in store for me. Nothing else will work. His time of favour is here. 

Come!

Come!

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Matthew 11:28‭-‬29 KJV

In context, this was Jesus speaking to the crowd which followed him everywhere. They heard his teachings and saw the miracles, yet it was a struggle to believe. Jesus had taught extensively in the cities yet men refused to believe. They saw the mighty works, yet it did not move them to faith. They heard the testimony of John the Baptist about Jesus yet they would not believe? Can the same be said about me today? Am I all about special effects and nothing of the Spirit? Am I one who craves the presents and gifts from God, but knows nothing about the Presence of God? 

After pronouncing woes on the cities that rejected his message, he said the words of today's extract. In every generation, God seeks men who will come to Him, not out of a sense of blind duty or compulsion, but out a heart that knows its weaknesses and recognises where its help is. If I do not know my condition, how do I seek necessary help? If I do not admit my failings, how does God help me? 

For all who know and admit their condition, help is available. Labour and burdens are the norm for the natural man. We live in a world where sin has changed the divine order. It wasn't created to be this hard, but sin has made it so. If I will be free of the natural consequences of sin, I must be found in the One in whom there is no sin. In Christ, my burden is lifted and taken away, but there is a caveat: you don't get to walk away with nothing. Idle hands are the devil's tools. So, Christ frees my hands from the burden of sin, and gives me his own yoke. 

A yoke is a wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to the plough or cart they are to pull. Christ says I should take His yoke. What would this mean: He has his requirements and assignments, and only in union with Him, tied to Him, and under His control, can I really thrive. I don't get to walk away from everything; God does not call a man into a life of total freedom from all responsibility. He calls into partnership with Him. If one of the animals decides not to cooperate with the yoke, nothing gets done. Christ's yoke places a demand on you to walk with Him, as you work for Him. 

It is the yoke of Christ, requiring allegiance only to Him, not to any other person. It is not the yoke of a 'great man/woman of God. No person should be able to place a yoke on you. That is why Christ asks me to learn of Him. As I walk with and work for Him, in line with His yoke, He shows me how and where best I am fitted and gifted to make impact for Him. The ONE holding the reins of the yoke is the one who determines where the animals go, not the animals. I don't get to dictate to God where I think my gifts are best suited; that is for the owner of the yoke to decide. 

Maybe the reason why the church is in disarray today is because we are our own yoke holders. We place our own yoke on ourselves, decide for ourselves where we think we fit, and assign to ourselves what we think is best for us. Unfortunately, if I claim to work for Christ, I can't pull the reins of the yoke; that is Christ's prerogative. If I will indeed find rest for my soul, it hangs on my willingness to follow the laid down process for rest. I won't get it by selfish labour, and I won't get it by being smart and savvy. Rest is a function of my connection with the yoke of Christ. He doesn't place on me what He knows I can't bear, and He won't demand of me what He has not gifted me for. If He demands it, His grace will supply it. I rest in and on Him; He alone can supply all that my life needs to make impact. His time of favour is here. 

Pray!

Pray!

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Romans 8:26 KJV

There is something amazing about being God's child. There are secrets and mysteries about that relationship that words cannot fully quantify or qualify. Today's extract starts with a definition of hope, and this is how I understand it: if I know how and when it ends, it is not hope. If I am certain about the direction and I know the full details of all that is coming, what I have isn't hope. There are parts to my walk with God and the final destination that I do not yet fully understand. How my mortal body will give way to immortality hasn't been experienced yet, but in all, I trust the Word of the One who called me His own, shed his blood for my redemption and sealed my eternal hope. As I wait, I learn patience and composure.

And then there is help available for me, as I wait for the fullness of all that has been promised. Who else is qualified to show me the way except the One called the Way? Who can show me the truth of what I need and how I need to walk and live, except the One called the Truth? Of course, who else can take me on the journey to eternal life except the One who is called the Life and knows the demands and direction of the journey? Introducing the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, who is the seal of redemption for all who have put their trust in God.

What does the Holy Spirit do: just in today's extract alone, a few are obvious. First, without his help, we do not have the strength to live in line with God's dictates. How do I receive strength to live right, outside of the One who gives strength? If I am to be empowered for all that lies ahead, the secret lies with the Holy Spirit. Secondly, without his help, how do I pray in line with the will of the One who calls me His own? Man is inherently selfish, and even with salvation, there has to be a daily dying to self. How would I ever achieve this if I am left alone to fight by myself? That fight is doomed because the old man has been around longer than I have been, and he knows the weaknesses. Only by the help of the Holy Spirit am I able to conquer the wiles of the old man, and receive strength required for the journey ahead.

Thirdly, the Holy Spirit pleads my case before God. When I pray, I need the help of God to pray the right way and for the right reasons. There are times of heaviness and uncertainty that may come, but the Holy Spirit is there to help me navigate those troubled times. So when I pray, even with heaviness, he goes to meet the supplications. That is deep: he goes to meet my supplications. It's like he has been waiting for me to pray and ask, so He can get on the business of helping. After all, He is called our helper. It is as if He comes, pick up the burdens and takes them over. He is able to fully express the depth and weight of the burdens, and can fully express them and deal with them in a way that only the Omniscient, Omnipotent and Omnipresent God can. When you know who and what the Spirit is and does, you know you just can't do life without his help. The one thing then that I must do is to make sure the Holy Spirit is my daily companion in all I do. What is your own decision? Need help? Get the Holy Spirit. His time of favour is here. 

