Doing, God's Perspective!

Doing, God's Perspective!

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. James 1:22‭-‬24 KJV

The Context:

James was a practical disciple;  this book is full of practices and processes for all who will follow after God to obey Him. The book of James addresses trials, tribulations, tough times, the power of faith and the place of works, the power of the tongue, the wisdom of God and the power of prayer. Today's extract is about the power of the Word of God and the expectation of God from my life as I seek to respond to the Word.

God places great stock on a man's readiness, not just to read, but to also obey the Word of God. It is not enough to devote time and resources to building up your knowledge base about what God says. Some 'men and women of God' can quote copiously from the Bible, but their private lives are messy before God. Men see and applaud the outer devotion, but it will be the greatest mistake for a man to rely on human approval as the basis of acceptance by heaven. Men say that the voice of the people is the voice of God. I am yet to find a single instance where this is true.

The Message:

The blessing is not linked to hearing, but to doing. So many people hear; in fact, the Bible is one if not the most published book these days. It has been translated into several versions and is even available on handheld devices at no extra cost. If salvation and eternal life were by downloads, so many people would have secured their places in heaven already. However, with God, it takes more than a few clicks to download heaven; you have got to be serious about obeying what you have downloaded, so that your upload to heaven can be sure, certain and secure.

Oh, there are great blessings to hearing the Word. It is the seed of all that God can do in a life. The parable of the sower shows that the seed of great harvests is in the hearing of the Word. Nurturing, weeding, watering and protecting the ground will be exercises in futility if there was no seed to target. It is important to hear, as this is also the root of salvation for men. But it is not enough; what follows after hearing is equally as important. That is why hearing alone is presented here as self-deceit. How does God prove the quality of my hearing, if my life has no public declaration that aligns with my private hearing? How does God trust me with His treasure when He cannot even get me to put into practice the things He has shown me over time? 

A picture of the folly of just hearing and not doing is presented in today's extract: you look into a mirror because you want to know how you look and what you need to adjust. You have indeed looked, seen the areas of interest, but as soon as you turn your back to the mirror, you forget completely what you have just seen, and can't remember what it was you needed to address. Considering how much time we spend in front of mirrors, this may sound silly, but this is the truth about the human condition. If it is not subject to the dictates of the Spirit of God, ready to listen and eager to obey, that life will be popular and may even be applauded, but heaven has no record of that life. Do I really want to end up being rejected by God as a hypocrite? Would I want to sacrifice eternal life with God for a life of false fame and imagery?

The Response:

The devil knows the power of hearing, which is why he will always start his attack at the point of hearing. Why was the first attack of the seed start by the wayside? If the devil can succeed in preventing to seed from getting into the ground, he won't need all the efforts of the other types - shallow ground, thorns and the good soil. It also shows that even when the seed makes it into the ground, the devil will not let go and will continue to fight, looking for ways to prevent the seed from fruiting. Even when the seed has borne fruit, the devil knows that there will be another planting season and will wait for any opportunity to prevent the next set of seeds from getting into good soil. It is a never ending cycle and as long as the devil is given power over the systems of this world, he will keep working. Why is it difficult to sit through a 30 minute message, yet we can watch a two hour movie without feeling drowsy? We need to know and identify the work of the devil, so that we can resist him. 

The Word of God is the mirror; as we hold our lives out to Him/it, He/it shows us what is missing, needs addressing, needs surgery, and what needs strengthening. Nothing else will tell you the truth about the hunan condition like the Word of God: a double-edged sword, able to pierce so deep even unto the dividing of soul and spirit, and can cut so fine between joints and marrow. I must not fool myself into thinking that I can escape the searchlight of God's Word. I can choose to ignore its warnings, but it will speak. The choice of response, as always, is mine to determine, but the consequence of the response is eternal. You don't want to miss the mark; the secret is in hearing AND obeying. There is no OR in between. His time of favour is here. 

Fear, God's Type!

Fear, God's Type!

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

The Context:

Again, we come to Proverbs, a book of one-line nuggets full of wisdom. Today's extract speaks about a kind of fear: the fear of the Lord. If it refers to the fear of God, it means that there are other types of fear. It means that there is a kind of fear that is good, and another type that is not. It is therefore important, and of eternal value, that I know what kind of fear is good for me to have and the type I need to avoid. We look at the right kind today; when you have that, the other kind does not have a hold over your heart. If you do not have the right type, your heart becomes the breeding ground for all variants of the wrong type.

And the man credited with writing these words-Solomon- would know. He asked God for wisdom to rule Israel, and God gave him all that he asked for and even more. Kings and mighty men of his time travelled across the world to listen to his wisdom. He made great impact on his own generation, but for all of us who have read his story, there is also a lesson to be learnt: what keeps you isn't what men say about you, but how your heart handles the things of God. Men may applaud; is God also approving? Men may praise and seek to honour you; would God do the same to you? Learn from the life of Solomon - don't focus so much on the outside that there is no impact on the inside. Let God build you from the inside out, so that you can be an instrument and an altar from which His glory and grace can be made manifest. 

The Message:

Your level of fear of God will drive the depth of your devotion to Him. What kind of fear rules your heart? Your heart cannot be empty or without a control centre; the devil will have us think you can have an empty throne in your heart, or one where you are the master of your own destiny. That is the deceit of the devil, where he tries to get you to look away from his activities and focus on yourself. That is the raw material for pride, and with pride comes self - dependence, which can never please God. When God is at the foundation and sits on the throne of your heart, He births total dependence on Him. You go to Him for all decisions, because you know that He knows and understands the past, present and future. That is the foundation of true wisdom. 

To know God and His demands for my life is fundamental to having an understanding of his expectations for me. Knowing God means having a clear idea of what He loves and hates and planning my pursuits and priorities accordingly. I cannot understand a God I do not spend time with, and I cannot know a God whose likes and dislikes I ignore or choose when to align. If it is not total devotion, it is not acceptable to God. God does not do half-measures. 

In today's extract, all the three key words are present: wisdom, knowledge and understanding. All three are tied to and related to my walk with God. These words are not products of the world's manipulation, but there are variants the world will promote as the real deal. If you don't know God, you cannot identity the original. If you know God, His fear in your heart will keep you away from the false variants. 

The Response:

What does God expect from me then? He wants me to seek Him out and strive to know Him. This will take time and effort, but when I am focused on the right things, the devil has no way to distract me. The journey to eternity with God starts with knowing this God. As I know more of Him, I seek to be holy and pure as He commands. There is no other way I can see Him, if my life does not align with his nature. As I know more and more about Him, I understand His ways and I can follow Him more closely. As I understand more of Him, He reveals more and more of Himself to me. Even when other men are shouting about their experience of God, I am not moved, as long as I also have God in me. 

Pity the man who only has stories of the past and nothing about his present walk with God. Pity the man who has no idea what God demands from all who seek to follow Him and tries to make it by labour and striving. Seek God; Find God; Know more about Him; Daily ask Him for help. Your eternity will be glad you did. His time of favour is here. 

Kept, God's Way!

Keot, God's Way!

Yet the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen [you] and set you on a firm foundation and guard you from the evil [one]. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 AMPC 

The Context:

Paul had been a missionary to several places, and here in today's extract, he is speaking to the church in Thessalonica. He had taken time to speak to them about their present realities and the hope of eternal life. This was like the conclusion of his letter and it is instructive to note the issues raised in this final part. The Christian of today is averse to trials or tough times; in fact, we reject any tough situation 'in Jesus' name' as we think that some situations are beneath us, simply because of our new found stand in God. However, from all of Jesus' teachings and all of the new testament life, the call of God on a person's life must take him/her through the path of trials and tribulations. If I will be fully rounded and mature, God's prescription will involve some tough times. Paul knew, prepared, taught and also experienced it, so his words here come from a place of personal conviction and experience. 

