Delivered; Translated!

Delivered; Translated!

Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: Colossians 1:13 KJV

It is very clear from today's extract that there are two opposing sides to this life. It doesn't matter what your levels of exposure, experience or expenses are; this side of earth has only two offerings; two sides. One of the sides, the one we all were born into by virtue of our sinful nature, is the kingdom of darkness. That is what sin is and does: it is the embodiment of all that is evil and anti-God. It cannot please God, no matter how hard it tries to make itself look attractive. Its origin is steeped in sin, and when you consider the price God paid to deal with sin, it is not a kingdom that you or I can be safe in. If God could deal so decisively and definitely with sin in the manner He did, then I must look at sin through His eyes and also hate it as much as He does.

Then, there is the other kingdom, the one that belongs to God's dear son, paid for and secured by His own life. You see, when man sinned, he mortgaged the kingdom to the devil, giving him temporary power over all that God had given man. It was always a kingdom, whether under the control of the devil or God. A kingdom broods no opposition or rebellion, and all who reject the authority of that kingdom would be dealt with. All who are subjects of the kingdom cannot change allegiance on their own, unless another stronger authority comes to deliver the people under that other authority. And that is what has happened here: the One with the higher authority came into the kingdom of darkness to deliver all who were under bondage.

That is why both of them are defined from the perspective of power. You get one by natural birth; you get the other by supernatural birth. One is a natural process of life; the other is the supernatural work of Life Himself. One holds you even against your free will; the other relies on your free will to choose to submit to His authority. One is a kingdom of bondage, which is why the word 'delivered' is used; the other is a kingdom of transformation, which is why the word 'translated' is used. 

They are not the same; they cannot be used interchangeably as the world would like you to believe. Both are eternally parallel lines that can and will NEVER meet, no matter how long you draw or try to stretch them. Both are still on offer for all of us who are alive; those who are dead have already made a CHOICE, and the consequences of that choice will apply for all eternity. God offers deliverance from all that the devil offers, and a full restoration of all that the devil stole. That offer expires when you take your last breath; then your eternity is determined by whose authority you submitted to while you were on earth. Before that last breath, please settle your account with God. Don't wait until it is too late; otherwise, it is really too late. Everything that God did, and the price He paid was all so that I will gain eternity. May my life not be a waste of all that God has done. His time of favour is here 

Worship!

Worship!

Come, let us bow down and worship him; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker. Psalms 95:6 GNB

It is a call for all flesh to come. The invitation is extended to all people, no matter where they are from, who they are or what they have done in the past. It is mortal man who lays obstacles in the way of fellow men, because he does not want others to get to where he is, or to get what he already has. It is mortal man who wants exclusive dialling rights to all things God, and if it were possible, would sell access to the highest bidder. Yet, God has laid out a path of access to His throne of grace, where we all can obtain mercy and find grace to help us in time of need. 

One thing though: it is an open invitation, but I still have to respond by walking in through the open door. Too many times, we complain about our lot in life, not seeing the many opportunities that God places before us, so we can come into His Presence and get all that He offers. He does not force Himself on anyone; He simply asks me to come to Him, and He will give rest. If I respond, I get what is offered. If I do not respond, I do not get it, and I cannot turn around and blame my lot in life for whatever happens to me. Choices have consequences, and all of us have a choice to make: respond or reject. There is no third option.

And it matters where and what I am invited to. Man was made for worship and he will continue to run after that which he doesn't understand until he finds that which is Supreme and Eternal. Is it not a wonder how man has made small gods out of power, position, privilege and possessions. We kill to get them, yet they cannot help us buy eternity. Nature also abhors a vacuum and when the breath of God was breathed into man, that ensured that nothing else will truly satisfy man until he finds that which truly completes him. So, I must pause here again and ask myself: have I found the real and original subject and target of worship, or am I still struggling for clarity amongst all the range of false options available?

And when I come to worship, I am not coming to meet a buddy, who I can treat as I please. He calls me His friend, but I do not let that distract me from the truth that He is God, the King of kings and the Master of the entire universe. He kills and makes alive; He brings down one and sets up another, and does as He pleases and no one can question Him. That is the God I am called upon to come and worship. Let not his mercy close my eyes to the reality of His judgment. Let not the dispensation of grace make me think I can toy with sin and get away with it. Do not let the false hope that God is a God of love blind my eyes to the fact that He is also a God of judgment. He is at the same time the Lamb of God, the Good Shepherd, the rock of offence that makes men stumble and the Lion of the tribe of Judah. How I deal with Him defines what I get out of Him. 

So, I kneel and bow down in humble adoration today and every day. He is my Maker, and the One who deserves worship. He leaves me in no doubt what He wants from me and if I will be all that He formed me to be, I had better worship Him the way He wants. I note that nothing is said about what I stand to get for worshipping Him. Actually, all that is important is that I know who this God is and worship him for who He is. When I get that part right, all other parts fall in line. When God is exalted in me, his glory is evident and praise flows out of other people to Him. When I give Him what He desires, He gives me all that I desire. He will still send rain on all men, good or bad, but if I will access the treasures of His presence, worship is the key. Are you willing and ready to offer it to God daily, regularly and sincerely? His time of favour is here. 

Blessed!

Blessed!

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:  The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. Numbers 6:24‭-‬26 KJV

The words above are usually read as the final benediction in services just before the people leave. It is quite important to look at the foundation on which these words are set. Let's look at the verses just before today's extract, while we highlight some of the key words: The LORD commanded Moses to tell Aaron and his sons to use the following words in blessing the people of Israel.

That is the context. First, the instruction came directly from the Lord. If the Lord has blessed you, who is the person that can curse you? As it has been succinctly put, who can speak and it come to pass when the Lord has not decreed it? It then means that if the Lord has said it, you are settled on that matter for the rest of your life. It then also means that you will do well to get a word from God for your life. In the midst of these distressing and sad circumstances, it is important to find anchor for your soul, and nothing, not even a fat bank account balance, can save on the day of trouble. You need a Word from God. 

Secondly, from God's perspective, it wasn't a negotiation, but a command. It is one thing for God to give advice or counsel, and it is another for Him to give a command. When he commands, the whole of heaven sets out to carry out his command. His authority brooks no opposition, as Lucifer found out to His detriment. When He commands, who can resist? 

Thirdly, it is important to consider who is to pronounce the blessing: Aaron and his sons. These were the men who had been given the mandate of priesthood, to bear sacrifices for the people and intercede on their behalf before God. It means that the priests stood as the representatives of the people before God, pleading their cause. That position of authority and responsibility is the basis of their power to stand and make this pronouncements upon the people of Israel. And I consider myself a priest of the Most High as provided in 1 Peter 2:9: But you are the chosen race, the King's priests, the holy nation, God's own people... I am authorised by virtue of my appointment as a priest to stand and make the same pronouncement over my own life and family. 

God's desire has always been to bless His own. He does not create people for which He has no use, unless I decide to resist Him to the end of my life. His mercies are new every morning, and it is because of His mercies that we are not consumed. If God then decides he wants to bless me, why would I refuse? If I know the value of the blessing, why would I reject it? In fact, he generally sends his rain on all men, good or evil, but there is a special place in His heart for those who have surrendered to Him, who are His own, and have accepted Him as Lord and Saviour. Am I truly surrendered or still struggling for some form of identity? 

And as I read today's extract, it is clear that I take special place in God's heart. His focus is on me. It is as if in the midst of the crowd, He singles me out for special attention. It is as if even in the crowd, He sees me as an individual and distinct entity from every other person around me. After all, the fact that I have fingerprints different from any other person on the face of the earth shows how special I am. And God does not need to divide a blessing into 7 million parts for me to get a share; he has resources that are inexhaustible. No demand on earth can exhaust the resources of heaven. No matter what the world throws at me, as long as it meets me in God, I am safe. 

