For Me!

For Me!

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Isaiah 53:5 NIV

Context:

Today's extract is taken from the same chapter where yesterday's focus was taken from. We read yesterday of the personal sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and how that leaned into the will of God. It was God's will that a perfect sacrifice that would deal with sin once and for all be offered. That sacrifice was the life of the Son of God. In fact, a verse that speaks so loudly about the weight of this sacrifice is: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” That is the perfect picture of what Christ has done for me. How do I respond to this? 

Message and Response:

Let's take a look at a few of the things Jesus encountered at the cross: he was stripped of his clothes and beaten; a crown of thorns was placed on his head; he was offers vinegar when he said he was thirsty; he was lashed with whips laced with thorns, and his side was pierced with a sword, after he had nails driven into his hands and feet. I do not know of any man who can bear all of these at once. Think of this: he did not go to the cross because it looked appealing, but because of you and I. I took him to the cross; my sin was the slave master who will not let go without a fight. I must never forget this: I took him to the cross.

If there was no sin, there would have been no need for the cross. Because of sin, all of us must first come to the cross to have our sin dealt with before we can stand before God for relationship and for service. What then does the cross mean? At the cross, his beatings were for my good. He knew no sin, yet in his body, he paid the price for my own sin. We were at the cusp of judgment but his voice brought us to the throne of mercy. 

Every incident at the cross means something to my present and eternity: the piercing; the crushing; the punishment and the beating. So I will not be eternally punished for my transgressions, Jesus was beaten. So that I would not end up in hell, Jesus literally went down to hell and took back that which man lost at Eden. So that I will not suffer loss, Jesus lost the presence of God for a short while as he bore the sin of the whole world. So that I would enjoy the life that I have been given, Jesus took all of sickness and diseases and nailed them to the cross. The gulf that came in between God and man due to sin in the Garden of Eden was now bridged. There is no distinction based on colour, race, creed or ethnicity. The offer of all the benefits of the cross are available to all men. 

If men of the world could pay for it and keep others out, they would do it. If men could fight for it so they could be applauded, they would do it. But for the grace of God, there would be people cut off eternally from the benefits of the cross. Thanks be to God that we all can boldly come to the cross and take hold of all it represents and offers. I cannot bring any money to buy it; the currency of grace is one that no world currency can afford. 

Now that I know what the cross has obtained for me and also demands from me, how do I ensure I take advantage? Jesus has already done all there is to do; no other sacrifice for sin can be made or will ever be made again. The sacrifice is good for all time, until time, as we know it now, will expire. After that, only judgment by the one who died at the cross to seal life will remain, and the end is to offer his life to all who came to know him. Are you one of such people? Am I? His time of favour is here. 

Places!

Places!

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV

Context:

Paul writes to the church in Corinth, telling them about God's greatest gift, which is His Son, whose greatest assignment is the salvation of all men. The verses before today's extract make it clear what this assignment is: the reconciliation of man back to God. It does not matter what else we think Jesus came to do; if man could not be reconciled back to God, the essence of Jesus dying on the cross would have been in vain. It does not matter what else I 'achieve' for God if my core motivation and encouragement do not flow out of my understanding of what Jesus did for me when he died on the cross and rose again. The cross is very fundamental to all I was and am now.

Message and Response:

Let's look at what today's extract represents for us: 

1. There is a glorious father and an equally glorious son. Both were perfect; sinless. However, when the perfect God looked at imperfect man, he knew that nothing from that imperfect man could make up for his sin. The only way sin could be finally dealt with was to have a perfect sacrifice for sin. In stepped Jesus.

2. I read the words: 'God made Jesus....'. There was God's will and there was Jesus' surrender to God's will. The prayer of Jesus at the Garden of Gethsemane gave a picture of the struggle Jesus had when he considered what was ahead. However, his prayer that night is instructive: 'not my will but yours be done.' He embraced all that God had planned so that all of God's plan for man could be fulfilled. 

3. One who had or knew no sin was made to become sin because of me. Think about this for a while: a holy God permitting his son to take on that which was evil and strange, and which he hated, so that I could come into new standing with God. If that does not make you pause, think again. If such a high price was paid for my new place, think of the consequences of rejecting the gift that has been given. 

4. An exchange of places was done: man sinned and should have been punished. The price was death, but man could not even pay the price required for redemption because he was already polluted. The perfect God offered the perfect sacrifice, taking our due punishment. We were the ones God should have turned away from, but his Son bore the wrath of God against sin. God turned his eyes away from Jesus as he hung on the cross. 

5. All that Jesus is and has became ours when he died and rose again. Each gives what he is and has: we inherited sin from Adam but inherited life from Jesus. Note again the words: 'IN Him'. These benefits don't come by virtue of ability, title, circle of influence or bank account balance, but by being IN him. Not around or aware of him, but in him. 

6. I must not be content with symbols and tokens of his presence, like a good church title, lovely worship sessions and being 'used' mightily by God. I must not determine my location in God by ephemeral things, but by his standards.

7. The ultimate goal is the righteousness of God. It is by his righteousness that we qualify to receive all that Jesus is. The nature of God has not changed, and it does not change for anyone. It is that consistency that gives us hope. We know what to do if we want to get what he has promised. 

The choice, as always, is mine to make; what am I willing to settle for? Would I remain in sin, or would I take advantage of the free gift of life on offer by God? I am not asked to pay the price for sin anymore; that has already been settled. However, if I reject the prize, I have to pay the price. If I do not take advantage of what Jesus has done, I cannot take advantage of the life he offers. Now that I know, what is my decision? His time of favour is here. 

Command!

Command!

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

John 13:34 NIV

Context:

Jesus was on his final days on earth before he went the way of the cross. He had raised 12 men as disciples while he had several others, even though not named. He had taken time to teach them about his coming death, resurrection and kingdom. God had laid out the law; the law in its natural state made us conscious of sin, and though it demanded a lot from us, it did not have the power and it could not supply the strength to obey. That was why the law, good as it was, was not capable of bringing us into the right standing with God. 