Why his words here make sense is because in the last chapter, he had just taught the church about the second coming of Jesus and how to prepare for Him. It is in this context that the words of today's extract makes sense. A lot of shaking is coming, and those who are not firmly secured may fall. Before the storms come or the winds sweep in, the warning comes: dark days are coming; be prepared. Only those who know their God are able to stand and to resist the devil. Guess the first and most important question here then is: have I given my life to Jesus for safe keeping? Does His Word have a place in my heart? Can God find me as an altar from which He can reach and teach the world about Him? 

The Message:

It is false teaching for anyone to promote a life free from trials, simply because you seek an audience or a congregation. It is an error to seek to keep men with you on the false premise that a life of surrender to Jesus keeps you away from anything uncomfortable. I read Paul's letter again and I note a few things:

1. He acknowledges the fact that the Word of God is powerful, and that as we pray, God can keep doing His Work in the hearts of men. We can choose also not to pray but from Paul's letter, it is a privilege to be called a partner in the work that God is doing. He can get the work done with or without me, as God can never fail to have resources to get His work done. It will amount to foolishness for a mortal man to think that s/he can limit an immortal God. 

2. No matter what comes my way, it does not catch God by surprise. No matter how hard man fights, he cannot change God's determinate counsel and purpose. Rather than change the hard situation, He will change you to learn to depend more on Him. This same Paul learnt this from his thorn in the flesh. Rather than take it away, God supplied grace and we know how effective Paul was. 

3. God will provide and also sustain a platform on which He will display his power, glory and splendour in me. How else will the world know what it is missing if God does not make it known in and through me? He will plant my feet on a solid foundation so that nothing can shake me as I walk with and work for Him. He will not keep me from trouble but He will protect me from the evil one. There is a big difference: all men who live in the world will have to deal with the devil. He is in temporary charge of the systems of the world, but for all who have given their lives to Jesus, they have a help who has defeated Satan and can help sustain that victory. 

The Response:

So you see the words: strengthen, establish and guard. Strong words, which only make sense when there is the possibility and presence of danger and trouble. That tells me what to expect in my walk with God. Even when I don't know the WHY behind all the WHAT that goes on in my life, the WHO I have come to know is sufficient to keep me sane. Only in God is a man truly kept safe from danger. It is in God's nature to keep that which is entrusted into His hands. He does not force Himself on anyone or go against the exercise of a man's freewill, but if I can trust Him with my life, He will keep me in His will and grant me His own kind of life. There is an eternal life to secure and enjoy at the end of it all, and if there has to be temporary pain, God promises that the end will justify the means. For an eternal God, he sure can be trusted. His time of favour is here. 

Reflection, God's Style!

Reflection, God's Style!

Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend [to show rage or worthy purpose]. Proverbs 27:17 AMPC

The Context:

The book of Proverbs is full of one-line messages, and you can teach all of life from the words of this book. Today's extract speaks to the power, privilege and problems that are associated with human relationships. The imagery is quite instructive: iron sharpens iron. This raises a few issues that require a second look:

1. Why is iron the material used here? Could it be that it is commonly available, and is the raw material for most of the things we use at home or around us for most manual jobs. It is a strong material too, and can carry out whatever job it is assigned. As Google confirms, it rusts easily, yet it is the most important of all metals. 90% of all metal that is refined today is iron, and is used to manufacture steel, used in civil engineering (reinforced concrete, girders) and in manufacturing.

2. However, it is noted that you can only apply iron to whatever material can take it or subject it to treatment by whatever material it is comfortable with. As pointed out, it rusts easily, so in its natural form, it cannot be used in water. If you will have the right effect and impact, there is a right environment for its use and application. No amount of diligent use or prayers can save iron from rusting if it is not used in the right place and in the right manner. 

3. It loses its edge after constant use and even unuse, and has to be sharpened and brought back to the right position as before. You have to use material like itself to sharpen it. You can't use wood; wood won't survive the impact. You can't use water; iron won't survive the impact. It is iron, like itself, that is able to carry out the work of sharpening and impact, so that iron can function in its capacity as iron. 

These few lessons above lay the foundation for the message that God would have us heed today. 

The Message:

Why do you think that God placed you in the midst of other human beings like yourself? Why was it that it was ONLY at the creation of man that God declared an intention to make anything in His own image. He made man, and then brought him another being, taken out of his side, to complement him. He then established the law of increase, whereby man would fill the earth and subdue it. No other creature was given this instruction. It then means that the purpose of God cannot be fulfilled in isolation of other human beings. I was not made to go alone; the fact that it takes the cooperation of the product of the body of a man and a woman to form another human life means that I will not last long on my own. 

At the same time, I have a duty to God to ensure that I pursue the right contacts for the purpose He has defined for me. If I know that a relationship is toxic for me and will drag me down, why should I remain in such a dangerous relationship? If all I get is depression, is that not a sign that this person has no business being in my life at this point in time? People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime; I have to know who falls into which category, and take action accordingly. If I hold on too long to a particular relationship, when I should have let go a long time ago, would I not be damaging my life and exposing myself to rust? 

It means that not everyone who comes into my life is there to sharpen me the right way. Oh, the fact that they came into your life means that they will leave a mark; you just need to define ahead of time what impact they will have. If I allow another person influence my life negatively, so that I become like him or her and rebel against God, would God accept the excuse that it was that person who led me down the wrong path? Would God not hold each person responsible for the consequences of the decisions taken? 

The Response:

That is the caution in the last part of today's extract: a man's touch on your life will produce rage or worthy purpose. No human interaction is neutral; all human relationships have been set up by God to have an impact. The human body is a good example; at no time is the body really all at rest and inactive. Some parts pick up when other parts have gone to sleep, but all the parts work together to keep the body alive and well. Imagine then the power and glory that is made manifest when two people, who have an understanding of the power of relationships, get into sync to pursue God's purpose. Even God at the tower of Babel recognised the power of unity of purpose and pursuit.

I must audit my relationships today and make sure that they have the power to bring out God's best in me. I cannot claim that it was someone else who taught me how to do evil; no man can birth in me that which its seed has not been sown in me. If it is to be manifest, I have to allow it. What kind of relationships am I nurturing now? What kind of impact are these lives having in and on me? What is my life looking like right now as a result of these relationships? I must remember: nothing is wasted. God does not waste relationships, and whoever He brings my way is sent to impact my life. I am also to impact another person's life. Am I living up to God's expectations for me? His time of favour is here. 

Allegiance, The Right Way!

Allegiance, The Right Way!

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Psalms 19:1 KJV 

The Context:

We see here again a psalm by David, the one God called a man after His own heart. David was a man who knew how to catch God's attention, because he knew the language God spoke. Most of the greatest hits of today's generation have their roots and words in the collection of psalms and today's extract is one of them. David goes back to the very beginning, the story of creation, as recorded in God's Word. We read of the confusion and darkness that the world, at that beginning, was in. We read of the command of God that light appear, and which was so. We read of all the other things that followed this command of light, and we see God simply speaking the Word, and seeing the beauty of creation simply come to light and life. This account of creation is a testament to the power, splendour, glory and wisdom of God. We see the absolute nature of God revealed in all the things He has created, whereby He poured of his power and glory into all that we see today. That is why at the end of all that God made, the verdict was this: And God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. 

And as we consider all of God's creation, you could almost hear them speak, calling you to listen with them as they declare the wondrous works of God. You hear the wind whistle in the trees and hear the ocean waves slap across the face of the rocks. It does not matter how long they have been at this 'monotonous' activity; they don't seem to mind doing it over and over again. If creation without physical lips can testify of the power of God, I wonder what the excuse for those of us with physical lips will be, if we refuse to praise God and testify of His mighty works. 