So I stand today and repeat the words to myself and to all who are connected to me: The Lord bless me and you, and keep me and you: The Lord make his face shine upon me and you, and be gracious unto me and you: The Lord lift up his countenance upon me and you, and give me and you peace. I have and will continue to claim mine; what of you? Remember the circumstances that allow you to claim them. His time of favour is here. 

Password into His Presence!

Password into His Presence!

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Psalms 100:4‭-‬5 KJV

Just like the old sanctuary built in the desert as the children of Israel journeyed to Canaan, with its courts and rooms, so God seems to emphasise those special features. Thw whole sanctuary seems to have three parts: the outer court, the altar of sacrifice and the tabernacle, which itself had its two chambers regarded as holy, because in there were the Ark of the covenant and the holy things for worship. There were categories of people that could approach all thess names parts, and the worship of God was done with so much awe and respect. In fact, it was only the High Priest who could come into the Holy of Holies, and even that was only once a year. Any breach of these rules was punishable by death. If this was supposed to be the earthly pattern of the future temple that God says is coming, with its rules and demands for holiness and purity, how do we think that the standards would have changed or be lowered? If we claim it is still the same God, why would we think He will overlook a mishandling of his temple and just gloss over it? Just a warning here: mercy does not take away God's holy and righteous demands from all who claim to follow Him. The fact that He is slow to anger does not permit us to test His limits. If He has laid out a pattern and a structure for worship, sacrifice and service, we will do well to adhere. 

And this seems to be part of the message in today's extract. There is a place where God dwells, as represented by the glory of God that covered the sanctuary as it moved from place to place in the desert. There was a physical manifestation of the glory of God and there specific ways God demanded his people worship Him. They were to come through the boundaries of the sanctuary and as sacrifices were made for sin at the bronze altar, they were to receive cleansing which made them fit to approach God for worship. 

We don't do sacrifices of blood anymore, and we don't have to wait for a year for the High Priest to make atonement again for sin. The death of Jesus on the cross has dealt a final and fatal blow on the need for symbols; we now have the real thing. We have approach and access, and it is free of charge. We are asked to enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise. In the past, it would be the blood of bulls; today, the blood of Jesus has been shed and has gone ahead of us. We only need to make the approach. We have recieved the best God has on offer, which is permanent access into God's Holiness. We see a picture of who He is and what He desires from all who will follow Him. 

It is God's mercy that has made this new way for us, and it is this same mercy that will keep us aligned with God's expectations. God is good, and his mercy endures forever. His love is the type that won't let go until the end of time. When I consider what I have recieved, I cannot but be thankful and humble at the same time. It has never been about what I deserve, but about what I have received, and if I received it, it was never mine in the first place, and if it wasn't mine in the first place, there is no room for pride. It is about God's mercy, and that is the reason why I am able to approach God's throne and ask for whatever I need. His blood has made it possible. 

But then the warning again: it is still the same God who hates and punishes sin. Mode of worship may have changed, but the demands of holiness hasn't. His mercy is eternal, but my access to it is limited to my earthly sojourn. When death or rapture occurs, all I have will be my dealings with God. I am not promised forever down here; whilst I live, I live grateful for all I am and have. I ask God to accept my life and the offerings of praise and thanksgiving that I bring. It's all I have, and it is all He will take. Am I giving Him what He wants? Are you? His time of favour is here. 

Praise!

Praise!

I WILL praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will show forth (recount and tell aloud) all Your marvelous works and wonderful deeds! I will rejoice in You and be in high spirits; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High! Psalm 9:1‭-‬2 AMPC

This is a psalm attributed to David, the man God called one after His own heart. When you read all of David's songs in Psalms, even when he was sorry for his sins  of adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah, you get the distinct impression that David knew God's heart. David knew the things that got God's attention and he gave them in abundant measure. Please note that if David had attempted to offer praise to God as a bribe to get off the consequences of his actions, we know he failed spectacularly. He was forgiven, but his generation after him suffered the consequences of his actions. Whatever it is that I think I want to offer to God, I must make sure it comes from a heart that is free of hypocrisy and eye-service.

And no wonder, all, not part of David's heart was committed to praising God. That is the lesson with God: you can't deceive your creator. It is on record in 2 Chronicles 25 that Amaziah the king of Judah served God all the days of his life, but NOT with a perfect heart. You can't give God part and expect him to keep the whole. You can't deal God a defective part and expect him to preserve the whole. He keeps that which is entrusted into His hands. And David tells us clearly how he intends to celebrate this God who has done marvellous works and wonderful deeds. He will sing aloud, rejoice, be in high spirits and sing praises.

And that is yet another lesson: when God does anything for you, it is hard to keep quiet. In fact, it will be the height of ingratitude to keep quiet about God's mighty workings in my life. How do people know who God is and what He has done, if I am not a visible and audible witness to His mighty works? How does the world sit up and take notice that I have been with Jesus, if there is nothing in my life to show Him off? Praise isn't a quiet or reserved thing; it is something that will be seen or heard from my life, if it is to be believed.

And it means that indeed, I know that God has been good. As I take stock of this odd year, what are the things I am most grateful for? Would that be my networth in monetary terms, my circle of influence, or the simple fact that I have been preserved through a pandemic? We used to fret over new year resolutions and how determined we were going to be in a new year, but I am sure that at the moment, we are just grateful for God's mercy and preservation. So, I WILL praise God, not MAY. It is not a matter of choice or compulsion, but a free exercise of a heart that appreciates what it has received. I praise you o Lord for all your mighty deeds. What's your own decision? His time of favour is here. 

Weights and Words!

Weights and Words!

Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad. Proverbs 12:25 KJV

Heaviness or anxiety is a real thing, yet it is very difficult to define. As we look at recent events around the world, with the raging virus, economic turmoil and moral decadence all around us, it is not  difficult to imagine where the sources of anxiety or heaviness are. It would seem that anxiety is a part of the human psyche, which must have been the reason why Jesus very clearly spoke about it during the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6) when he charged his followers not to be anxious about anything. Easier said than done!

We have seen above what the many possible external causes of anxiety are, but what then is the cure to anxiety? I believe first of all, it is not to allow the events and stories of the world get into your heart. Check again what today's extract says: Heaviness IN the heart of man. As long as I do not allow the drama outside impact my inside, I will be fine. The devil tries to bulldoze through our defences and touch our hearts, because he knows that once he holds the heart, he holds the life. No wonder also that the wisest king that lived on earth, Solomon, also warned: Guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it flow the issues of life. The secret is to fill the heart up with all of God and his Word so that heaviness or anxiety has no space to fill. If there is room, the devil will find it. If there is no room now, he will keep hanging around, hoping that one day, the storms will rise up enough to get into your boat. By God's grace and help, you must not let him.

But then, when the heaviness comes and the heart is weighed down, what is the antidote or solution? Today's extract refers to 'a good word'. Did you notice that it does not refer to word in the plural, just in the singular. Pray, how does a single word make an anxious heart glad? It has to do with its source, inspiration, purpose and impact. It does not always have to be spoken by the mouth, but it could be the result of an action, maybe a quiet visit to just sit and console, it could be a quiet word of prayer that no one else hears except God, it could be just helping around the house to lift other kinds of weights around the house. There are so many ways my life can speak without the use of words, and it is also possible that God may send me to use actual words. Whatever it is that I have been sent to do, it is important that I do it as God directs and leads, so it can have the desired result. The heart is God's creation, and it is He who knows what it needs per time. So when He sends me to a life, I had better listen for His direction so I do not become a weight to the person I have been sent to help.

Guess the question then is: How's my life speaking? What is it saying? What kind of word(s) is my life producing and is it meeting the need around me? Am I an additional burden to people around me, or am I a solution to the heaviness the devil and the world are promoting? The answers to these questions will address my impact down here on earth and will speak into eternity. I better make sure my life is the right kind that God can use. His time of favour is here. 