If I am still striving to please God by what I do, I am too late. If all I can present to God is the applause and recognition of men of all I do, then I do not yet know God or what he demands of me. Under the law, labour was fine; good works were recognised and rewarded. Under the new dispensation of grace, where are good works? Of what use is zeal without the knowledge of the One who sees and knows all? 

Message and Response:

It was the failings of the law that necessitated a new dispensation. The law had existed for so long yet could not improve man's relationship with God. Sin was the major reproach as God could not look at sin. God needed a new means of approach, and that is what Jesus came to promote. Under this new dispensation, God did not need man to plead good works, but to depend on his finished work. That is why the only thing that is commanded is LOVE. 

It is not first about what I do, but the heart from where the action proceeds. Man can pretend; it is one of the things sin taught us. We can deceive people by outward fervent service, while the heart is far away from God. Again, that is why it is never about what I do but the state of my heart. How is my heart? How is yours? Who controls its focus, direction and application? Who determines what the heart considers as important? 

It is called a command, not a negotiation or consultation. It is a command given by the one we call Lord, Master and Saviour. Unless I claim that I do not accept his authority or I am not his own, then I am free to dispense with the command. The command to love is not new; even as far back as Deuteronomy, God demanded that Israel should love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul and strength. However, this had an extra zing: there is an example to emulate and strength to be able to emulate it right. 

Jesus was not asking for something he did not first do, or what he was not going to provide adequate support and help for. He does not demand of me that which he has not first done himself. That is why he uses himself as the perfect example. His example of love is the perfect one: a Saviour who left all his glory in heaven to die on earth like a common criminal, and for people who still reject him and may reject him to the end of their lives. Yet he does not withdraw or reduce the love he has for us; his love is not subject to the varying seasons, or if we reciprocate. 

In that reality is a final word of warning: if I have received such great grace, would I not think of the consequences of rejecting it? If such a high price was paid to bring me to a new standing in and with God, would it not amount to foolishness for me to walk away from this free gift of love? What do I stand to lose if I embrace it? I am not asked to break an arm of leg, but to love. My heart is the battleground; love is the command, Jesus is the commander and eternal life is the end of all obedience. Now that I know what he commands, what is my response? What is yours? His time of favour is here. 

Restored!

Restored!

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6 NIV

Context:

Isaiah writes about the coming Messiah, by whom we all have the opportunity to get all that God has promised through his son. As I look at the entire chapter, it is apparent that if you are not careful to observe what is going on around you, you may most likely miss the time of God's visitation. The people of Jesus' age were focused on the letter of the law and how it made them feel. They knew nothing of the plans of God or how he intended to bring them to pass. Am I all about what makes me comfortable or what is right in God's eyes? Not all that God demands will be easy, but as I get to know God more and more, he makes it easy for me to choose him. 

Isaiah spoke these words at least 700 years before Jesus was born, so if he was looking for physical signs that supported his message, he would have been disappointed, discouraged or distracted. I must be careful about a focus on signs, symbols and tokens at the expense of a personal walk with God. Men will lay claim to having God's direct line, yet God does not know them as his own. The other extreme is to think that because of my past, God cannot forgive me. With God, the grace of forgiveness and mercy had been supplied even before I was aware; if I will get all that God has promised, the journey starts at the place where Jesus went to seal the deal for me: at the cross. 

Message and Response:

No one can lay claim to any righteousness or perfection of his or her own accord. The best of man is a sinner first and foremost, because at birth, we inherit the sinful nature of Adam and Eve. All our lives, no matter what we accomplish, we are only preparing for the accounting that must be done at the end of it all. How do I prepare for that accounting?

We are referred to as sheep that had gone astray. We thought we were wise in our eyes and could take care of ourselves; we were smart, as after all, we had a brain. We felt we did not need the help of anyone. Unfortunately, the plan and purposes of God do not need man's cooperation for them to be true and valid; it is man that needs to cooperate with the plan and purposes of God if his life will make sense. 

So man's past, present and future are all presented from God's perspective; there is a reckoning with my past that I must settle, before I can sort out my present and secure my future. No man is exempt; all have sinned. No man is exempt; all have equal access to the free gift of life available in Jesus. No man is exempt; eternal rest lies at the end of life for all who hold on to the free gift of Jesus to the end of their days on earth or when Jesus returns to take home those who belong to him. No man is exempt; eternal death in hell is God's verdict on all who reject the free gift of Jesus to the time of the final judgment. 

Consider what God did: he gave up his son who knew no sin, to become the sin offering for those who had committed the sin but could not pay the price. He turned his eyes away from his son as he bore our sins on the cross, which is the first and last time the son would cry out that his father had forsaken him. Those who sinned looked on and some even mocked him, ignorant that it was their sin that took him to the cross. 

For those hours that Jesus hung on the cross, I can imagine the scene in heaven: the Word of God, the glorious one, being treated in such a disdainful manner. Consider this: all he did was for you and I. Now that I know the price paid and the options now available, I know what lies at the end of whatever option I take. I just have one choice to make; I can't blame God for the consequences of my own decision. What is that decision going to be? His time of favour is here.

Serve!

Serve!

just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28 NIV

Context:

The circumstances around this verse matter. There were 12 noted disciples who had been following Jesus everywhere he went. As he performed miracles, people noted. There was even an instance where the people of a city wanted to make him king by force, because they had been miraculously fed with bread and fish. Jesus did not lack both admirers and enemies, so it was not a surprise that anyone would come and seek preferential treatment from Jesus. I must be careful about my intents and motives for following Jesus: am I in it for what I can get out of it or am I in it because I know who I am called to follow?

The mother of two brothers, disciples of Jesus, came privately to Jesus to secure the best seats in the house for her sons: the left and right hand of Jesus in His kingdom. If there was such a thing, did she consider the interests of the other ten? Is my own interest all that matters to me, or do I have room for other people? Am I all about me and my family, to the total exclusion of anyone else? My heart matters; its pursuits and priorities are revealed by the things that hold its strings or directs its actions. What are those things that are able to influence my daily life? I must watch these, and be sure that they are the things that God approves. It will be most unfortunate for a person to have been celebrated on earth for 'working for God' when God has no record of that person ever 'walking with God'. 