The Message:

We seem to have learnt a few bad habits in addition to our rebellion and disobedience to God's command. Our brains are our biggest assets as human beings, because we can process what we receive through our senses. And these senses also are our greatest limitations, because they permit us to process what we receive and decide how we want to react to them. The rivers don't stop doing what they do; the mountains don't stop showing off God's greatness; the heavens don't stop shining off with God's great deposits of the sun, moon and stars, but for man, we decide when we think we have had enough, and we subject God to the dictates of our untrustworthy senses. 

We want to subject God to our human senses. We want Him to validate how we feel, and we could almost want to dictate to Him how we think He should run His own creation. We have left the worship of the Creator, and have elevated the worship of the created. We forget that it does not ever happen where the created tells the creator how best it can function. It is the inventor and creator who uses available resources to fashion out what He wants to achieve and applies resources to achieve that end result. Would a TV tell its creator that it wants to function as a refrigerator? This should not happen, but for us as man, this is what we want to do. We want to bend God to our will, to do what we think is best for ourselves, yet man's greatest achievement will be the total embrace of the will of His creator. Nothing else can or will fill the void that only God can fill. You can try and fill it out with activity, devotion to a cause or some other venture, but if it is not God, it will not end well. 

The Response:

What, then, is expected of me, but to live my life in the understanding of who God is, and what I have received of Him. I see that human attributes have been assigned to these created things, and we hear the heavens declare and see the firmament show off God's handiwork. If these 'non-living' things can show regard for God this way, how much more we who are made in God's likeness, of who God spoke at creation that we should have dominion over all that He has created, give Him praise all our lives. Are we like creatures with no brains, no regard for what we have been made and what we have received of Him, and have to be daily reminded of what we need to do and who we need to worship? As we observe all of creation around us, are there no lessons that these things teach us, so we can pay attention to the things that matter most, which is the total worship and praise of our Creator? 

I must give regard, honour and praise to the God who created all that I see, including me. My life was made to praise God and that's why I can never experience the fullness of all that God is, until I surrender all to this God. The heavens have made their choice, and it is to constantly praise God. The least I can do is to do the same too, and let my life be a daily routine of praise and gratitude to God for all He is and has done for me. That is my utmost priority and the symbol of my allegiance to God. What is yours? His time of favour is here. 

Priorities; God's Perspective!

Priorities; God's Perspective!

To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

Proverbs 21:3 NIV

The Context:

The book of Proverbs is full of one-line mysteries, with messages packed into every line of the book. Well, that should not be a suprise, considering that most of the words are attributed to King Solomon, who God promised wisdom and wealth that the world at the time had never seen, and would never see. When you look at the display of wealth during the building of the temple by Solomon: the materials used to build both the temple and the king's palace, as well as the multitude of sacrifices that were offered during the dedication of the temple, you know that there has been no single individual who has that kind of wealth today or who can spend so profusely like that in our own generation. 

Let me put the above in context: from Wikipedia records, excluding the bronze, and using the average current price of gold, gold alone of this temple would have been $194,404,500,000. Silver would have been $22,199,076,000. In total, this would be $216,603,576,000. Just in case you didn't read that right, it is in billions. It is also on record that a Brazillian billionaire tried to recreate this temple, and he built one with eleven floors high, a million square feet of floor space, able to seat a congregation of 10,000 and costing $300 million, which you can agree, is a far cry from what the original temple cost. And then Solomon went ahead and offered 22,000 cattle and a 120,000 sheep to God over a period of about 7 days. A lot of money spent, a lot of blood offered as sweet-smelling burnt offerings for atonement and mercy.

The Message:

If all of these were offered to a mortal man, it would have been a big bribe for favour. Unfortunately, when dealing with God, you have got to do a bit more than just offering blood and wealth. God's response to all that Solomon did is instructive, and I will paraphrase it: 

1. I have heard your prayer and chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices. 

2. My eyes will be open; ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.

3. As for you - IF you walk with me faithfully as your father David did, I will establish your throne. BUT IF you turn away, I will reject this temple. 

4. This temple, with all its beauty, will become an object of ridicule among all peoples, and a heap of rubble.

5. People who pass by will know that sin was the reason why the temple was destroyed.

Do you see the pattern: you can spend all you have on the outside, if it doesn't impact your inner man, it is wasted effort. Solomon built a lovely temple, and offered the sacrifices that led to God making him great promises, but Solomon forgot to build his inner man. His wealth led him down the path of disobedience, rebellion and idol worship. Today, there are not many archaeological records that prove that Solomon's temple was built. Why do we seek to impress men like us, who will also stand for judgement before the God who knows the hearts of men? Why do we expend so much energy on image, eye-service and hypocrisy?

The Response:

What does God demand of me? Am I to focus on pleasing Him at the expense of my daily living requirements? No, God expects me to have the right priorities; to know what is important at the time and to pursue the things that glorify Him. Of what use are sacrifices if God has already rejected the person offering them? Ask Saul, who offered 'right' sacrifices, but these were offered by the wrong person, who was not a priest, and at another time, by animals God had already ordered to be destroyed. Compare with David, who, with his men, ate the ahowbread that only priests were permitted to eat, even though he was not a priest. It matters where your heart has been. You can offer all you have, yet God sees the heart, and He may reject all you have given. 

Don't labour for the world's acceptance or approval; these do not take you anywhere. Labour for God's approval and acceptance, by doing what is right and just in His sight. How would you know these things if you do not take out time to study His Word to know His demands? How do you know what He likes if you do not spend time with Him? He wants to bless; but He will not break His Word if the recipient's life is not in line with His will. Don't let the false images of success deceive you; make sure your heart is right with God. Your eternity will be glad you did. His time of favour is here. 

New; God's Way!

New; God's Way!

Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

Isaiah 43:19 KJV

The Context:

The entire chapter is a study in God's grace and mercy, His forgiveness of sins and redemption, not just because the people deserved it, but because it is in His nature to show mercy. Like it has always been said, God hates sin and will punish it, no matter in whom it is found. Israel had sinned and now found itself in bondage to Babylon. Sin robs you of your place in God. Sin reduces you to a piece of bread. Sin causes separation from God, who cannot look at sin, and even turned His eyes away when His own Son bore the sin of the whole world on Himself at Calvary. If God could deal with His Son this way, what makes us think we will fare any better if we toy with sin? 

I am warned: sin has eternally grave consequences and will lead to temporary separation from God on earth if I do not repent and eternal separation if physical death comes before repentance. The reason why Jesus was made manifest was to show us the way back to the Father. If the destination is with God, you have got to come to Him the way He has prescribed, which is through the Son. Israel was punished for its sin, but God was promising redemption and restoration.

The Message:

With God, as long as a man is alive, He is not totally lost. God tells us here that no matter what had happened in the past, He is able to do something completely different from what the norm is. No matter what the hold of the past is over me, in God, I get a new and fresh start. Let it be known: only in and by God is any of these things possible. It is not by power, might, connection or influence but by the grace of God. It is a new thing, never seen before. If God could make over 7 billion people, each with s different and unique set of fingerprints, He can find over 7 billion ways to solve a single problem. 

And when you get a promise like this, you go back to check and confirm the power and ability of the person making the promise to keep it. This is the One who calls Himself I AM, with eternal relevance no matter the generation. This is the One who laid out a path through the Red Sea so Israel could walk across. He parted the Jordan also. He levelled nations for the sake of His people. He shut the mouths of lions when He needed to speak to Darius; He turned a fiery furnace into an air conditioned room when He needed to speak to Nebuchadnezzar. He brought out Peter from among 16 guards when He wanted to disgrace Herod. He even made a new hand grow out of where the one that was there was withered. Even death, which we see as irreversible, had to change form when the I AM spoke. 

What is that situation that needs to change; the burden that needs to be lifted; the story that needs a new ending; a relocation; fresh insight; an unveiling; revelation of hidden mysteries? Whatever it may be, the secret to knowing what to do, how to do it, and when to do it is all in the I AM. And God says so that you will know I am God, even where it was not possible to do a particular thing, like make rivers flow in the desert, I AM can make it happen. Hagar found water where none existed; Isaac sowed and reaped a hundredfold harvest in the same year; the best messages in Jesus' time from the pulpit of John the Baptist in the wilderness. Who says you need fine clothes, good grammar and a fat bank account to change the course of history? You just need the I AM. The rest - the I AM will supply.