First Love!

First Love!

We love him, because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19 KJV

There are quite a number of elements to God's nature that are revealed in today's extract, and today's extract can only highlight and underscore these elements; the response is yours to work out. First, there is a need to know this God. Who is He? Quite a lot of answers apply here, but for the sake of today's extract, one is important, and it is that He is a God of love. No one can give that which He does not have, and no one can legitimately make a withdrawal out of an account s/he has not made an earlier deposit, unless there are strict conditions for credit/overdraft.

Secondly, that love is the foundation of all that followed in Eden. It was this love that birthed the first man, who God created in His own image and after his likeness. The breath of God was put in this man, and He was given dominion over all that God had made. But you see, this is a God who knew that this man would reject him and go into sin, yet He pulled out all the stops and did His best. But He also knew that by his perfect all, man would be reconciled back to Him, so again, He gave out of who He is and has, and provided a way out of sin for all mankind. Even in sin, His love was evident.

Thirdly, what I have now become is a function of what I have received. Recall that we had said earlier that everyone gives of what He has. Since I received love, it has only become natural that I give out love. If truly I have responded to the offer of love from God, my life must produce fruit that lines up with that response. How can an orange tree produce bananas? My fruit must bear semblance to its roots. Love is what I got even when I didn't deserve it, and it has become imperative that my life reflects this so that others too may come to that same love. 

The perfect example has been laid down, and the template established. The path to true love has been laid out for me, and all I can do is follow. I am not the example; Jesus is. His life makes it possible for me to live to please God. His love makes it possible for me to love other people. I note it says nothing about whether the people I love deserve it or not. That is not why I love. I am not looking for reciprocal love, I am only giving off what I have received. I am not doing it to show off; I am only sincerely grateful for all I have received. His love is the door to all I can be, and it will be my lifelong duty to show off this amazing love. That is mine; what's yours? His time of favour is here. 

Grateful!

Grateful!

O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psalms 107:1 KJV

Almost all Bible editions label the whole chapter of Psalm (107) under consideration a psalm of praise, which is defined as 'express warm approval or admiration of a person or thing, or the expression of one's respect and gratitude towards a deity, especially in song. First lesson: you cannot be non expressive or pretty quiet where praise is involved. When someone has done anything of value to you, you really cannot be quiet and still claim that you are grateful. Yu may ask, but God knows everything, so I really do not need to say anything. However, God has made it clear that He inhabits the praise of His people, so my first and foremost priority must be to offer to God that which He asks for. If He does not hear it, and man also cannot testify about it, can God really confirm it? 

And one reason for my actions will be because God is good. There are several other reasons, but this one is sufficient for our purpose today. The reality that surrounds me may say otherwise, but God is good. There may be evil in the land, but God is good. There may be sickness and death, but God is good. You really need to know this God on a personal basis, and not depend only on what people tell you or circumstances dictate. He is a good God, no matter what goes on around me. How do I know: the fact that I am alive today is the loudest testimony to the fact that God is good. In Eden at creation, God testified that ALL He made was very good. Sin became the channel of evil and ticket to hell, but His goodness will not let me go. Even when I rejected Him, He still held out His hands, so I could run to Him. And throughout all creation, He keeps on doing that which his nature supports and suggests, which is good. 

And the part about his mercy enduring forever is another reason why I am standing here. Right from Eden, a plan for my salvation was laid out clearly. It took quite some centuries before the plan was physically manifest and put into effect, yet all through the centuries as we waited, He didn't strike all of mankind dead. He still sent His sun and rain on all of mankind, even when He knows that all of man's thoughts are wicked. That is why He is God, not man, and why He deserves all our thanks, worship and adoration. It is by His mercy we exist, and it is His mercy that opens the door wide for us to enter in. 

No matter what has gone wrong before now, I am grateful for where I stand now. Things may be pretty difficult right now, but I rejoice in the knowledge that God has me in mind and that His plans and purposes will not and cannot fail. These are just a few of the reasons why I rejoice, and the reason why I know it will end well. As I wait, I praise. As I wait, I rejoice. What of you? His time of favour is here. 

Balance!

Balance!

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3 John 1:2 KJV

John writes thess words to one Gaius, who he says he loves in the truth. Why is this important? In my life's journey, many people will cross my path or impact my life one way or another. What impact do I seek to leave on other people on my journey to eternity? What legacies am I laying down presently as God brings people into my life? One thing is certain: people will come into your life for a season or a reason, but no matter which one it is, I must make sure I leave eternal footprints on their hearts. Is that what I am presently doing or am I all about optics and drama?

Then the prayer: John makes it clear what his prayer point and desire is for Gaius. There are so many desires a man can pursue, but I do not think that there can be anything over and above physical health and prosperity. The world has sold us a strange picture of success. It has told us that it has to be visible and tangible for it to matter. So, we run and chase after that picture, not even sure what we are supposed to be looking for, and not even certain if and when we have attained the picture, because that picture actually has no definite structure, form or limit. It is an idea based on the devil's false notions of priorities, and if you do not submit your heart to God, you will just run. There is no guarantee that you will ever arrive if you don't even know the direction of travel or the destination.

So that my life does not become a fruitless chase of an idea, I must find out what God wants for me and focus on it. It frees my heart from covetousness, covered yesterday, and allows me to thrive within the boundaries of God's amazing grace. It is said that men who make impact on the world are those who have freed themselves from men's expectations. It sets your heart at rest no matter what the races around you look like. How would I not be in sound health if I am content with where God has placed me, and confident in where He is taking me? What else can be more comforting and settling like knowing that the Master of the Universe has got your back and is backing you up to succeed on His own terms? 

Let me just emphasize the part about the soul: if your soul is not prospering, your body will not follow suit. That is why when God breathed into man, He became a living soul, not a living body. The body is just dust, and will return back to where it was sourced from. It is the soul that will stand for judgement, yet it is the ignored and neglected part of our being. We starve it while we feed the body, sometimes to excess. No wonder John ties bodily health to the condition of the soul. 

If nothing registers today, let this sink in: focus on your soul. Nourish, feed and protect it from pollution; it is the foundation for all that God wants to do in and through a human life. If I will truly prosper; if I will truly live out my days in sound health, the secret lies in that inner, hidden part of the soul, which is connected and fully submitted to God. In surrender lies my victory. In surrender lies my healing. In surrender lies my prosperity. Are you totally surrendered? His time of favour is here. 

Faith 3!

Faith 3!

So then, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message comes through preaching Christ. Romans 10:17 GNB

Let's lay the foundation for today's extract: Paul writes in this 10th chapter of Romans how important salvation is to the redemption plan of God for all mankind. It had nothing to do with tribe, culture, race or tongue, but an open invitation to ALL men to come to Jesus. A summary of the verses leading up to today's extract underlines this. One verse says: For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. It is an open invitation; open to men, asking them to CALL, not just on anything or anyone that catches their fancy, but upon the NAME of the LORD. An assurance is also provided by God that all who call WILL be SAVED; not may or should, but WILL be saved. That is the assurance that comes from the One who has power to save. 

The key to calling on the nams of the Lord is the focus of today's extract: FAITH. The question asked in this context is: How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? If there is no faith that the One who asks me to call can save me, there is no motivation to call on Him. If I do not think I need help, or I have not yet come to the realisation that I am indeed lost without Him, then I do not yet need help. Faith needs a basis and foundation, and nothing else can support it outside of the God who speaks. So, what are you listening to, or who are you going to for validation? If it is not the God who helps you stand, you will fall for anything. 