Message and Response:

Jesus took time to explain to the mother and brothers the meaning of a personal walk with God and the reward for that walk. He also explained the principles of personal conviction and service to the other disciples who later found out what the two brothers and the mum had done. I believe the biggest lesson is this: don't be so consumed by the trappings and obvious benefits of positions that you forget what the position actually demands of you. 

We crave the high places and the recognition of men, yet we know nothing of what these things will demand of us. We want to be known of all men, yet do not seek the knowledge of the God who sees, knows and will reward all. The example of Jesus remains the standard of service: it was first a knowledge of who he was that defined how he approached the work that was to be done. 

Jesus was comfortable in his own skin and did not need the validation of men to do the work. He made sure of his connection to God first, and then got to work. The order is important: the God-connection must be solid, because when the work starts, it is usually the first thing that will be attacked. Why does the devil attack our relationship with God, seeking to put up false barriers, making it seem that God is distant and unapproachable, and that it is hard for God to relate with man? The devil knows that once he can keep me distracted, every other thing I do may just be hard labour. I might not even know when the joy has disappeared, yet I will keep working. 

Jesus knew his mission: to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. That was the assignment, the focus. A man who knows he has a good master is the one who is glad to serve. Jesus knew the eternal reward of laying down his life for man, so he did it gladly. I stand where I am today because that sacrifice was made for me and I accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour. I can also work to propagate what I have received because I know the blessings and benefits. 

I consider my life before I met Christ and after I surrendered to Him and I am glad that I took that decision. It is time to then do the work required of all who bear true allegiance to Christ. No job is inferior if it is commanded, and no job is superior as long as it is mandated by the commander. It is not the title that matters, but the One who commissions and the job specification also. 

I go to God daily to confirm the job and the focus for the day. I live in the moment; not bothered by the 'success' of my contemporaries, because we are all working for the same master. That which I have received of Christ is my most important possession: eternal life. I will work to ensure that others too come to the saving knowledge of this same Jesus. That is all the service I need. His time of favour is here. 

Numbered!

Numbered!

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” Revelation 7:9‭-‬10 NIV

Context:

Just before today's extract, we see a focus on the coming judgement of the world, as well as a focus on Israel, the people chosen by God as his own people. It is clear that judgement is coming; the day is not certain but there is no doubt as to the certainty of it happening. Men live these days as if there is no reckoning; no account to be rendered. As I think of this, I encourage you to also think: If I do not really know how my life started, how do I know how it will end? If then I do not know how it will end, should I not seek the view of the One who owns my life, so I can please him and truly secure that life?

Israel was a nation loved by God, but as several books of the Bible make it clear, it was a nation that did not fully embrace Christ and his mission, maybe due to familiarity. A lot of the events in Revelation revolve around the nation of Israel, and we see a small sample of it in the sealing of the 144,000 from the 12 tribes of Israel. We can choose to focus on the symbolic meaning of that number, or we can choose to focus on that which comes next, which is a view into God's heart and plan for man.

Message and Response:

Immediately after the sealing of the 144,000 from Israel, we see a great multitude. Even in the face of the most terrible times we live in, where sin has lost its ability to shock, and men engage in rebellion against God without any fear, today's extract makes it clear that God has a substantial remnant. How he does it in the midst of the rot we see beats me; when I remember Elijah, I recall God telling him that even at the height of Jezebel's evil, there were over 7,000 men who had not bowed the knee to Baal. When sin around me becomes pervasive and it appears that more and more people are carried away by its allure and the highs it brings, I must remember that nothing sin gives or brings lasts forever. In fact, sin is the only thing that can cause a permanent separation between God and man; how then can sin give you anything good? How do you imagine that what God hates and paid such a high price to correct will release to you all that God is? Today is the day to weigh my life again, and ask: is there sin in my life?

Check out the number: a multitude, which no one could count. If the number is not spelt out, who says you and I are not qualified to be part of that number? Check out the source: from every nation, tribe, people and language. The Jews may have been the first recipient of the message of salvation preached by Christ when he walked on earth, but even before he died on the cross, non-Jews, such as the Syro-Phoenician woman and the Centurion whose servant was sick, all personally encountered this Jesus. In Acts of the Apostles, as the message of Christ spread around the world, helped by men like Paul, Phillip and Barnabas, we see more non-Jews encounter this Jesus. I say again: at the end of it all, it would not matter what you bank account balance was, or the value of your stocks and bonds, or the strength of your circle of influence; all that will matter will be if I am able to stand before the throne and the Lamb. My focus should then be on the things that will qualify me to stand before the throne and the Lamb. 

The appearance of these people give you an insight into how I can get to stand before the throne: they were wearing white robes. John, who received this vision, asked about these white robes, and the response he got is: These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Everything in that description presents warnings and admonitions to us all. If I will appear before the throne and the Lamb, nothing else will make it possible except by the blood of the same Lamb before whom this multitude now stood. There will be pressure, trials and tough times, but when I stand before the throne and the Lamb, it would all be worth it. It is a bit of a strange one that it is blood that cleanses, but it is the blood that washes clean; nothing else, not even fervent church membership, active ministry or the best of titles will do the work only the blood of the Lamb can do.  

In the hands of the multitude are palm branches, which are tokens of joy and victory. Can anyone speak of victory without a fight? Can anyone lay claim to a territory without first dislodging the authority of that territory? Picture the value of the joy you get from knowing that you are at rest forever and ever. Holding palm branches, just as it happened when Jesus made that triumphant entry into Jerusalem, symbolises victory. For us today, we are called to the victory sealed by the Lamb through the cross. No matter what the devil brings our way, let it be known that these are the threats of a defeated foe, who will fight and thrash around until he is tied up and thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone. 