The Response:

Have I met and surrendered to the I AM? Today's extract is a classic example of the certainty of God's power to change things. No man can speak in this manner; only God can. He tells me who He is and what He can do, so that I can make informed decisions about how to respond. And He does not speak like this so I can fold my arms and just make assumptions about my eternal options. He tells me all these things so that I can decide before it is too late. A decision has to be made; there is no room on the fence; in fact there is no fence. You are either all in or all out. All who try to play both sides are called lukewarm and there is only one end to them: spewed out of the Lord's mouth. 

While I have time and opportunity to repent and return to God for restoration, I had better make good use of it. God has done all He can to make the way to Him clear, but He will not go against the exercise of my freewill. Whatever my decision may be, it has to be made soon. We don't have much time;  eternity beckons. His time of favour is here. 

Satisfaction, God's Style!

Satisfaction, God's Style!

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6 KJV

The Context:

This account was early in the earthly ministry of Jesus. He had just been baptised, tempted of the devil in the wilderness, and had made choices of a few disciples to follow Him, who He could teach and then send out in His name to the world. This is the first sermon he preached to them, and it must be emphasized that even though there was a multitude waiting, He only spoke to His disciples. Yes, the crowd was there, and in fact, they were amazed at His teaching, but this sermon wasn't for the crowd. It was for those who has pledged allegiance to the Master. Am I one of the disciples, or do I need to sort out my allegiance first?

Herein lies the danger: you can spend all your life at the foot of the mountain, hearing all that God speaks but not deciding for Him. You can know all there is to know about Jesus, yet He does not own your heart or know you at all. You can be a part of the popular movement, the crowd of influencers, but from God's perspective, it is not enough. He is not looking for numbers, but for substance, depth and commitment. And as you read the story of Jesus, you realise just how true this is: He has never been impressed with the size of the crowd following Him, but He has always honored the faith of individuals who reached out, even through the crowd, to take advantage of what He had to offer. Remember the woman with the issue of blood? Remember the Syro-Phoencian woman, even with the insults? If you can relate to these new testament stories, what of the widow of Zarephath, or Naaman the Syrian? Do you see the pattern? It has never been about privilege or entitlement, but about reaching out in faith, no matter what kind of hand you have been dealt in the past. Do I belong to the crowd or to the disciples?

The Message:

Today's extract speaks to the people called disciples. A disciple, no matter how learned, never stops being one. It is a school of learning that one never graduates from, until physical death or rapture. It is a state of daily dependence, absolute trust in and complete confidence in the One I follow. If I do not believe in His leadership, I will not follow. If I follow, I had better be sincere in my devotion. God recognises sincerity and hypocrisy, because He made the human heart. And this is the seed of the hunger and thirst after righteousness that today's extract emphasizes. Do I feel full? Am I filled with a sense of my own importance, or am I empty of all that is me so that all of God may fill me up?

It has to be total hunger; the kind that consumes me totally, leaving no room for any other pursuit. The hunger and thirst must have laser-focus intensity, set like a flint; otherwise, the devil will present other 'viable' options and distract. It has to be the right kind of hunger and thirst, pursuing after the right things, which are the things that promote God's righteousness; otherwise, the devil will distract with other equally important but not eternal things. Martha was concerned with food, which was a valid focus for a visitor, but at the time, the better option was to sit at the foot of the Master and listen to Him speak. There will always be opportunities to eat but not always to hear God speak, except you make out time. 

We focus on the need for a sermon, and not the Message behind the sermon. We spend more time preparing the words and not praying for the lives to be touched by the words. We seek popularity and vain glory through words that don't even belong to us in the first place. It is time to go back to the basics: seek out that which has eternal value and pursue it without delay. Don't settle for anything less than what God promised: filling that the world cannot touch, defeat or change.

The Response:

What is expected from me: climb up the mountain and sit with the disciples. Man's applause or condemnation is not the basis of God's judgment; neither moves God one way or another. Nowhere does God promise a life free of challenges but He promises a life of purpose and fulfilment. The pain will be worth it. The discomfort will work out that which will glorify God. There is an assurance that if I come to God and take Him at His Word, I get all that He has promised. I see the word SHALL, and I know that this word is backed up by the greatest name and power in the world, which is Jesus. 

By God's standard, what a man sows is what he reaps. If I want to reap the blessed fruit that fills up, I must sow righteousness and purity and commitment to God. The law of sowing and reaping has been with us since Adam and Eve, further established under Noah, and true ever since. What am I sowing at the moment? If God were to ask me to ear the fruit of my doings in secret, would I be able to eat it? If I don't like what I see now, or what it is shaping up to be like, it is not too late to change it. It is too late only for those who are The Late. As long as I have life, I can seek after God with all my heart, and when He is found, He can make my life a blessing. What are you waiting for? His time of favour is here. 

God's Presence, The Real Deal!

God's Presence, The Real Deal!

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalms 23:4 NIV

The Context:

This psalm is credited to David, and his occupation reflects on the contents of the psalm. Daivd had been a shepherd up until and even after he was anointed king by Samuel. He learnt a lot from keeping sheep, and it is not a wonder that his greatest lessons about God were learnt alone with the sheep. Do I see my job as an opportunity to know more about God and to also make God known? Do I see my job as a place where God can meet with me to teach me about Himself? Or to make it even more appropriate, is my present pursuit one that God can come and meet me in? Can I invite God into my workplace, knowing what I do and how I do it glorifies Him? 

One more lesson: the fact that David was anointed as king didn't keep him from danger; in fact, he learnt more about God through pain than pleasure. Today's Christians 'reject' tough times in Jesus' name, forgetting that when you surrender control to another Master, you are subject to His leading, direction and command. The life you live is no longer yours to command as you please, but it is His to direct, even if it is through a storm. For David here, the path of his lesson passed through the valley of the shadow of death. For Daniel, it was the lions' den. For Stephen, it was martyrdom. What would your path be? What would mine be? Would I embrace all that God permits, or do I have a clear choice of my own destiny? 

The Message:

For David, his path of God's perfect will lay through trouble. However, like Joseph, there was something he had, and which anyone who will survive that which is coming must have: the Presence of God. Joseph passed through the Pit, followed by slavery in Potiphar's house, followed by Prison, before he ended up in the palace of Pharaoh, but there is an expression that followed Joseph everywhere he went: 'And the Lord was with Joseph'. It does not matter what your present experiences are; you will only survive when God is with you. David is called a man after God's heart, not because he was perfect, but because his heart sought after God first and foremost. How's your heart? How's mine? 

David could look forward to whatever was coming, because he knew who was with him. Whether it was the highs from defeating Goliath, the lion and the bear, or the lows from his experience with Bathsheba, David's heart sought after God. When he was confronted with the evil he did, he did not argue; he owned up. Can God convict my heart this easily? And this may explain the rod and the staff. With God as my shepherd, which is the theme of this psalm, God will not leave me to my own devices. He has responsibility for me, and He takes his job seriously. I am yet to find a man in God's care who got lost. It does not happen. You will have to stay out of the sheepfold and keep getting lost over and over again for you to be truly lost, and until physical death comes, it is not too late to return. 

As I pass under his staff and rod, he keeps me out of danger; He counts me as His own; takes responsibility for me; guides my steps through the rocky and rough plains so I do not stumble. Even when I make mistakes, or wander off, His love for me does not permit Him to kill me, but He goes out of His way to look for me so I can return to His fold. This is a Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep and will do anything within His power to preserve the sheep. And his discipline, guidance, leadership and protection are all for my good, so I can get home safely. What kind of shepherd would God be if He could not protect the sheep in His care? What is the use of a shepherd if he has no sheep to take care of? 