Then comes the dilemma: because of sin, man has become blind and deaf to most of God's promptings. There has to be a framework for man to realise that he's lost and needs a Saviour. In response to this dilemma, these words are written: how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?  And how shall they preach, except they be sent? For a man to be tired of where he is now, he has to be shown a more excellent way. How would he know of the more excellent way if all who know about it keep it to themselves? How would a man know the error of his ways if the truth about his ways and the eternal consequences of his ways are not made clear? This is not to frighten anyone, but God leaves no one in doubt as to the eternal consequences of sin, which is also eternal death in hell. His Word makes it clear, but these days, we prefer to hear the words that make us comfortable, rather than the words that should drive us towards God and his mercies so we can escape the coming judgment. Oh, that judgment is coming, and the only way it can end well for me is to make sure it meets me in God when it comes. 

God is looking for people who will bear this message to the world. He is looking for people who have had a personal experience of Him to share that experience with the world. Men of the world are looking for the right message; one of hope and certainty about eternity. You only find that in the eternal God. And if I have God, I should be proud to show him off. That is why I have to be a visible and audible witness for God. Men must meet Him through me, as I speak of Him and His Word. 

And that is where today's extract comes in. When I speak God's Word, it has no choice but to awaken faith in the hearts of men who hear. Faith comes when a person opens the heart for the Word of God to take root. You cannot speak of faith outside of the Word of God. What would give you confidence to face the uncertain tomorrow, if you know nothing of the God who holds and owns tomorrow? The message must be about Christ, so that His life becomes the attraction. Nothing else will draw man's heart toward God. All else will be distractions and weights. Am I a tool God sees fit to use to preach the message, or do I need to also hear God's Word again? Do I have unshakeable faith in God, or am I trying to balance competing interests? Remember, it is God or nothing. He will not be mocked, and He will not settle for second best. Give him all your heart, let Him do with it what a loving creator can do with his creation: nurture and preserve it for all eternity. His time of favour is here.

Seasoned!

Seasoned!

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5 KJV

In this age where success is defined in physical and material terms, today's extract cautions me not to be distracted by earthly definitions. Forbes list and the insatiable desire to 'make it' keep men awake at night, and we scheme and plan how we will hit the jackpot. Whilst it is not a crime to seek the good things of life, which in the first place, have been promised by God, I must constantly remind myself to keep in front of me the WHY and the HOW of WHAT I seek. 

The Bible warns against covetousness, not against asking or seeking. In fact, Jesus encourages us to ak until our joy is full, but as we wait for the fullness, we must not fill ourselves with envy, bitterness, rage or hatred against another person's success story. If I am full of envy, how will God fill up my need? If there is no room in my heart to fully appreciate all that God wants to do, do I think He will go ahead and do them? 

So, while I wait, I do so with joy. While I wait, I celebrate your success. I must be careful not to covet your story, but to ask God for that which is His perfect plan. It is easy to seek to walk another person's path, but God always does the unique, special and different for all who seek Him. I wait with patience for the fullness of all He wants to do, and I rest on his promise that no matter what happens while I wait, He is with me. He says: "I will NEVER leave you or forsake you. 

You see, that promise of His presence is the best part as well as the most sobering part of today's extract. I look at the lives of characters in the Bible and one of my own personal conclusions is this: no matter how it ends, God is with me. I may not have it all; life may be tough, but God is with me. The world will have its own opinion, as I am sure it did when Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, was stoned to death like a common criminal, or when Daniel was thrown into the lions' den, or when Joseph was thrown into prison for sticking with the truth. We know how each story ended, but there is one undeniable fact: God was with each person. That is all that mattered at the end. 

The message is the same today. Let's not keep our hearts on what we seek, but on who can make all our plans come to pass when they line up with His will. He is the same God of those old men and women, and He is still the same God. Through all the pursuits, greed and selfishness of men, He remains true to His Word. He is there, faithful and true; always watching over all who trust Him, and depend on Him for guidance and sustenance. Are you one? His time of favour is here.

Life!

Life!

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me will live, even though they die; and all those who live and believe in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25‭-‬26 GNB

Context: Lazarus, a friend of the family, had just died. Mary and Martha sent for Jesus when Lazarus was still sick, yet Jesus delayed until Lazarus died. The One who could change situations 'sat on his hands' and let a good man die. Is that not a familiar refrain these days, where we ask: If God is good, why do bad things happen? If only we knew half the story, maybe our refrain will be different. If God is good, why do we find it so convenient to do what is bad? 

So, Lazarus died and was buried, and four days later, Jesus shows up. I imagine what was going on in the minds of both Mary and Martha and the crowd who knew Jesus was a friend of the family. They had seen him raise the dead; in fact, in one instance, He only spoke the word of healing and the word went ahead to effect the healing. Jesus didn't have to show up. If He could do all that, why was Lazarus different? Well, do my experiences in any way determine if God is God? Is He God simply because He gives me what I want or when I want it? 

Martha, ever the outspoken one, voiced out what most, if not all of us would say: 'If you were here, my brother would not have died'. We assume that Jesus in our boat keeps us away from storms, but in all the accounts in the Bible, at no time did it happen that Jesus kept his own from tough times. We cannot claim immunity from persecution, simply because the Lord of the universe is in our lives. In fact, His promise is that in this world, we will have tribulations. He does not leave that hanging; He says He has overcome the world, and that should give us joy that no matter what the world brings, it will meet us in the victory God has already sealed for us, before He calls us into battle. 

And today's extract is Jesus' response to Martha's concerns. No matter what has gone before or is happening here, keep your eyes on me. Oh, it is easier said than done. When there are raging storms and high winds, it takes a settled heart, one which knows Who keeps it sane, to focus on what is truly important. Jesus just makes this very clear: focus on who I am, not what you know. I am the key to all that you ever need. Even for the times you do not yet know, and the future that is yet uncertain, leave them all to me. He calls Himself the Resurrection and the Life, and then makes two connected claims, both of which go to who He is. He says: if you believe in me, physical death has no hold on you. He also says: those who are alive now and believe in me have passed over from death to eternal life. Two parts to the same truth. I am the resurrection and the Life. In me, death has no hold and all who believe in me has received that same life. That is what I receive in union with Christ. 

And as Jesus asked Martha then, so does He ask today: do you believe this statement? Eternity hangs on your response, because your eternity rests upon what you do with Jesus. Is he my Saviour and Lord, or do I have other viable options? Is He my life now, or am I trying to secure life through our means? And my actions will reflect my belief. If I truly believe He is the resurrection and the Life, my life will show it. Eternity is too long a time not to know where you will spend it. Make sure you are on the side of life. His time of favour is here. 

Clarity!

Clarity!

For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 1 Peter 1:24 KJV

In the event that you wanted to have an idea of your value or worth, today's extract gives a clear insight. If I really wanted to know what my value is, check out what today's extract says. It says ALL flesh, with no exception based on colour, race, creed, bank account balance or circle of influence. It doesn't matter what I have become now, or what I am in the process of becoming; it is first a function of who I am from God's perspective, where He made me from and placed me, and where He is taking me. Every other consideration is a headache. 

When God made man, he took from the dust of the earth and formed man. Tell me, if the main substance that I am is dust, of what value will gold, silver and precious stones be on dust? If gold and silver cannot change the fundamental essence of what I am, then why do I go out of my way to purchase them and turn them into small gods. My greatest discovery will be to find out why God made me from the dust, and how best I can achieve his plan and purpose. It is God's breath that makes me alive, and without it, I will return back to dust. So, I must not consider myself anything outside of the One who allows me to exist in this form. 

The sobering thought is that all of man's glory is compared to the flowers of the field. Haven't you passed through a field one day, admiring the beauty of the flowers there, and then passing there the next day to see that the farmer had cleared the land in preparation for planting? What happened to all the beauty? It was just good for a season, until another use was found for the land on which the flowers grew. In there is yet another lesson: no matter how handsome or beautiful I may be now, I have not been promised forever in this mortal body. I have been placed down here for a season, just like the flowers, to beautify the earth I have been placed in. I am to give off the fragrance of God in me so the world can appreciate the God I serve. 