The song is a window into the identity of God, what he has made available for all who will come to him, and what I need to do to access it all. Salvation is the free gift of God to all men, but it is unfortunate that not all men will take advantage of this free gift. It is only in God that anyone is truly safe and saved; nothing the world offers can beat or replicate that. I could imagine the relief of these people as they stood before the throne and the Lamb by which their salvation was sealed, and they could not help but shout. For me, I must deal with that eternal question of salvation too. What is my present song? Does it in any way resemble the songs of these people before the throne and the Lamb? Am I in any way preparing to stand before the throne? The work of salvation by God has already been completed, and he invites all men everywhere to take advantage of this gift. He has enough room for all men on earth, and he will gladly take all who come. If you have not yet been saved, what are you waiting for? A fire is coming before which nothing of this earth can withstand. Be sure that what you hold on to can stand that coming fire. His time of favour is here. 

Attractions and Distractions!

Attractions and Distractions!

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 1 John 2:15‭-‬16 NIV

Context:

John writes to those who have been saved: who know the name that is able to save, and have come to put all their hope and trust in that name. The instructions in today's extract are not for the entire world, but for those people who are able to make the distinction between their present location, pursuits and priorities and the eternal reality of their daily decisions. Have I come to that point yet? Do I even understand the reality of my earthly walk and why the things that happen to me and the things I do daily matter? 

I am called to live by standards that are different from those around me. I am called out to stand out and to show the world what it is missing. If I am able to identify with and blend in with the world, then how do I make this God known? If my life is unable to shine out with the light and life of God, how do I present God as the One whose word is superior to anything the world can offer? Do I even truly know the God that John refers to here, or is there another god I know, follow and serve? 

Message and Response:

I may read today's extract and say that after all, I am in the world. Yes, there is a big difference between my location and my inspiration. I can be in a place and be so distracted that nothing about that place registers on my heart or eyes. I can also be in a place and the priorities of the moment where I am consumes me so much that I am unaware of what is going on around me. 

You see, the location is just a small part of the process; the most important part is the state of the heart. Do the things going on around me distract me from God or is my heart so focused on God that nothing around me can get into me? That is why this same John would write about Jesus, who in praying for his disciples, said: They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. John 17:16 NIV. Have I sorted out my location and inspiration?

There is this distinction that must be made between the earth, created by God, and the system of sin established by the devil when man sinned in the Garden of Eden. By the process of natural birth, we have been placed on the earth and made subject to the system of the world. We are subject to the laws and nature of the world until we surrender our lives to the one who has conquered the world. 

I am still on the earth, subject to the laws of sowing and reaping and the effect of times and seasons, but with my new life, I am no longer subject to the laws of the world, which is laid out by the devil. Until I surrender, the world has a hold on me. When I surrender, I am no longer under the dictates and oppression of the system laid down by the devil. Even though I am physically located on earth and the wars of the world rage on around me, I do not worry because by virtue of my new location: IN God, there is a hope and a future in view. 

Being in God does not keep me from the effects of the world, but I am assured that nothing of the world can take away that which the conqueror of the world has done and completed in me. That is the hope that keeps me focused; keeps my heart from the allure of the world and all its presents. It is the world that can give you something, yet cannot guarantee you how and where it will end. 

The world will present all its attractions to you, most times, without the price attached. It fastens to your eyes, ears, tongue, flesh, nose and heart. It makes it appear that if you don't have it, you don't matter. It may not even tell you too what you must do to get it, but it sows the seed in you and gives it room to germinate. 

This is why I must be careful about what I allow to settle on the processing centre of my heart. You cannot successfully process stuff from both the Word of God and the world. Both are parallel lines that can never meet no matter how long you draw them or try to merge them. Both proceed from two different taskmasters and both have very different eternal realities. 

I cannot claim to love God and also the world at the same time and to the same degree. The love for one will choke the other. And if I am truly headed for heaven, I cannot make room for the world in my heart. It then leaves the question for me to answer: which one is my present attraction? Is it the love of God and all he is, or is the world and all it offers? With God comes all that He is; with the world comes the deception that the devil can give you everything. The devil who cannot even keep his word straight. He is a liar, who cannot be trusted. I am better off with the God who can match his word with his name and give me all he has promised. His time of favour is here. 

The Law- Fulfilled!

The Law- Fulfilled!

Love does no wrong to one's neighbor [it never hurts anybody]. Therefore love meets all the requirements and is the fulfilling of the Law.

Romans 13:10 AMPC

Context:

Paul writes to the church in Rome, which also contained people from all races, Jews and Gentiles alike. It is only in Christ that a distinction based on race, creed, language or colour will not make sense. Jesus came to die for all of humankind, and paid the price for sin for all of humanity. I cannot then say that the instructions for this new life that Christ has birthed are only for a particular race or culture. The instructions that were given to Moses were initially for the Israelites as God's chosen people, but became the standard for walking with God in the old testament. 

All nations who aligned with the God of Israel and his instructions also enjoyed the benefits of this alignment. For me, as well as my family, even though not born as Jews, have I come to know the God of these laws and instructions for life? It is easy to count all the old testament instructions, get bogged down on the number and forget the whole essence of the instructions, which is God seeking a relationship with human beings, and then defining the terms of the relationship. God does not demand that which he has not provided grace and strength for, and if he commands it, he has already provided grace for obedience. Would I embrace that grace?

Message and Response:

How I view the new life that I have been called into matters. I am charged to owe no man anything, except the continuing debt of love. It means that I cannot switch love on or off as or when I please; it is not just an emotion, but the very definition of who God is. It is a debt, which must be repaid, and it is a debt because I also received the same freely from God, who then instructed me to pass on that which I have received to other people. 

He lays down the law on how he wants me to approach him in worship, and he also lays down the structure for interaction with other people like myself. There are quite a lot of them, but then there is a connecting thread, and it is love. A quick look at some of the popular instructions: do not steal, do not covet, you must have no other God before me or make for yourself any graven image. If I truly love you, would I steal from you? If I truly love you, would I seek to harm you, or envy you for what you have? If I truly love God, would I dare make any image of any kind to represent or replace him in my heart?  Would I have 'secret' allegiances, maybe unknown to man but definitely known to God? 