The Response:

I know now who this God is, but does He know me? I have read now who He is and what He can do, but it is not enough. I have a decision to make, and it has to do with my allegiance and surrender. The confidence that flows through the words of today's extract came from who David knew. It was not about what he had read in a book, but about who he had met as a person. These days, there are many books written about God but it is not enough to just read; I must seek a personal experience of this God. 

Read the book, then get to know the God of the book. Don't dare confront the world without the personal knowledge of God; the world can tear a man to pieces and move on to the next prey. Don't dare confront the world's system on your own; this system has been in place longer than anyone alive on earth now, so the Wisdom, power and guidance to overcome the world can only come from the One who has defeated the world. In and by Him alone am I safe from the world's shenanigans. Do you know Him? Does He know me? His time of favour is here. 

Life, God's View!

Life, God's View! 

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2 NIV

The Context:

Today's extract is part of the letter of Paul to the church in Ephesus, and it will be good to look at the very first verse of the chapter, which comes right before today's extract. Paul referred to himself as a prisoner for the Lord. Whether it was a physical prison, or one that portrayed him as bound to God as a prisoner, with his will totally submitted to God, the message is clear: the man who will be used of God will encounter difficulties and tough times. I do not find anywhere in the bible where God promised that the sky will always be blue or there will be no storms. His one sure promise is that whether I am in the pit, prison or the palace, God's presence must be with me. I will not survive the world without Him.

And the message in that first verse is also apt for this season we are in. There is so much confusion: we have allowed the world to dictate what is the norm and the acceptable standard of behaviour. The system of the world wants to dictate what is right and wrong to us, and if we do not know WHO has called us, WHY he has called, and WHAT He has called us out of and into, we will get lost. In that first verse, you read this: I urge you to live worthily of the calling with which you have been called. I was not placed on earth to just pass time or to coast through life without direction or impact, but to live a directed and purposeful life. I must not settle for anything less than what is God's standard.

The Message:

In walking worthily of the calling I have received, I must know the nature, source, purpose, demand and and the eternal consequences of that call. God does not make mistakes and if I know I have been called out of something into another thing, my greatest discovery and service to God is to find out what His call is, and pursue that with all my life. If I don't know who God is, pray, how do I seek Him or know what his demands on my life are? If I don't know why I am occupying my present space, how do I know when it is time to move on to something else? If God is not the master directing my life, and I have control over my own thing, how does God ever exercise control over me, so He can lead and make me all I can be?

It is not a suprise then that today's extract lays out the lifestyle that fits the call of God on me. If I subscribe to what God is saying, I must know that He will accept me as I am, but He will not leave me as I came. There is nothing in the natural man that God can use to further His purpose; He has to make a new man He can use, which can respond to His voice, hear Him and be quick to obey. Just for the sake of emphasis, let me reiterate: God will take me as I am, but He has to do a work in me first before my work for Him can be accepted by Him. The world celebrates the audible and the visible, but today's extract addresses the mode of operation for the man who knows and understands his calling: complete humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance and love.

I look at these attributes and I see very clearly the fruit of the Spirit. What my life produces is the biggest testament to my ownership status. No manipulation of science can change the expected fruit of an orange tree to produce bananas; you can graft branches in, but if you can't impact the root, you can't do much about the fruit. When men look at me, what do they see? I also see that before I can convict the world, I must first be convicted in my own heart. Humility recognises helplessness, and seek help from the only One who can give it. Humility is first and last a matter of the heart. Men can claim all they want; the God who created and reads the heart can see all forms of hypocrisy and deceit, and He will deal accordingly. 

The Response:

Do you know the calling you have received of God? For a moment, forget all the people around you, who have placed demands on you and are expecting a particular outcome from you. Don't be afraid of disappointing them, but be more afraid of being a disappointment to the One who calls, equips and sends out.

And my life will speak to people, not animals. It is before men, not animals, that my light must shine, so that they can see my good works and glorify my Father in heaven. I cannot claim to love God and hate those created by Him. I cannot be saved by this God and then have no motivation to share this God with the world. When God has done a work IN me, my life has no choice but to flow OUT with the life of God. Is His calling and work in me evident on my life? What of yours? God's time of favour is here. 

Religion, God's Style!

Religion, God's Style!

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27 NIV

The Context:

The world defines religion as: the belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power, especially a personal God or gods. The definition admits that man can choose to believe in the One true God or other false gods. It is my belief that drives my convictions and my actions. If I know the God i serve can kill me if I disobey His commands, won't that drive me to avoid anything that will cause me to disobey? Maybe the reason why we don't have much regard for the true God is because we have not really had a personal experience of Him. Yes, we read and hear a lot about Him, we even come to 'worship' in His house, but do we really know Him, or are we simply keeping up with the required practice of religion? This is why the verse before today's extract is relevant here: Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. James 1:26. 

Am I so focused on the outward practice that my inner life is a mess? Have I become so used to pretence and hypocrisy that even I do not even understand what my pursuits and priorities should be anymore? There is a grave danger in holding on to what looks good at the expense of what God considers right. Everything about me must speak to my religion: my words, my secret and public lifestyle, my dreams, my thoughts, my all. If men cannot see the outward proof of my inner conviction, then what is the use of the religion I profess to have? 

The Message:

Today's extract first seeks to confirm which religion I subscribe to, before it then tellls me what that religion demands from all who claim to follow it. And this is the clincher: even men who claim not to have any religion do these things. There are so many Not-for-profit organisations (NGO/NPOs) which do these things, so it has to mean more to me than what is popular or widely celebrated. Look at the passage above: 'Religion that God our Father accepts'. The first thing is to settle my ownership and allegiance: Is God my own father? If He is, then He will accept all that I do in His name. If I am not, He will still take glory through the things I do, but there is no eternal reward. Of what use is a life that man celebrates down here for impact, but has no reward of eternal life? The first and most important consideration here is to sort out the One to whom ALL my allegiance is to. When that is settled, the rest of today's extract will flow a bit more easily.

Then comes the public confession that should follow my inner profession. When I have declared God as my Father, I must do the things that are close to His heart. There are lives to bless, lives to impact, lives to touch. Widows and orphans to take care of. Look again at the definition of religion: belief in and worship of a personal God. How does this relate to taking care of orphans and widows? This is the God we have been called to serve: the proof of my belief in and worship of Him is seen in my dealings with man in the public, my dealings with man from a distance and my worship of God in the secret place, away from the prying eyes of man. I am called to impact the world for this God, and I cannot do it if I am not separate and distinct from the world. I cannot do it if I do not have a relationship with God. Men may celebrate and applaud all my efforts; in fact, the people I seek to serve may bless God for my service, but would it be worth it if I do not have any eternal reward for all I have done in the name of God? 

The Response:

Before I seek to impact men, I must first let God impact my life. It is from what I have that I can give out. I can spend myself for the poor, even giving up my life in service to humanity, yet God says if I do not have love, the type that is of and from God, I gain nothing. In that day, men will stand before God and claim that they worked for Him, invoking His name and performing miracles, but He will say to them: "I do not know you". What can be worse than the non-recognition by God of the work you claim to have been done in His name?

Do not forget the last part: keep away from being polluted by the world. If I learn nothing from God, this must be my daily guide: eternal life is the one and only true reward. Men's applause is temporary; ask Jesus at the Triumphant entry into Jerusalem and at the cross. Man's disapproval too is temporary; ask all the early apostles who were killed or harassed because of their faith. We remember them today, and we bless God for their lives, which continue to speak, centuries after their death. I must not focus on the temporal and the ephemeral, but on the eternal. While working down here, I must keep both eyes on the eternal, so that I do not miss it. The world must not have a hold on my heart, so that its distractions keep me away from total devotion. The world only has pollution; God wants only purity. Only two choices; the choice of pursuit is mine; eternity lies at the end of either decision. God's time of favour is here. 