However, a season is coming when it will be time for the flower to be plucked out, or the grass to be cut down, or the beauty of it all to fade away and to give way for the genuine beauty that never fades. It is as certain as night follows day that no mortal man will live forever on this side of eternity. Before the day of God's visitation comes, I must ensure I have obtained the passport to the eternal life promised by God. How do I do that: by simply asking God who defines purpose to define for me what my purpose is. Then, I will not compete with any one for relevance or impact. I will not get into unnecessary competition with anyone or feel I am indispensable. I don't have any glory in myself separate from the God of glory. I don't amount to much outside the One who gives my life essence, meaning and direction. So, what's your focus: making it big or letting the big God take total control of your life? What of mine? His time of favour is here. 

Whatever!

Whatever!

Are there any believers in your fellowship suffering great hardship and distress? Encourage them to pray! Are there happy, cheerful ones among you? Encourage them to sing out their praises! James 5:13 TPT

So it is very clear, today's extract is directed at believers; people who are saved by the blood of Jesus. Who would have thought that you would use believers who follow Christ and the words: great hardship and distress in the same sentence. First lesson: salvation is a change of allegiance from the devil to God. The devil does not give up a fight, and he will fight on to the bitter end to lay hold of what sin gave him. In fact, Jesus himself clearly stated: In this world, you will have tribulation. It will therefore amount to a lie for anyone to claim that salvation insures anyone from hardship. It is not biblical or in line with the teachings of Jesus. So, which am I: a believer or a bystander? 

So, when these tough times come, what is expected of me, if I am a believer? Second lesson: my life should not look like what I have been through. Too many times, we throw pity parties to highlight our struggles and challenges, whilst we downplay the mercies and victories that we have had along the way. When times get tough, i am asked to pray. Prayer here isn't a talisman that automatically gets you out of the situation, but imagine the comfort and joy that men like Daniel, the three Hebrew boys, Stephen and Peter had in their dark moments, where they knew that God was with them, no matter what the external circumstances were. 

I am praying that the storm raging outside will not get into the boat of my life. It won't happen just by me saying it, but by praying it. Prayer is the antidote to worry and anxiety, and is the key to comfort and confidence in the ability of God to sustain through the storm. No wonder the other half of today's extract also says that when things get rosy, I must sing out in praise to appreciate all that God has done. Another lesson: my external circumstances are not to determine my internal status. What goes on around me shouldn't affect my relationship with God. In fact, whether things are rosy or thorny, I must keep my channel of communication with God clear, open and regular. 

God isn't God simply because things are going well. God isn't God only for the bad, uncertain times. He is God, no matter the circumstances, situations or experiences. The earlier I embrace that truth, the better for me. God does not promise perpetually bright skies, but He promises perpetual joy. So, I smile at the storms, because I know that He has all under control. His time of favour is here. 

Abide!

Abide!

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. John 15:4 KJV

It is always a symbiotic relationship, where I abide in God and He also abides in me. I am not the one claiming to be what I am not, but my life is a visible and audible representation of my inner content. Men come in contact with me and they immediately know where I have been and who I have been with. Men of old, like the apostles in Antioch were called Christians because their lives showed off who was living in them. So, am I all lips and no truth? Am I the one who has to shout out that I am a Christian, or is His fruit evident in my life?

The word 'abide' is quite fundamental here: it is to remain stable or fixed in a state; to sojourn; to conform to rules and accept without objection. I believe the picture is clear. You do not abide until you realise you don't have other options. As long as you can get out and find an alternative, even if it is for some time, you have not yet learnt to abide. As long as there are other 'viable' options, your residence status cannot be determined. I believe the word abide wasn't used in error; it is the finality of it that makes sense. You are stuck with Him; there is nowhere else to go. In fact, you are not willing to go anywhere else because nothing and no one can give you what you already have. That is abiding.

Picture a branch that is attached to the vine. It gets its nourishing from the vine, and continues to supply fruit to all who come near. As long as the vine is attached to the source of nourishment, the branches are bound to receive nourishing too. There is no danger of the vine being uprooted, because this is Jesus Himself. However, as the branch, I am only relevant and fruitful as long as I remain attached to the vine. Any branch that seeks independence from the vine, or thinks it will be fine away from the nourishing of the vine is due for trouble.

And in that is a warning that is good for all time: you can NEVER outgrow your need of Jesus. He is not your every day buddy that you can choose when to talk with or relate to Him. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and He is the reason why you are alive in the first place. I can never outlive my need for Him, his help, grace, mercy, protection, provision and so many other needs. He is not a temporary rest stop, which I can then abandon when the use has been fully exhausted, but He is my resting place, the place where all my needs are met, where my life is fashioned, moulded, filled, and fashioned for impact. He will not force Himself on me, but a time is coming when my life must answer for all the decisions I am making now. What's it going to be? Am I abiding or content with just getting by? His time of favour is here. 

Time!

Time!

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 1 Peter 5:6 KJV

One prayer I have learnt to avoid is to ask God to humble me. I am not sure it is God's job to do, because if He has to do it, a high price may be paid. I believe the reason why I am asked to humble myself is because I am the One who has to learn my place from God's perspective and act accordingly. If I think of myself quite highly, I will act accordingly. If I think I am important, it will show in my attitude and response to other people. God will not go against the exercise of my free will, but He will apply the consequences to my actions, whatever they are. 

So, the first lesson is this: I must do all I can to know and learn my place in God's creation. God does not demand something from me without supplying the grace and strength to do it. If He asks me to do something, it is because He has provided the required grace. That is the place of the mighty hand of God. It is a mighty hand; one that can do mighty things. It is a mighty hand that can and has fought and won several battles. It is a hand that the verse before today's extract says opposes anyone who is proud. It is a mighty hand; you do not want it fighting against your interests. 

So, with the working of God's grace upon my life, I learn that I am not indispensable. I must place myself under the right hand; not every hand is to exercise authority over my life. I must be careful to do all that God commands, so I can get all that He has promised. And I leave the timing of his dealings with me in His hands. Is there anyone who can rush God into anything? Can I really pray anything that is not God's will into existence? Would I not be better off waiting for God's time and season of manifestation? It is his earth and He determines times and seasons by His wisdom. My life must not be different. I must wait for Him, trust His dealings and His process, and rejoice at His results. His season of exaltation will come; I will enjoy His best if I wait for Him. Don't be in a hurry, and don't give up easily. As long as God gives life, there is no limit to the amazing things He has in store for us. His time of favour is here. 

Treasures!

Treasures!

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: Matthew 6:19‭-‬20 KJV

There is a right time for everything; there is a right place for every material. You do not put new wine in old wineskins, and you do not cast your pearls before swine. The value I place on something will define how much of it I share with the public or the value of care I place on it. If I do not consider it valuable, the world will definitely not raise its price on my behalf. So, one thing is clear from today's extract: there are treasures in our hands looking for eternal dwellings. As I live from day to day, I am building a final resting place for these treasures. Pray, am I working towards the right kind of eternal dwelling? 

And as it has been said so often over the past few days, there is no fence here. You can't play down the middle by seeking to lay your treasures neither on earth or in heaven. There is no open options: it is one or the other. It can't be both at the same time, as no man can serve two very different masters with two very different eternal realities all at the same time. So, as I take stock today, I ask myself yet again: "who am I working for"? 

And as is God's custom, He tells us the end of either decision. If I focus so much on earth that I do not prepare for the eternal, there will be nothing to show for it when I show up before God. If I have spent all my fortunes to make a name for myself down here, what would I lay claim to as the reason why I should be admitted to eternal dwellings? Then the opposite: do I focus so much on heaven and the eternal, that I forget to live in the now, preparing adequately for eternity? If the Lord intended that salvation was the key to immediate rapture, He won't have left me down here to work, representing Him. My being here is proof that He wants to impact my world through me. 