Peace!

Peace!

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 KJV

Today's extract starts with a reference to peace, but peace does not occur in a vacuum; there has to be a basis for it to exist and thrive. A quick look at the verses before today's extract sheds some light: only in an environment of communication can peace thrive. This is not saying you won't have a mind of your own, or you simply say Yes to everything thrown at you, but achieving common interests become more important than pursuing personal goals. Somehow, in seeking the interests of other people, your deepest concerns are addressed. That is the mystery behind the benefits and blessings of fellowship: nobody is all right or all wrong; we are simply a work in progress.

And how do I achieve peace? The same chapter where today's extract is taken from gives an insight: total, daily dependence on the One who calls us into fellowship with Him and other believers like ourselves. If I am not at peace with Christ, with Him in full control of my life, how does He get me to be at peace with other people? If I have not conquered selfish interests, how do I become concerned with issues other people have? It then also means that if I am to have peace, the One who is called The Prince of Peace has to find abode in me. He can't have temporary residence, whereby I only give Him access to parts of my life and at set times. He has to be fully in charge, if He is to take charge of all the issues I face in life. 

That's why it is called the peace of God, because it is the type God supplies that can stand the test of time. History has shown that all attempts by man to impose his own kind of peace never lasts. Wars have been fought over the last two centuries, with many lives lost, yet we seem not to have learnt anything. Of course, if the peace is not the type God births, it is not the real deal. And it is a peace that the natural man cannot understand. It is the peace that calms the heart even when all else is falling to pieces. How did the three Hebrew boys speak so boldly to a king who could send them to death? How did Paul face so much trouble without losing his zeal for the message of Christ? It had to be something that the world could not supply or tamper with. If course, if you didn't create it, you can't understand its origin or direction.

And it is a peace that 'guards', keeping evil influences away from my heart and mind. It is a peace that ensures that only the things that promote the source of the peace are allowed to happen to me. This peace knows that my heart is prone to external impressions and pressure, so before the issues come, it wants to come in, abide in me and make my heart a fortress. If trouble comes, it finds no free space because my heart has been completely taken up by God's peace. 

Let no one also fool or deceive you into thinking that being in Christ automatically insures you against trouble. No, what you get is a clear insurance policy for eternal life, meaning that nothing down here is more important or powerful than the One who lives inside me. That Presence is all that matters; everything else is a phase. His time of favour is here. 

Basis for peace 

Process for peace

Enabler of peace 

Benefits of peace 

The place of peace 

The Heart!

The Heart!

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? Jeremiah 17:9 KJV

Of all the parts of the body that God created, I do not recall any two parts more talked about than the tongue and the heart. It seems to me that these two parts offer a window into the soul of a person. Time and space will not permit a full study of the impact of both parts to our lives, but as we focus on today's extract, we will see what God's view on the heart is, and what is needed to be done if we are to end well.

By Google definition, apart from its other functions, the heart is an organ about the size of a human fist, pumping blood through the body. Imagine that: the entire complex human body gets its supply of blood, which keeps the body alive, through the work of the heart. As long as the heart is working, the human body is fine. Most deaths are attributed to heart failure/disease/attack. There is an equivalent in the spiritual also: the heart becomes the processing centre that supplies all that the spiritual man needs to live and thrive. It is the silent, hidden but integral part of our lives that we cannot do without, yet we must carefully watch its delivery and operation, so it does not lead to our death.

God's verdict on the human heart is so dire: He calls it deceitful and desparately wicked. In fact, its deception is above all other things. Why would God speak in this manner? A look at the verses before this one gives insight: the people of Judah had become independent;  they were at peace and had become careless. But as you know, God will always punish sin, no matter in whom it is found. 

The people of Judah sought after other gods, and imagine God saying that because of their sin, He would take them away from their heritage and cause them to serve as slaves in other lands. Here were people he brought out with a mighty hand, gave them a land they didn't work for, yet they persisted in sin. If God handled his own 'chosen' ones this way, why would we imagine that we can escape the same fate if we disobey also? With all the warnings, Judah still didn't listen. And as God speaks to Judah here, so does He speak to us today: "How's your heart?" Is it lined up with what God says, or does it have its own agenda and plans? 

The question at the end of today's extract is: Who can know it? The answer comes in the very next verse: "I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins." You see, no matter how complex or contradictory the heart is, it answers to its maker. No matter how bad things get, the heart cannot escape the searchings and judgments of God. With man, I can get away with deceit, deception and drama, but with God, I cannot. My heart's work is plain before the One who created it. I must avoid the false attraction of sin, because it is the surest cause of spiritual heart failure leading to death. Forget pretence; be real with God today. Go to Him for help with your heart. He made it, He can keep it from evil. He needs it, He can preserve it from sin. He formed it, He knows it well enough. I give Him mine, I know I cannot keep it from sin by my own power. I rely on God to keep me from sin. May His grace be sufficient. His time of favour is here.