You see, the instructions may read the way they are, but the message of God for all of us who read them is to examine our hearts to see what is in there, and make corrections where required. Love, as defined by God, does not seek harm to anyone else. Love does not permit me to seek the downfall of anyone, because I know very clearly that the One I claim to know and love has not treated me the same way. That tells me also that I can only give out of that which I have. This is one situation where credit or prepaid cards are of no value to you. If I have never received it, I cannot give it out. If I don't have it, it is not because I never got the offer but because I chose to ignore it.

None of God's instructions are for show, or simply to just say anything fanciful; it is either the law speaks to how I approach God or how I approach men. So, an audit of my life is required: if God were to demand an account from me right now, what would it look like? Has my heart received and responded to God's love? Is that same version of love the same one I am extending to people on a regular basis? If it is not, it is not too late to get it right. Love is God's nature, and all who claim to know and follow him cannot live by any other standard. His time of favour is here. 

Ownership and Possession!

Ownership and Possession!

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; Psalms 24:1 NIV

Context:

Today, we consider again the words of the songwriter David, a man God himself testified to as being after his heart. David was not just a writer of songs, but a worship leader, a dancer, and of course, a prophet. There are direct references to the Messiah in the songs he wrote, and as a shepherd of sheep and then men, he knew firsthand what it was like to have God on your side, protecting, keeping, guiding and helping you. Have I met this God that David knew and loved so much? Much more important is this: does this God know me as his own? 

Message and Response:

One of the many principles by which God is governed by is the fact that he keeps that which he owns and holds. I cannot claim independence from God and still want to live off his resources. No matter what the devil says, he does not own anything on the earth. When God was speaking his Word and the creative power of the Word was working wonders, the devil had no say in what God did. If he owned anything, why did he have to fight dirty to get man to lose sight of the life of God in him? The devil knew that he could not touch man or what he has unless that man gives him access, and that is what sin did. What am I holding on to today: the truth of God's Word or the falsehood of the devil? 

The one who speaks the earth and all its features into existence is the one in charge. The testimony of the one who made it all, as he looked at then all, was that it was very good. A very popular legal maxim says:' Possession is nine-tenths of the law,' which means that ownership is easier to maintain if one has possession of something, or difficult to enforce if one does not. If God owns a thing, who is that person or power that is able to snatch that thing out of his hands? And if he owns it, he determines what happens to it. God does not delight in the troubles that his own face, but he permits them, in the right proportion, to come to his own, so they can grow in their love, knowledge and experience of God. I must not run away from those experiences; they are proof that I belong to God, I am in his hands and nothing comes to me without his permission. What could be better than that? 

And I note that this hold of God covers everything: living and non-living. How do I ever think that God will create anything that he could not control or direct as he wills? Accidents may happen, but it will never be outside the knowledge of the one is the Lord. Why the use of the word 'Lord'? It means a person having power and authority over others (and I can add as well as things.) There is nothing else left outside his control.

This is where it gets interesting. I can choose to accept the Lordship if Jesus over me, or I can choose to reject him. Whatever my decision is, let it be known that it does not in any way diminish the efficacy, power, influence and reach of the Lord. Men can reject his authority; it does not mean he does not have it. Men can spend all their lives denying him; it does not affect the truth of who he is and what he has. And the final note: if indeed he owns it all, one day, all that he has made has to answer to him. An account will be demanded of all who he has made. Whether I accepted his authority or not, I answer to him. Contrary to what the world will have me think, this life I have been given isn't mine to do with as I please, but to live to please the one who owns and holds it in his hands. I belong, answer and hold allegiance to him. While I still have freewill to choose, I must choose wisely and surrender all to him. A time is coming when I will get the reward of right ownership or the consequences of rejecting the right ownership. May the Lord help me to choose wisely. His time of favour is here. 

Self? Others?

Self? Others? 

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,

Philippians 2:3 NIV

Context:

Paul writes to the church in Philippi, charging them to remember all that Christ has done to bring them to this new standing they had. Before now, these were Gentiles, who were cut off from the commonwealth of Israel, but with the dispensation of the Holy Spirit in full swing, nobody was exempt from the grace of God revealed in Christ. No matter the time that has passed since Christ walked the earth, that grace has not been withdrawn, neither has it lost its power and effect. We are talking about a God of mercy and grace, who offered his own life for us so we could become the righteousness of God. For such a high price paid, a lot is expected of me if I am to take full advantage of all that is on offer. That is the message of today's extract. 

Message and Response:

For a man to fully adhere to today's extract, a healthy dose of self - esteem is required. A man who knows who he was before he met Christ and can testify to the change that has been wrought inside of him does not need another person's validation. If I know that Christ died for me, and I have accepted him as Lord and Saviour, with the evidence of his presence inside of me, do I need any other person to tell me how to feel? Why would I listen to a mere mortal like myself, when I have the immortal God living inside me?  Let it be repeated: a man who will align with today's extract does not need man's validation, applause or even disapproval; he knows who he is, what he is now and where he is headed. 

What does this new reality demand of me? It tells me that selfish ambition and vain conceit have no room in my life, if I am truly a child of God. A man can only be proud if there is something he did to affect the outcome of that which he has. Apart from simply accepting the gift of life as offered, what else could I have done? My numerous blood sacrifices could not save me; a good reputation was not just enough. Where is the room for pride or vain conceit? How do I become proud of something that is not of my own making? That is the deep lesson for me today, which should make me pause and consider my present pursuits and priorities. 

When I know who I am, who I belong to, and where I am headed, it won't matter to me how you view me. Your opinions about me do not keep me up at night. Like the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem when the crowd shouted 'Hossana in the highest' and then shortly after, the same crowd shouted 'Crucify him', I know the danger of setting my life up on other people's expectations. Please consider this passage where Jesus washed his disciples' feet: Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.