Following, God's Style!

Following, God's Style!

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23‭ KJV

The Context:

Jesus had just fed 5,000 men, beside women and children, with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes. There were 12 baskets of fragments and pieces left after all these people had eaten. If that didn't make an impression on the people, I don't know what else could have. In fact, in another account, the men came looking again for Jesus, simply because of the bread they had eaten. We have to be careful about focusing on the signs and not the Person; we can get carried away by the edible, audible and the visible, forgetting that God does not always move by that which our human senses can fathom. 

He had to ask the disciples this question about His identity. Men had seen Him perform miracles, yet they did not know Him. They saw the acts but knew nothing about the Person. This is the danger of our generation: a lot of words and knowledge about the subject of Christ, but very little personal experience of the Person of Christ. Just like the people of Jesus' days, we admit He is great, but He is only as good as what we can get out from Him. He then asked the disciples who had walked with Him for some time: who do you say I am? Peter's response is the basis of the establishment of the foundation of the church: Christ is the Messiah, and in and by Him, all men can stand. Outside of Him, there is no assurance of a good end. All who come to Him are accepted, and all who surrender to Him enjoy the fullness of all He is and has. 

The Message:

Why, then, is today's extract important? For all who want to know this Christ, you have to consider very carefully what you are getting into. It is not a decision to be taken lightly or carelessly; eternity lies at the end of your decision. What does this decision entail:

1. The Choice: IF: the invitation to come is open to all men everywhere; no favouritism. All who come are accepted. It is a decision no man can take for me; even if I am forced to come in, can anyone run my race for me? So, IF I seek to follow this Christ, I am the one to make up my mind to come to Him. He has done all that is required; He won't compel me, but He will also not strive with me forever. While there is time, I must take the step; tomorrow is not assured. Though Jesus was addressing the disciples here, we know He speaks to us too today: weigh it properly, and decide what you want to do. But decide quickly; you don't have forever. 

2. Deny himself: all that I think makes me special must be left at the foot of the cross. All the things that make me tick must be surrendered to the superiority of the knowledge of Christ. All that men applaud about me must be surrendered. Is there anything that I think is too special to give up for Christ? That thing may be the greatest hindrance to all that God intends for me. 

3. Take Up his cross daily: the taking up is a daily activity, not weekly, monthly, yearly or periodically. Every day I am given, I must pick up my cross. The cross is a place of total surrender, where all I desire is all that please God. There is no room for selfish interests or personal agenda; it is first and foremost all about what God wants. Can this be said of me? Is there anything I am struggling to give up? Is there a part of me that can't submit to the authority of Christ over my life? 

4. Follow Me: this part will not make sense without the points above. Men want to follow Christ because they want the power of the name, but not abide by the requirements of that name. Men want the benefits without paying the price. How do I truly follow a person who I do not recognise as a worthy leader? How do I follow a person I do not know? Maybe the reason why so many people fall away from Christ is because they never knew Him in the first place. They came in because it was the popular thing to do, or because they had a problem that needed solving. If that is all that brings me to Christ, it is not likely I can stand the test of time. 

The Response:

So, what is expected of me? This is an individual decision; got nothing to do with public affirmation or acceptance. Men of the world may laugh at you in scorn or derision, but consider eternity: forever and ever. Do you want to allow a fellow human being like yourself be the hindrance to your eternal reality? Is there anything of value down here that can be so important that you will risk losing heaven over?

Remember, all of earth's treasures will end up in fire, so while I am still on earth, I use the earth's resources to take care of myself and God's work, but I do not hold tightly to them. They must not take root in my heart, so that they do not take my eyes away from God. When my race is run and I get to the finish line, I will appear before God with nothing, except that which I did with Jesus. So, what is it that is written down for me? Where do I stand? His time of favour is here. 

Waiting, God's Style!

Waiting, God's Style!

I WAITED patiently and expectantly for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up out of a horrible pit [a pit of tumult and of destruction], out of the miry clay (froth and slime), and set my feet upon a rock, steadying my steps and establishing my goings. Psalm 40:1‭-‬2 AMPC

The Context:

This is David, the main protagonist of praise in the Bible. He was called a man after God's heart, because he knew how to catch God's attention. But this is the clincher: he didn't have it all smooth. He made some pretty bad choices and also some good ones too, but one thing was constant: his love for God. And that is my first takeaway: knowing God does not insulate me from issues and problems. Sometimes, I will make terrible mistakes, but I just know that I have help that the world cannot explain, define or limit. And that lesson runs through the whole of today's extract. 

I see the word: WAITED all in capital letters in the AMP version, and I wonder why. Could it be that the summary of the lesson God wants me to learn about Him is that He is a God with whom I have to learn patience and perseverance? I am yet to find a man or woman who went far with God who did not learn what patience meant. With God, there is plenty of room to learn to trust His move and even his silence. How do you define waiting if there was no time when it appeared that God was silent? If He answered as soon as I called, the word waited won't apply here. What is it then that God would have me learn about Him, even as I wait for Him to speak? I believe the lessons differ from person to person, and depends on each person's walk with God. 

The Message:

It must be said that even for the world, there is a place for waiting. No man is rewarded with instant riches; it has to be worked for and built up over time, except you want the instant, microwave type the devil gives, which will take something of value from you. If the world wants you to wait for what it offers, imagine what God wants me to know if I am to get all that He intends for me. I must know WHO it is I am asked to wait for. 

Check again: David was in need of help but he knew WHO, not WHAT he needed at this point in time. We can get confused too; focused on the need that we ignore the One who is all we need and who can give us all we need. We focus so much on the problem that it becomes bigger than the God who can help us out. The eyes were built for focus. That is why we make a distinction between looking and seeing. I cannot keep my eyes on two different extremes at the same time; I have to choose my priority. 

David had this one figured out: he was going to focus only on God. When he helps me, He will take care of me, and if he wants to, He will take care of the problem as well. In this case, that is what God did. But if like Paul, He gives me grace and strength but doesn't take away the thorn in my flesh, would I still trust Him? Is my love and devotion to God based on what He can do for me, what I get in return, or simply because I know that no matter what the physical realities around me are, God remains my true friend, the One whose help is all I really need?

Time and space are constraints here but look at God inclining his ear to David. A God who uses the whole earth as His footstool bending down to my level to hear the faintest cry for help. David was in a pit, even below ground level, yet God heard him. God drew him out of slippery ground and placed his feet on solid ground. It does not say whether the pit was of my own making or the result of other people's evil actions, but God's salvation and deliverance are sure and certain. I don't see the actions or help of any man here; even if God decides to use anyone, the glory belongs to God alone. 

The God who shut the mouth of lions also joined the three Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace. The God who allowed Stephen to be stoned to death was the same God who went into the prison and brought out Peter from among 16 soldiers. I have to decide if I will trust God completely no matter how he chooses to deal with me, otherwise when the challenges come, I might not be able to stand. Like David, I must use the quiet time I have to build up a relationship with God, so that when the storms come, I am prepared. Vain is the help of man if God does not help you. Vain is the opposition of man if God helps you. You just have to be sure who is helping and holding you up. 

The Response:

What would God have me do then? I have to decide here and now what it would be for me. Would I trust God totally, no matter what He allows, or am I all about convenience and comfort? And when the trouble comes, what do I do: cry to God or to man? Complain, grumble or murmur or simply cry out to God? As Peter walked on water and came to Jesus, imagine if he had kept quiet as he sank. He cried out, and Jesus helped him. That help is still available today, and Jesus wants to show Himself strong in the lives of all who trust Him. 