It will therefore be the highest betrayal for me to now live for my own pleasure. We have come full circle from total dependence on God to our own schemes. Let it be known today that whatever belongs to the earth is subject to the conditions of the earth. There is nothing that was built to last forever down here, so if all I have stored up are the things of this earth, I do not have anything of any value. However, God promises that whatever I place in His hands is eternally safe, and that is why it is wisdom to place my life in His hands. He is the owner of all of heaven and earth, and He is able to keep that which has been committed into His hands. 

Moth, rust and thieves are the earth's way of reminding us that there is really nothing of value down here. However, none of these things exist in heaven, and imagine how many centuries ago it was that Jesus promised He was going to prepare a place for us. There is nothing that can touch those things, and it is wisdom to make plans for the treasures in heaven by finding out what it requires and doing all you can to take hold of it now and hold tight to it to the end. If I know the value, there is nothing I won't do to get it. If I do not understand the value, it will hold no attraction for me. However, remember, one day soon, the One who is the greatest treasure will return for all who have made the right investments of their lives into His hands, are committed to the things of eternal value and eagerly awaiting His return. Am I really one of them? Are you? His time of favour is here. 

Truth!

Truth!

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8: 31 - 32 KJV

Context: As always, one constant feature of Jesus' earthly ministry was the crowds that followed Him everywhere. Any other man would be awed by the crowd, but not Jesus. He never passed on a chance to speak to the crowd, challenging them to make up their minds to either believe in or reject Him. Here again, the word had gone out. He had spoken about his coming death, and that all who follow Him will receive the life that His Father had promised.

And as is the case with all of men, some did believe and some did not. God will never go against the exercise of my free will. He will do all He can to convince me, but He will not force Himself on me. I read these words and it seems to me that Jesus is saying: no matter the drama that brought you to me, the only way you can remain in me is to remain true to my words. The proof of discipleship is seen in the fruits. If I am not rooted right, I cannot fruit right. 

If I do not continue in the Word that brought me to Jesus in the first place, then I am not really a follower of Jesus. I cannot bear fruit outside of the One who holds up the frame, providing necessary support and nutrients. Am I part of the vine, or am I one foolish branch thinking it can survive on its own? And you can't start well and think you have arrived well enough to continue on your own. If it is not the vine sustaining your branch, how do you expect to survive when the storms, winds and rain come? The key word here: continue - is central to receiving all that is promised. Am I self-sufficient in any way, or am I fully dependent on the One who can show me the path of life? Have I arrived, or am I still very much a work in progress, fully dependent on the Wisdom of the Master to bring me to full measure in His own time? 

You need to know the truth every time, not just most of the time. If you really desire true deliverance from the power of sin, it is only possible in and through the One who seized control from the devil through His death and life. When I open my heart to the truth of God's Word, I am seeking to know Truth, who is Jesus Himself. And that truth is a liberator, because it frees you from slavish devotion to dogma and rules at the expense of a relationship with God. It's not that rules have ceased to apply to you but you are not complying out of a sense of fear but from a heart that fully appreciates all it has been given. 

As some Jews then made a decision to believe Jesus, so does Jesus wait on us today. What do you want: true freedom as defined by God, or the false promises made by man? As always, the choice is mine, but the eternal consequences are for God to define. Actually, He has defined it; I am the one with a decision to make. What would it be: eternal freedom or eternal bondage? His time of favour is here. 

Presence!

Presence!

For where two or three are assembled in my name, I am there among them. Matthew 18:20 NET

Context: Jesus was speaking here to his disciples, not to the crowd who usually followed him everywhere He went. As always, the instructions of Jesus are not compulsory to those who have not submitted to Him. They are binding on those who have accepted Him as Lord and Saviour. That is why in the verses before today's extract, Jesus refers to those he addresses as 'brothers': bound not by the process of natural birth, but by the blood of the Lamb. So, am I a brother? The answer to this question is the foundation of today's extract.

Purpose: why is this foundation important? It is because those who represent Jesus on earth have got to show Him off. How do people come to my light if there is even no light in the first place? How do I freshen and enliven the world I live in as salt, if I have lost the saltiness? That is why the issue is not with any misunderstanding; it is about it is handled. Those who bear God's name cannot afford to allow the devil work in or through them. Those who are called by the name of the Lord shouldn't sit at the table of the devil. When I relate with my fellow brother or sister, I must remember to see through the eyes of Christ: what would He do, and how would He do it?

Fellowship: and when I carry Christ around, He is visible and audible in my life. Imagine the power that is released when I join forces with another carrier of Christ. See Paul: the impact of just one life that met with Jesus. Peter, James, John and Matthew are just a few of the names and we see their impact till now. The same applies to me too. When I come to know Christ, I come to experience His fullness. When I come in contact with another carrier, power is released in exponential measure. 

Conclusion: And when the power of Christ is present, there is no limit to what He can achieve. One will bind on earth and heaven will respond. Another will loosen the power of God over situations and heaven will respond. It is not magic; it is Christ at work. It is not manipulation; it is Christ proving that when He is in charge and allowed to work, He always comes through. There is no situation so far gone that is beyond the power of God. There is no one that is so far gone that s/he is beyond the grace of God. He waits to impact my world; he wants to celebrate me to the world. The secret: being IN Him, walking with Him, working for Him. Nothing else will work. His time of favour is here. 

Faith 2!

Faith 2!

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 KJV

We referred to and tried to define faith a few days ago. How do you prove a thing in court? You either speak of what you have seen, heard, felt, tasted, touched or smelled. If you had to speak directly about what you saw, your testimony carried weight as a witness. If you had to repeat what someone else told you, or what you heard another person say, then your testimony could be termed hearsay, and may not be accepted as the true version of events. 

When faith is therefore presented as evidence of something, you have to ask what the substance is really about. When God asks me to have faith, what is He really asking me to do? First, He is asking me to forget what the physical reality around me is, and focus on what He has already said. Second, He is telling me that nothing I see now is actually the real thing. Third, seeing what and how He sees is the secret to getting all that He has promised.

With God, it is dangerous to rely on what feelings or the senses tell you. 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes cannot feed up to 50 people, not to talk of 5,000men besides women and children, yet in the hands of the God who tells me that faith is the secret to obtaining what looks impossible, nothing is really impossible. And one key connecting factor here is the hope of that which is ahead. If there was nothing to look forward to, of what use is faith? If all I am expecting to get has already been supplied, why am I still stressed about tomorrow?

As long as I am down here, there will always be an expectation. God does not give me the whole picture all at once, but a glimpse of it over a period of time. This is why it is a daily walk of faith, not of sight. Not everything will be fully understood in the immediate, but as I walk with and work for God, He will keep making it clear. All that I require for life and Godliness is provided by and in Him, and only in Him will I have them all. Oh, there will be difficult days ahead, when the storms and the winds threaten the peace, but when the foundations are secured in God and His Word, there will always be a joyful ending. 

You have got to hope for that which is ahead, which has been promised by God. Something has to keep you sane in the midst of all the distress and pain around. There has to be a witness in your heart that none of these things is for nothing. It will all mean something very soon as God's purpose and plan all come to fruition. So, hold on, you are not alone. Keep at it; He is not far off. Keep walking with and working for God in line with His will. What is coming is far more precious and lasting that all you have ever encountered in this lifetime. His time of favour is here. 

Faith!

Faith!

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6 KJV

This is the chapter of faith, or as it is called, the roll call of faith. The whole chapter defines faith, its importance, its defining characteristics, and those whose lives have become examples of faith which we can seek to emulate. In understanding today's extract then, it is important to know what faith is. The very first verse of the chapter where today's extract is taken from defines it as: faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith does not need physical evidence; faith does not need to hold it before it believes it. The words used here are a bit funny: substance and evidence. In a court of law, these are quite important, but in God's court, my physical senses are not the best measures for what God is saying, or what He wants me to know about Him.