John 13:3‭-‬4 NIV

Did you notice the confidence and assurance Jesus had about who he was, where he was from and where he was headed? He did not need to remind anyone of who he was, as some of us like to do; he did not need to prove a point to anyone. He knew who he was, and that was enough for him to serve, even as low as washing the feet of his disciples. 

Can I dare 'stoop' so low? Is my ego big enough to accommodate such sacrifices? Can I see service as a means of promoting God, not myself? Do I see what I do as a representative of the One I claim to know and follow? No matter what I tell myself in response to these questions, God knows the truth. Where there is room for only one, can I let another person in, even if it is to my detriment? I can only ask God for grace to help me put others first, even if it hurts. There is a time for other people to be given preference; there is a time when God himself will open doors for me. I ask God for grace to know the season of my own manifestation, so I don't jump ahead of him. His time of favour is here. 

The Making!

The Making!

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

Context:

David writes this psalm, along with other inspiring songs in the book of Psalms. This is a person of whom God said was a man after his own heart. What could make an immortal God relate with a mortal man in this way? What could an immortal God gain from being this friendly with a mere mortal? The more I look at the life of David, the more I learn that a search for God is man's greatest assignment and when he finds God, that is his greatest discovery. God wants to be found; he wants to be a friend. When you have God, it does not matter what other physical thing you do not have; if you don't have God, then it does not matter what your networth is. So, who or what is your main possession? 

Message and Response:

David here knew who God is on a personal level. It was not about what other people said, but what he had come to know for himself. He called the Lord his shepherd, and he would know what this meant, as he was himself a shepherd of sheep before he was a shepherd of Israel. What is that present experience you are going through now? God is able to identify with you at that level, and reveal himself to you. 

When God is your shepherd, you have your needs taken care of. That is why there can be no want. The One who shepherds you is the one who owns and holds all you need. I note: I will not be in want because he is my shepherd, not because I am smart enough to take care of myself. Man has always tried and failed to get true independence from God. We fool ourselves into thinking that we can take care of ourselves; we carry out schemes that seem to succeed, and we think that we have life figured out. It does not work like that at all. Until a man is totally surrendered to God, he cannot enjoy all that God is and gives. 

And there is a making that comes out of God being my shepherd. He makes me lie down in green pastures. Even when I don't know what I need, he provides me with security, protection and safety. Even when I make mistakes, the fact that I am alive is a testimony to his making. If I were left alone for even a second, the devil would have had me. Away from all the craziness around, he gives me a quiet place, where I can rest, recharge and refire. The place of rest is a place of nourishment, provision, guidance, instruction and safety, before I go back again to face the world. Have I found this God yet, or am I still labouring of my own accord to get all I need for myself? 

When storms rise and the winds blow, he provides me a safe harbour, where harm cannot sweep me away. I note also: being in God does not insulate me from trouble but I am assured of safety. Still waters would make no impact on my heart if there were no storms. Quiet pastures would make no sense if there had been no storms and noise. Whatever it is that may have happened in the past or may even be going on right now, the presence of God and his resources are the most important things a man must have. I say again: when you have him, you have all you need. If you don't, it won't matter what else you have. 

Would I seek God out today? Is he my shepherd or just one of the popular names I have heard about? Is he all that matters or do other priorities hold my heart? Can I say, like the psalmist here, that the Lord is my shepherd? It is not about what I claim, but that which is true and evident in my life. Can men look at me, and be convinced that indeed, God rules and reigns in my life? If I am not sure, today is another opportunity to make sure. Seek God while he may be found; call on him while he is near. A time comes when no matter how hard you search, it may be too late. His time of favour is here. 

Priorities!

Priorities!

For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6 KJV

Context:

God used Hosea to teach the land of Israel and Judah about the danger of idolatry and forsaking God. This is a prophet told by God to marry a harlot, and he paid a price for her as one pays for the redemption of a person who had sinned. Is that not just like what Jesus did for us, when he paid the price for our redemption from sin? The life and marriage of Hosea became a message from God about his law, mercy and demand on every life that will seek to honour God. If I know what his demand for my life is, then I cannot turn around and blame God for how my life turns out if I choose not to obey God. 

Message and Response:

In establishing the mode of worship in the Old Testament for the land of Israel, God laid out many sacrifices and festivals. These were to be reminders of their walk with God, so that through their lives, other nations will come to know and follow God. We see men of old whose lives continue to speak to us, even though they are dead now. We read of the life of Abraman, Isaac and Jacob. We see the life of David and Solomon, and we can see clearly that what set these men apart was not the number of sacrifices they offered to God, but the quality of their lives of devotion to God. 

We get caught up in the drama around service and public life. Men see what we do and they sometimes applaud or mock what we do. We set our lives by other people's opinions, forgetting that just like the triumphant entry of Jesus unto Jerusalem and his crucifixion on the cross, a week is a long time when it comes to human approval. Why set up my life on the basis of such ephemeral and temporary things? Even though sacrifices and burnt offerings were commanded by God, and offered a way of atonement for sin, they were NEVER substitutes for a personal walk with God. 

Today's extract makes that very clear: don't offer me sacrifices when the heart of the person offering them is not right with me. Don't bring me burnt offerings when your hands are not free of sin. Solomon's life is a good example here: offered thousands of animals at the dedication of the temple he built; God heard his prayer but warned: if you do not obey me, this temple, as beautiful as it is, will become ruins and a byword among people. And as we know, today, that temple no longer exists. Solomon himself abandoned God and pursued after strange gods and possessions. As I check my own life today, what are my present pursuits and priorities? 

I need to audit my life today in the light of God's Word. His standards are made clear, and nothing I do, outside of his standard, will make up for that error. God is not a man who can be bribed by sacrifices or offerings, no matter how many. He makes his will clear: I desire mercy. That is my nature, and all who will see me work in their lives must walk in that same path. I cannot walk in sin and expect God's mercy to abound. I cannot choose a path that goes against all that God desires and expect a pat on the back. God desires that I know him; man's greatest discovery will be the knowledge of God. 