Like David, He will first place my feet on a rock where I can stand, then he will steady my steps, then establish my goings. The God who can help me fly will build me up to that level, and it will take time. God does not do magic, and he does not rush the process of making. He won't place on me that which I cannot bear and He is able to hold my hand through all the experiences no matter how they turn out. I just need to cry out and cry right. The one who made me knows me, and He can help me be all I have been fashioned, gifted and placed to be and do. However He chooses to help, the fact that He heard and answered me should be enough for me. At the end of it all, it will be clear that God came through for me, even if I did not understand how at the time. Who are you waiting for: the results of your human connections and circle of influence, or the help of the owner of the Universe? Both are parallel lines that will never meet, and with different eternal realities. Don't give up God's help for temporary, ephemeral help that cannot stand the test of time. God's time of favour is here. 

Praise, God's Way!

Praise, God's Way!

From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord's name is to be praised. Psalms 113:3 KJV

The Context:

We do not know who wrote the words of this psalm, but we can all agree that these psalms speak of the power, might, mercy and favour of God. Reading the first few verses of this psalm gives a picture of what the minimum standard is: my life must be a daily regulation of praise to God. Do I know why I have been made? Do I know why I have been placed where I am at this point in time? Do I know why I have been gifted and my role in the generation I am privileged to be a part of? I will never fully understand the why of my life if I do not know the who behind it.

Today's psalm starts with the who behind my life. It is the most important part of my life. I can know the right songs and give off the right vibes, but it will be all empty noise without the right foundation. Just before today's extract in verse 3, the first two verses mention PRAISE 3 times, and THE LORD 4 times. So we know the expected activity and the expected target. What then is the right way to do it so that it can have the desired effect and impact? 

The Message:

It is clear from today's extract that it is not my action or lack of it that makes God who He is, but He is God all the same. I can decide not to accept God as who He says He is, but that does not in any way affect who He is and what He has done or can do. Check out the extract above: the sun is itself a testament to the greatness of God. It rises at a certain time of the day and also sets at a certain time of the day. Never on record has this failed, except when God honoured the declaration of Joshua when he was fighting the Amorites. Well, the earth revolves around the sun, and for the sun to delay going down, it must have been an unusual event. But then, that is the God this writer is asking us to praise; a God who can do the unusual and the miraculous even with the most mundane of things. 

The Response:

Guess the questions my life must now answer are: How do I respond to this God? How best does my life then celebrate the knowledge of this God? Do I even know Him personally or is all I know of Him just what other people have said? I am asked to praise the God whk created the sun and makes it shine, and to whom all of creation answers to. The One who can put them in their position and through all generations, they have not failed to work as they have been created to. If created things could be this consistent, imagine the power and stability and consistency of the One who made them.

His name is the Lord and He is also called other names. We know that there is power in His name, and that name deserves praise. Do you know this God for who he is and does? Is He my personal Lord and Saviour, or just one of the many lords I know? It takes a personal knowledge of God to praise Him acceptably. Don't settle for mere head-knowledge; make sure of a heart - experience. His time of favour is here. 

Relationship, God's Style!

Relationship, God's Style!

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Romans 12:10 KJV

The Context:

Paul's letter to the Romans covers all aspects of human life. It speaks to my foundations, from before I met Christ to the new demands on me as a result of my new life in Christ. Today's extract speaks to the expectation of Christ for me, if indeed I am His child and I bear true allegiance to Him. There is an internal work, as well as an external witness that must accompany my faith in Christ. When I claim Jesus as my Lord and Saviour, his imprint must be evident upon me. How does the world know God if those who claim to know and follow Him do not make Him known? How do men of the world take note of what is missing in their lives if my life as a Christian does not make them wonder? 

Paul's letter goes on to address some other important issues, such as humility and service to God and to others. This is very important to the discussion on who we are, what we are and why we are here at this point in time. Today's extract drives me to sit down and critically examine why I am here on earth. What have I been placed here to do? Why am I where I am at this point in time? Why has God placed the people around me in my life for such a time as this? When I know and understand the answers to these questions, I am on the right path to doing exactly what today's extract talks about. I won't need to be in competition with anyone, or fight for relevance with anyone; I just focus on doing my best in the place God has planted me, making sure God is celebrated in and through me. 

The Message:

When the reason for my existence is known, impact is non-negotiable. When I know that I am not going to be judged by man's constantly changing opinions, I am free to pursue excellence God's way. When I know I am at work for God, man's applause or approval won't mean anything to me. After all, even for Jesus, the crowd shouted 'Hossana in the highest` one day, and within a week, was shouting' Crucify Him'. You can't live and feed on people's opinions; God's view is enough. 

And He commands love, His type. Not the version the world celebrates and falsely claims as the genuine thing. Jesus' example to us is one of love, even when the objects of the love did not really deserve it. He gave His all: His life, and that love we have received encourages us to show off that same love to others. How would the world know I am different if I do things the way the world already likes it? And at the seat of this kind of love is the kind of heart that sees others in the light of the One who first loved me. Just as Jesus placed my interests over and above his own comfort at the time, He demands I do the same too. 

The Response:

This is a call to the unusual, the abnormal and the unexpected. The world has seen a lot of normal; it is time for children of God to make known the miraculous. Love, God's version, is the language the world cannot speak but it responds to. Honouring other people is hard for those who are not yet submitted to God but must be a way of life for those who have. Can I take a back seat and allow other people get ahead of me for some benefits? And God is so amazing that as I deal this way with other people, He will raise up people who will do the same for me. If I take care of God's business in God's way, I get the blessings God intends. 

I cannot operate outside of people; after all, I am placed among people so that my life can be a message. If I find myself drifting away from people, that is a danger sign. The devil knows that if he can keep me away from healthy relationships, he can keep me depressed and distracted. I must make every interaction count; I must seek to make Jesus known every opportunity I get. The world needs to know that I am different because I have had a personal experience of the love of God which I cannot keep to myself. As I live, I make God known. May I not be a liability to the love of God. His time of favour is here.

Minded, God's Way!

Minded, God's Way!

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Philippians 2:5 KJV

The Context:

Paul had started his letter to the church in Philippi talking about the benefits and demands of a life that is connected to Christ. He spoke about the sufferings that anyone who will submit to Christ must undergo. He spoke about his own personal conviction, that as long as he was alive, he was all for Christ, also assured that even in death, there was eternal gain. You don't come to this conclusion by accident; it is a result of personal experience of Christ. Anyone who has met with Christ understands what his/her proper pursuits and priorities should be. It is not about the things this world celebrates, but about what God considers important.

And Paul here again emphasises this important connection with Christ, as the perfect example of how my life should look like and who I am to pattern my life after. God didn't call me into a selfish and self-centred existence, where all that matters is what I can get, but He called me into a union with Him that will impact all of life as well as eternity. It is not all about the earth and human applause, but also about heaven's approval. The question then is: have I found out the reason why I have been brought into union with Christ? Have I discovered my purpose in all that I see and experience daily? Am I caught in the Dail grind of life that I have forgotten that it does not end down here? Today's extract is a reminder of what is truly important.

The Message:

Paul encourages all who read these words to allow God work first in them before they can be of any use out there. He talks about the Mind of Christ, and to really appreciate what this mind is, it will be nice to read the entire chapter,. The Mind of Christ here is seen as one which considered position, power, privilege and possession as nothing. Here was the glorious Son of God, the One by whom all things in heaven and on earth are created. He left all that glory in heaven and came to earth like one of us, so He could experience what we had and he could pay the price for sin which we could not. In his glorious form, no one could touch him but in his eternal plan, there was a need to make a way for man to be restored to God. That plan had been in place since the foundation of the world were laid. Think of it: God knew men would reject Him, but He came all the same. He knew that some would reject him even to death, but so that all men would have equal access to the mercy and grace that seals salvation and eternal life, He came all the same. If that does not blow your mind, I don't know what else can.

This was the kind of mind that Christ had: love for all, even in the face of rejection and rebellion; arms open wide, even in the face of constant disobedience; mercy and grace in abundant measure, even in the face of increasing wickedness. Even when God knew the mind of Judas Iscariot, he still allowed him to work for three and a half years, even sending him out to preach the gospel, and with signs and wonders following. Can the same be said of me in my relations and interactions with people?