If what I have is faith as defined by God, I cannot always trust what my senses are saying. If it is faith by God's standard, I do not have to physically see or feel before I believe. This is why the Christian experience is so different. Nothing about it makes much sense if you want to understand it all; it is an experience that underscores total dependence on what God has said, and trusting that no matter what happens, God is in control. Not so easy for mortal men, who by nature try to prove that they are masters of their own destinies.

Faith does not need to see, feel, touch, taste, smell or hear before it accepts God's Word for who and what He is. There are quite a number of things that God has said that we have not seen, yet God wants me to trust and believe Him. If I had it all in view, what would be the value of hope? If there were no possible surprises in my walk with God, why would I be bothered by the expectation of making heaven? If I have it all figured out, what is the use of the Christian experience?

But because I know nothing of what tomorrow holds, I have to depend on the One who holds that tomorrow. No wonder, no man can please God if s/he does not have faith. How do I show I am totally dependent on God if I do not bother to ask Him for guidance, or seek His will in all I do? I see the word: 'impossible' and the image is this: no matter what else I have, if I am not totally dependent on God, I will not make it. The world may celebrate me, but in the final analysis, God's view of judgment is the only thing that matters. It is not that it is difficult; God says it is impossible.

If I will please God, I must come to Him on his terms, not mine. Even if it is out of disappointment, pain or desperation, I come. He is also introduced as the God who rewards all those who diligently seek Him. There is no man who ever sought out God and didn't find Him. At different times in the accounts of the Bible, men and women called out to God, and we see how all of them were met by God, at different times in their lives. 

It is still the same God, with the same love, still seeking men who will commit to Him totally. He does not discriminate; all people, no matter what the past looks like, all welcome. Would I take advantage of this offer and make an approach? Would I keep rejecting his love, thinking I can make it on my own? The stakes are indeed high; signs are clear that His coming is at hand. What am I looking forward to? What I keep in front of me will always define the things I pursue? I must make sure they are the things God approves. His time of favour is here. 

Shine!

Shine!

And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Isaiah 60:3 KJV

Context: This was Isaiah's message to the Jews of his time. They had sinned against God and He had punished them. They had been scattered across several nations, but the message here is: whatever it is I had done to you in the past, I am about to do a new thing. I am about to change your story. The message then is still the same now: God is the One who can do a new thing. It does not matter how long the old has persisted or settled; as long as it is God's will, He will move the heavens and the earth to bring His purpose to pass.

Light: The central theme for the entire chapter is LIGHT. I am asked to arise because the light of God has come upon me. Before I shout at the news, a fundamental question is: is my life the sort that if God's light should shine on it, God's glory will made manifest in me? I note that it is called 'my light' in today's extract, but in context, it is first the glory of God shining on me, which then translates to the Light that shines in and through me. I don't have what it takes in or by myself; it is first and foremost about God. 

God wants to shine in and through me. In fact, the one tested way by which God is glorified is for mortal man to show his forth. Those who think it is impossible for mortal man to please God see the example of a life touched by God, and they are encouraged. And that is the essence of the latter part of today's extract. 

Gentiles and kings: How else can my life attract strangers if it is not different from theirs? If I live the same way the world does, how does my life speak, minister and attract others to the light? Check out the caliber of people who the light in me will attract: people who never knew God, and those who have the power to influence and direct people's attention. As my light shines in my little corner where I have been placed, one person is drawn to the light. As we both shine out, another person is drawn yet again and the circle of influence grows. 

How did the apostles of Acts change their world: one message at a time. But there was an expression in the Bible which puts all these in perspective: The council members were astonished as they witnessed the bold courage of Peter and John, especially when they discovered that they were just ordinary men who had never had religious training. Then they began to understand the effect Jesus had on them simply by spending time with him. Acts 4:13 TPT. The encounter with Jesus had left an indelible mark on the disciples and men could see it just by looking at them. Can the same be said of me and you? 

Rise Up: if I truly know who I have believed and received, I cannot keep quiet. I note that kings are to be drawn to the brightness of my rising, not my compromise it my blending in. I get nothing by trying to be popular or accepted by men. I gain nothing by being ashamed of my allegiance and confession. You don't light a lamp and keep it under a bushel; you place it where its brightness can reach the farthest. The world is crying out for help; it has tried things its own way for quite some time but nothing has changed. It is time for those who bear the vessels of the Lord to live up to His expectations of holiness. You can't pass on God if you don't have Him, and you can't shine out if his light is not in you. His time of favour is here. 

Confessed!

Confessed!

Anyone who confesses (acknowledges, owns) that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides (lives, makes His home) in him and he [abides, lives, makes his home] in God. 1 John 4:15 AMPC

There is no other way to emphasise the importance of the message in today's extract than to just say it lies at the core and foundation of all that we are today. The central truth in the passage under consideration is this: Jesus is the Son of God. You see, here is the clincher: we have heard this statement several times in our lifetime, and maybe taken it for granted so many times, yet what I say or believe about it isn't what makes it true. It is true regardless of what I say or do, or whether I believe it or not. This truth is not subject to my acceptance or manipulation, but it is a truth for all time, and will be the basis of the coming judgment. 

Note: Jesus asked his disciples this question while he was still with them: 'Who do men say I am'. He also asked them: 'Who do you say I am'. The response by Peter to that very personal question is the foundation on which the church is built till today, and which the gates of hell cannot prevail against. It didn't matter what the opinion of the world was; the truth was all that mattered, and it is a truth all who will follow after God must accept, embrace and promote. 

You don't confess something until you have become convinced of its truth. You don't confess something you have not believed and proven. And it matters what you confess: do you take Jesus as just one of those great men who once lived, or is He indeed your Lord and Saviour? It goes deeper than the usual mouth confession, but a heart profession that finds expression from my life's external manifestation. As men come in contact with me, does that confession shine out? Can men read my allegiance from relating with me? Can men make out my confession? 

And the reward or consequence linked to my confession is also clearly stated: my life becomes a place of residence for God to dwell in. It says: 'God MAKES a home in that person. It is like God brings all the things that make him comfortable, so He can live in there. He cleans it up, puts in all that I require for life and Godliness. It is not a temporary arrangement, only good for some time until a better place comes along. It is permanent residence; a home. It also goes both ways: "God lives in the man, and the man also lives in God. Its like a perfect relationship where you can't get to one without getting to the other.

And the offer is open to all men, no matter the origin or the present location. It is open to ANYONE. It does not matter what the past or the present looks like; this is a matter that goes to the root of where I am headed eternally. I must address my present if my future will be anything like God has said it would. The offer is open now, but we also know from God's Word also that it will not be open forever. The door of grace is open now, but judgment will come. We can't leave it until it is too late to decide for God. While there is time, a decision has to be made: confess or perish. As harsh as it sounds, those are the options. What is your own choice? His time of favour is here. 

Filled!

Fliiped! 

For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk 2:14 KJV

As I read today's extract, I cast my eye over the words of the verses just before. God had pronounced punishment on various people, and it was on sin: sin of pride, covetousness, murder, greed, deceit, amongst others. As it has been said before, 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, and He does not treat or view it lightly. As He demanded right living from Abraham, so did He from Habakkuk here and Paul. We must do the same, if we will live to please God.

In the midst of these dire messages, I read today's extract. In fact, just after the beautiful words of today's extract, I read yet another pronouncement of woe by God. What then would the words of today's extract mean in light of these words by God? For me, this is it: no matter how bad things get, God always has his way. No matter how hard the devil tries to stake a claim on the earth, it does not belong to Him, because clearly, as seen from the account of creation, ALL things were made by God and answer to Him. Today's extract sets it out in clear, unmistakabe terms: it SHALL happen. It is not a negotiation, or an appeal to let it be; it is a statement of fact, truth and certainty. 