When I know God, I have found the greatest treasure. If I don't know Him, it will not matter who or what else I know. Now that I know what God wants, my utmost desire must be to pursue diligently and ensure I take hold of him. I must not focus on the tokens at the expense of the knowledge of God. I must not be distracted by the words of men or their views and opinions. I must not be moved by the love or the hatred of men. None of these things is important; that which is eternal is that which God wants, and my life's greatest achievement will be a discovery, pursuit and possession of that which is of God. His time of favour is here. 

Power of Words!

Power of Words!

Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. Proverbs 16:2 KJV

Context:

Welcome again to the book of one-liner wise words, with each sentence a full message on its own. Today's extract looks at the power of words, and why I need to watch not just what u say, but also how I say them. I take the cue from God, in whose image I was made, who himself created the heavens and the earth by words. If I am made in his likeness, with his creative power and force, I can create the right or wrong atmosphere with what I say. In a way, that is the admonition as well as warning in today's extract. 

Message and Response:

Why are my words compared to a honeycomb? A honeycomb with its hexagonal cells serve as storage vessels for honey, as well as homes to raise young bees. In that holds a truth, already established by the bible, that a man speaks out of the abundance of his heart. The honeycomb is the place where honey is stored, and where young bees, which will work on making honey in the future, are also raised. What is the condition of your heart? What are the materials you are spending time storing up for the present and future generations? I note it does not just say honey, as the product, but the honeycomb, as the place of storage, production and supply. The honeycomb does not exist for a single supply, but for an eternal supply, as long as there are bees to work. Is my life a constant supply of the right things, or am I a seasonal wonder, good for some times, and horrible the other times? Can God trust that my life will always produce in line with his investment of time, resources and gifts in me? 

Of course, the end product is also important. Honeycombs do not produce rice; there is an expected end of the effort and the time. What is the use of honey: it offers antibacterial activity; its high viscosity helps to provide a protective barrier to prevent infection; the antioxidants in it are linked to other effects on heart health. In essence, honey and its comb are edible and offer numerous health benefits, such as fighting infections, boosts liver function and serve as a sugar alternative for people with diabetes. However, please note the small warning at the end of the definition: the honeycomb is rich in sugars, so should be consumed with moderation. 

Can we begin to see the connection between the honey, its comb and words? Honey takes time to form; words should not be dispensed without thought. Honey is the end product of hard work and dedication, and bees are pretty protective of the comb and the baby bees. Am I careful of what my lips and life produce? Am I thoughtless and carefree about what I say and how I say it? Am I moderate in my outlook to life, as well as in my interactions with people around me? Am I given to several words, spoken without a care as to how they affect the hearers? Anther version of today's extract notes 'gracious words', which are words full of grace, spoken with grace and making an impact of grace. Even if the words hurt, because they need to address a wound, the end result is always that which reflects God's nature, which is grace. 

Just like honey, so are words. Honey is sweet to the soul, just as pleasant words bring sweetness to those who hear them. Ever seen the way the face lights up when it hears pleasant words? Ever seen the relief on the face of someone who has just had soothing balm of honey applied to a wound? And you note that the impact is first internal, before it impacts the external. It impacts the soul, and gives health to the bones. When there is peace internally, life on the outside is settled. Even when there is trouble on the outer, as long as the inner man is at peace, he can face the trouble with a settled heart. The opposite is also quite true: unless there is a completed work of grace inside me, I cannot produce that which sounds like grace. I cannot give that which I do not have, and I cannot force out of myself that which I have not spent time investing in myself. If I am squeezed, what will my life produce? His time of favour is here. 

Take Hold!

Take Hold!

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12 NIV

Context:

Paul writes to Timothy, a young man he found and mentored, laying his hands on him. There were gifts from God imparted to this young man, and Paul counseled him to work on those gifts, so that he could be a man approved of God. Bible accounts indicate that Timothy went on to become a tool in the hands of God. We read of his work in Ephesus, and we also read of Paul's charge to him with respect to Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom Paul handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme. 

The work of God calls for devotion and focus, and a dedication to truth. There is no room for the support of heresy or falsehood, which must be resisted at all costs. Am I focused on that which promotes God's truth, or am I promoting falsehood and lies? Today's extract contains warnings and admonitions which all who will end well will do well to heed. 

Message and Response:

From Paul's experience in the church of Ephesus, it is clear that the walk with and work for God entails some battles. Paul spent three years in Ephesus, striving to lay down the authority of the Word of God in that church, leaving Timothy there when he left. Truth always has opponents, and sometimes the opponents will rise up from the body of believers. However, I must keep at the back of my mind, as well as the focus of my eyes the reason why I am where I am, and where I am headed also. It is a fight, not a party. A table is prepared for me, in the presence of my enemies. God would not use such 'negative' words if they were not true.

We are not called to a life of earthly comfort, but to the comfort the Holy Spirit can give in the face of the most distressing circumstances. This faith is a fight. Jesus died a painful death to secure it, and I cannot treat it as something minor. I am called to a fight, not a party. In a fight, there are weapons, opponents, the warfront and the prize for victory. The one thing that is assured is the fact that if I am on the Lord's side, victory is sure, oh, but I will fight. 

I am also called to take hold of the eternal life to which I have been called. That involves action on my part. It is not a passive life, one where I wait for whatever is coming my way. I go on to take hold of that which Jesus settled on the cross when he died and then rose again. What he settled for me is eternal life, pure and simple. By his life, I have life. Let not the devil complicate matters; my confession of Jesus as my Lord and Saviour is all I need to lay hold of that life. I cannot pay for it; in fact, I could not pay for it. Jesus did, and he calls me to a new way of doing things. I cannot use the old way of doing things to achieve the things that new life in Jesus demands of me. 