The Response:

How easy it is to point out other people's failings and ignore mine. How easy is it to demand a course of action from another person yet not hold myself to the same standard? Christ has laid down the perfect example of a mind totally sold out to the eternal good of other people and if I am truly living in Him, I don't have to be cajoled into doing the same. It should flow out of me as a matter of course. If I audit my personal life right now, what would the verdict be? Can it be said of me that I have the mind of Christ?

Do I hold grudges, even when the other people has said sorry or am I the type to wait for the other person to say sorry because I am older? Am I the type to carry juicy stories about other people, even if they are true? Am I the type to be privately jealous of another person's life, thinking it should have been me? Do I struggle to rejoice with those who rejoice? Am I all about the public image of a good person while in private, I am like a whitewashed sepulchre, full of dead men's bones? The answer is private and personal, but the manifestation will speak into eternity. 

Even if men lie to you, trying to convince you that you are the best version of mankind, you owe it to God and your eternity to be sure where you stand. None of the people trying to run your life on your behalf will stand with you in the coming judgement. I will stand alone, just as you also would. Judgement will be based on what I did with the Christ that was offered as my channel of redemption and salvation. He has done His part; the rest is left to me. His time of favour is here. 

Renewed, God's Style!

Renewed, God's Style!

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 KJV

The Context:

Once again, the point is made about sin. God hates sin and will punish it, no matter in whom it is found. Israel was His chosen people, yet when they went into idolatry, He handed them over to their enemies to oppress them. However, in His mercy, He set a time for the oppression, and when the time was ended, He redeemed them from the hands of their enemies. This is God: of mercy and judgment; of love for man but hatred of sin. His mercy is eternal, as is His judgement also, but for man, there is an earthly end to mercy and a finality to judgment. As God reminds me of whatever I need to address in my life, I must pay attention to it and make amends. My eternity depends on it. 

There is a grave danger in not knowing who this God is. For all of humans, there is a God-shaped vacuum in all of us that something or someone must occupy. For some, it is influence, prestige, possession, power or position. Men live and die by their desire to be seen and heard and so make compromises along the way to achieve these. Yet, God is saying: none of these things can take my place. I am not an object you can define; I am the God of all the earth. I am not an image you can keep in place or hold down with chains; I am the Almighty God. 

The Message:

So, God introduces Himself to us. So many things are said of God in the whole chapter, but the focus is on today's extract. Where there is a BUT it is good to look at the words that come before it. With God, human ability is limited. With God, things like position and power are useless. Men run after the things of this world, yet are not satisfied; it means that what man needs isn't the things of the world. That is why even the glory of the youth, which is their strength, will fail miserably when it comes to the things of God. 

You don't serve God first by your strength, but by His grace. That is why the starting point is a total dependence on God to supply that which you need to serve Him acceptably. The words: 'wait on God' shows a waiter standing alert, waiting for instructions from the one who is being served. If He says just stand, waiting on Him means just standing there. If He says go do this, waiting on Him means doing it without delay. The waiter isn't the master of his time: his service is at the pleasure of the master. In this age of visibility, where men seek to be rewarded on the basis of what they know or how they speak or how they look, this may not be a popular message, but if I will truly serve the Master, I must serve on His terms, as He commands, not as I please. 

Waiting takes patience and discipline, things this world is not familiar with. Waiting means trusting the Wisdom of the One who you are waiting on. It is only in God that the man who waits is the One who receives strength to soar, run and walk and not be weighed down by the world's demands. This present age that rewards men on the basis of who comes in first has no place in God. You cannot do God's work with tools He has not provided, and you can't make a demand on God's resources if you have not yet learnt to wait for Him to command your assignment. 

The Response:

As I wait, I receive strength for the work the master has commissioned. Can I dare leave God's presence, after receiving my mandate, and then go do my own thing? When I have received the strength and guidance I need, there is no limit to what God can achieve in and through me. Even after God supplies what I need, He allows me to move at the leg of my faith and grow in Him. Where the work requires soaring, His strength is able to keep me there. Where it requires running or walking, His supply is able to keep me where He wants me to be, doing what He wants me to do, and without losing sight of the most important part of all these: I am at work for God, so all I do must please the One who has commissioned my work. 

Man's ability has an expiry date. Man's connections and influence have limitations. No matter how gifted, talented or connected you are, God's work can go on without those things. What you need to do God's work is that which God supplies, not what you can provide. It's never about me; it's all about what God can do. He can do the most extraordinary with the most ordinary. It matters that God is involved. His time of favour is here. 

Asking, God's Version!

Asking, God's Version!

And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us. 1 John 5:14 AMPC

The Context:

John the Beloved is credited with writing this book, and it is not a wonder that he writes from the perspective of the love of God, what it means to the world and to all who have come to believe in God. There are several parts of the three letters of John where he makes it clear that the principles of God's kingdom rest on the pillars of God's nature, power and presence, all of which are tied into His Son Jesus Christ. In fact, just earlier in the same chapter under consideration here, we read these words: "Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." That is God's testimony about His son, and I am free to take or reject it, but I must know that eternity lies at the end of whatever decision I take. 

And today's words, as well as the other parts of the letters of John, are addressed to "you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life." These words are not for the people of the world, who have not yet known or surrendered their lives to Jesus. And the reason is clear: you can only make a claim on the benefits of a kingdom of which you are a legal citizen. You may take them by deception and get away with it, but you will always be looking over your shoulder. All that today's extract says are for people who have believed in the son of God, who is Jesus. It is not enough to know, read, hear or speak about Him; the key word here is BELIEVE in Him. Men of the world know of Him, even the devil knows He is the Son of God, yet that knowledge cannot save him from his eternal doom. 

The Message:

So, do I truly know this God and His Son, or am I effectively chasing shadows? And that personal knowledge seals eternity for me; it is something I already have, even while I walk with and work for God here on earth. It is in that context that today's extract makes sense. When I have God, the past, no matter how terrible, is washed clean. The present is a gift from God for me to make the best use of to impact the world He has placed me in and the future is also sealed. I can ask God for anything I want and because all I want is in line with God's will, He is eager to give them to me.

If God could give up His Son to die in my place, and a shameful death at that, what else would He not give up for me? If He could lay down His life for me, paying that high penalty for sin, what is it that is so hard that He can't give me if I ask? I am told to ask in confidence, because I have come to know a God whose love for me isn't about what I ask Him for but about who He is and what He has already given me. He didn't wait for me to first be worthy of the love; He loved me in spite of my rebellion. He has done all there is to do; secured eternity for me; all I can do now is to make a demand on my eternal treasures. 

The Response:

I am told to ASK for anything IN His name, not by the strength of my circle of influence, or the depth of my experience and knowledge, or by the balance in my bank account. None of these things can do for me what the personal knowledge of God has already done for me. Again, I note: I am to ask, not grumble, complain or moan about my lot in life. If I do not ask, and I do not get, I cannot turn around and blame God for not giving me that which He had promised. He has told me how to ask in a way that I can get what He promised, and it is by simple obedience that I access all of God. 

As His will is my own pursuit, I get what He wants for me. A life that is totally surrendered to God embraces all that God does. When I ask, unless God says No, I keep at it until His will is established. Even if he says no, my relationship with God should outlast a No, or a not yet, because ultimately, my desire is to please God, not to pursue my own agenda. There is no room for shame; I am speaking to my Father. This is a relationship thing; it will be a strange sight indeed if you find a son who has fully obeyed and honoured his father, being rejected by the father. My life as God's child is a message to the world. My life is a beacon of joy to those who seek meaning and direction. What of you? Have you met and surrendered your life to this God? Does He know you as His own? It is never too late to sort out your allegiance until it is too late. While you have time, get to it. The benefits of eternity are for those who have surrendered to the eternal God. His time of favour is here.