And what would the earth be filled with: the knowledge of the glory of the Lord. How would the earth know God if He has not already made Him known by the mighty and awesome things that surround us? Recall what Romans 1:20 says: God's invisible qualities, both his eternal power and his divine nature, have been clearly seen; they are perceived in the things that God has made. So those people have no excuse at all! As I take in all that God has made, I realise that He is indeed the Lord of all I can or cannot see. His wisdom shines through all that he has done. His power is made manifest in the amazing world that we see every day. For all who are careful to observe, what you see must move you to acknowledge the power of God and make Him known. Men around me must know that God is Sovereign, and my life must testify to and support that truth. 

And one final truth: God separated the waters below the firmament into one place, and gave the seas their boundaries. Till today, except for man's attempts to disrupt the balance, the seas have largely stayed within their boundaries. Nothing in creation goes against the divine order, and if anything works out odd, it is because God allows it for a reason. If the seas could stay within their boundaries, then know that the earth too will take in and accept the glory of God as a matter of natural course. 

You can accept it now as a matter of course, or you can still watch either way as it happens. Whatever you choose, it will happen. It is not subject to negotiation or my acceptance, but it is proof that God reigns and rules over all He has done. Would you let him in now by choice? His time of favour is here. 

Consistency!

Consistency!

Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages). Hebrews 13:8 AMPC

An introduction to the subject of the discussion is important here. He is Jesus Christ, the One called the Messiah. Why is this introduction necessary? So many people had stood up in the past, claiming to hold the keys to the eternal kingdom, and promising what they could not deliver. So many lives had been led astray by the deceit and the falsehood, and none of these pretenders is around to defend his/her record. 

But we have the One and Only Jesus Christ Himself, the Messiah, whose words from creation still ring true today, just as they did so many years ago when they were first spoken. So do not settle for any other truth except the Truth Himself. Why should Jesus be trusted, you may ask? At least, one very key thing is His consistency. Right from creation, the things He says He loves haven't changed, and the things He also says He hates haven't changed. He is not like man, given to emotinonal blackmail and flip-flops, but right through the generations, His Word can be trusted to be true, no matter the generation or the situation. 

And when I consider today's upheavals and uncertainty, you want an anchor for your soul, something that keeps you sane in the midst of the turbulence going on around you. You want to be sure of a place to go for safety and guidance. The testimony of the past becomes the anchor for the present. The things He had done in the past become the foundation of the things I am trusting Him to do in the present. 

And of course, He has clearly said that things will not always go on like they do now. No matter how 'comfortable' He makes me now, this is not where it will all end. He tells me that there is an eternal future, a place to call Home permanently when all of this present life is over. How do I trust these words? Because He died in the past to secure that future. He promised to go and prepare a place for me, and then return for me. And if He has been able to keep other promises made, it becomes easier for me to trust that He is able to keep this one too. If He has been true in the past as well as the present, I am assured that He will come through for me as promised. 

That is the foundation of my assurance and confidence in God. I serve a God of consistency; not one given to fickle emotions, or can be swayed by anything. He is One for the ages, called the Ancient of Days. He is good for all time, called the Way, the Truth and the Life. So, whatever it is that is the worry, let the One who transcends time deal with it. Trust Him with your life; there is nothing you can do to secure it on your own. He is ready, willing and able to keep that which has been entrusted into His hands. His time of favour is here. 

Response!

Response!

But instead be kind and affectionate toward one another. Has God graciously forgiven you? Then graciously forgive one another in the depths of Christ’s love. Ephesians 4:32 TPT

As always, when there is a BUT in a sentence, it is good to take a step back and see what came before it. The verse before today's extract says: Lay aside bitter words, temper tantrums, revenge, profanity, and insults. For me to fulfil today's extract, there has to be a taking off or a laying aside of other things. It appears to me that you cannot combine these two verses in the same human vessel. Pray, tell me, how does one person engage in revenge, profanity and insults and can still be kind, affectionate and forgiving to other people? 

There has to be clear and visible evidence of my allegiance. I cannot claim to be one thing, when all the physical evidence from my life points in the opposite direction. This passage is addressed to people who had been sealed by the Holy Spirit for the day or redemption. You can't have the Holy Spirit in you and still produce fruit that lines up with the godless nature. You cannot drink of the Holy Spirit and not have works or fruit that aligns with your ownership status. I just need to check again: who is in charge right there in my heart? Who is ruling and directing affairs?

You know, you can't force it. I don't have to shout about it in your face; the evidence will always speak, because it's proof is seen in how I relate with people around me, not ghosts. Why am I asked to be kind, affectionate or forgiving to other people who share the same faith and belief system as me? Because when we all get it right, we become a loud message that cannot be ignored. The world sits up and takes notice because it has seen something unique and different from itself. If I do what the world expects, how do I show God off? If I blend in with the world, how would the world know it needs help?

And we have the perfect example already; the One who loved us so much that He gave us His all. He held nothing back, and He demands that all who claim to follow Him must do the same. The world will not be challenged by mere words, dogma, principles or rhetoric, but it will be affected by lives that show off the grace, mercy, power and love of God. His love is the template. His Spirit is the seal. His life is the example. We are his visible army, and the world awaits our manifestation. If I don't stand out, I am being untrue to the One who called me out of darkness into His marvellous light. What are you and I waiting for? Shine out. His time of favour is here. 

Acceptable!

Acceptable!

Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. Romans 12:2 AMPC

As I read today's extract, one thing sticks out: God will not do for me what He has empowered me to do. He will supply grace, but there is a role for me to play if I will not take the grace of God for granted. When the Bible says: Do not be conformed, it is telling me that it is my responsibility to ensure that I am bent out of shape to behave according to socially acceptable conventions or standards. As long as it is popular by the world's standsrd, it cannot be in line with God's standard. The early apostles turned the world upside down because they weren't doing the usual or the normal.

The world has a pattern; a specific way of doing things. Unfortunately, there is nothing permanent about the world's standards, as they are always changing, depending on whose interests it is protecting at that point in time. Would it be a good idea to hang my eternity on ever-shifting principles? Whatever age I find myself, God expects me to stand out, and not to blend in. When there is no noticeable difference in the way I live and the way the world is viewed, there is a problem. When men have to ask me where I stand, because they really can't see a fundamental difference, then I need to check my stand again. 

How do I make a difference? Today's extract asks me to be transformed by the renewing of my mind. How does God do a work of transformation in me without the presence of the Holy Spirit? How does God birth His nature in me if I do not give Him full and free access to my life? It just seems to me that with all the resources of grace, mercy and favour that God has supplied, I cannot blame anyone but myself if I fail to take advantage of what He has provided. I am given the power to choose what applies to me: conform or transform. 

And the benefits of being transformed in my mind are laid out here: I am able to prove what is the good, acceptable and perfect will of God. And by the way, you can't play both sides. You can't be conformed and then be transformed at the same time. You can't sit on the fence as there is none when it comes to a life that God can use. And let it also be known that man's highest discovery is the plan and purpose of God. When you know what God wants you to do, all that bothers you is how to please God. Competition, a sense of superiority or pride cannot come into play, because you know who you serve and where you are going. 

And it will not resolve itself overnight; I must trust God's process for making me what He wants me to be. You prove something by doing it over and over again, watching the impact, seeing the effect and trusting the process. What you have proved becomes your anchor when every thing is going to pieces. What you have proved over time becomes your comfort zone in the midst of distress. And God wants me prepared ahead of the times of uncertainty and pain. He assures me that in Him, I have all that I need and if I will only trust Him, He will help me. He is all that matters; every other thing is temporal. His time of favour is here.