Can I say that I am born again? Not the mockery of the experience that the world today promotes, but the genuine work of God on the heart of man. That work that is first internal, before the effects are seen on the external. A lot of the walk of faith is not tangible, because faith is a critical part of it, but I can say with every bit of certainty that the final benefits are tangible. I ask myself again: am I born again? Do I know what I have been called out of and into? Am I bearing the whole armour of God, conscious of the fact that I have been called to take a stand for Jesus? Have I sealed eternal life for myself? Questions, with answers that have eternal consequences. How do you answer? His time of favour is here. 

Praise!

Praise!

O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. Isaiah 25:1 KJV

Context:

A look at the chapter before this one seems to point to the inevitable return of God to the earth, and his eternal reign and rule over all that he has made. At that time, it will not matter what you or I think, or what we have accepted as the truth; only the truth of God as the owner and master of the universe will stand, and only those who have accepted and lived by that truth will rejoice to see the day of the Lord. 

On that day, even the moon will be confounded, and the sun ashamed. The Lord will reign and all eyes shall see it, and testify to the power of God. As I take an audit of my life and its present pursuits and priorities, can I say, of a truth, that God is my own Lord, Master and Saviour? Have I surrendered control to him, or am I still struggling with giving up that which I can lose to gain that which I cannot lose? As always, the choice is mine to make. 

Message and Response:

In that light, how do I respond? Having read what I did, how do I proceed? The writer here already had his mind made up: he was going to exalt the name of the Lord, praising him and recounting all the wonderful things about him and his deeds. 

It is first and foremost an individual call; a personal decision borne out of my knowledge of who God is. If I know who I have been called to praise, I will do it without anyone pushing me and I will do it in line with his will. It is not a celebration of my achievements, but those of God's. Do I know this God as my God, or is all I know that which other people say he is? 

Recall the experience of Jesus with his disciples, and that question he asked them: "Who do people say I am" and "who do you say I am"? Peter's response as we know is the foundation of the church. If I will have the same experience, I have to gain the same knowledge. I cannot arrive at the same destination where Peter got to, without the same foundational knowledge he had, which is: I am dealing with the God of the whole universe. 

And of course, this knowledge should push me to exalt and praise him. As I consider all his mighty works, I must come to the point where my default response is praise. Like it has been said, it is not first a congregational call, but a personal one. As I get it right on a personal level, then my corporate worship will make sense. How do I join others to worship God when I do not even know this God for myself? Is that not hypocrisy and self-deceit? 

This is a God whose guiding principles have been the same through all generations. Dispensations may have changed but his principles of faithfulness and truth have not. What he called sin in the days of Adam is still sin today, and how he dealt in mercy with men like Abraham and David, as well as women like Ruth and Rahab is still the same way he deals with us in our own day. That is why he can be trusted. If God is all about truth and faithfulness, it means that all I get from him will line up with his nature. 

I can trust his words, because he is not like man who speaks and acts only in his own selfish interests. A man can promise you his all, and when it is time to settle, he may not have the means to, or he may not even be alive to do so. You have a God here who is the Way, Truth and Life. If it took him 430 years to deliver Israel from Egypt, it is not so much of a suprise, as that was exactly what he said to Abraham that he would do. Time is of no use or limit to him, as he holds and owns time. He is called the first and the last, the beginning and the end, and of course, all that matters in between. So, what is it going to be for me? What will it be for you? Praise or pressure? His time of favour is here. 

God of the Secret Place!

God of the Secret Place!

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Matthew 6:6 NIV

Context:

This passage is part of the sermon on the Mount, where Jesus taught his disciples about the principles of the kingdom. It must be clearly emphasized that the sermon on the Mount was for his disciples. The crowd was there, as it usually follows Jesus wherever he goes, but at this time, he was not speaking to the crowd, but to all who had made the decision to follow him. Have you made that decision? Are you still part of the crowd at the foot of the mountain, content to follow what is popular, not necessarily what is in line with God's will?

Message and Response:

The words used in today's extract make it clear who Jesus is talking to here. If I am to pray, would I not know, recognize and accept the authority and power of the one I am to pray to? If it is indeed prayer I want to engage in, I cannot do it the way I want it done, or the way I think it should be done, but the way the one I am praying to wants it done. 

I am not given the power to choose if I want to; it says WHEN I pray. Do I make it a habit or is it an occasional celebration? Is it a lifestyle or a periodic exercise? Is it an essential, non-negotiable part of my daily life or is it one of the many options I have to pick and choose from? And that which the God we pray to accepts is that which is done away from the prying eyes or the false applause of men. I must not be carried away by the 'noise' of approval or recognition, or even the 'silent' nod of men who see all the 'good' I do; what man thinks has never been the way God judges. 

I need to step away from the need to be seen by men to where I can be heard and seen by God. We know he sees and hears all that we do and say, but there is a special place for the experience of praying. I get to air all my pains and pleasures, and I get to see the mind of God revealed to me in the place of prayer. It is not about grumbling or  complaining, but about actually talking with God. It is not talking to him only, not caring about a response, but waiting in the place of prayer for that which he may seek to say. 

He is the master of the secret place. He is the one who makes men in the secret place before he announces them to the world. He is the one who keeps a man hidden, equipping and preparing him for the years of manifestation that are ahead. We hear nothing of Elijah at all, until he stood before Ahab, locking up heaven and disappearing. We hear nothing of John the Baptist until he appeared in the wilderness, declaring God's mind to soldiers and leaders, without fear. That is what the secret place of God does to a man; it prepares you for a life of impact as defined by God. 

God does not owe; whatever it is I place in his hands is safe and secure. If I place my life in his hands, he can take care of me. I read the word: 'reward' and I wonder: what is the basis of God giving me something in recognition of service, effort or achievement? Whatever form it may take, it appears that God considers praying to him a service, effort or an achievement, for which he owes me a reward. He does not promise me that his answer will always be what I want to hear, but he promises me a reward for talking with him in prayer. Of course, when God rewards, all men will see it. Would I then prefer the recognition of mortal men, who can clap for me today and crucify me tomorrow? Would I not rather prefer the reward of an eternal God, who is able to make me a blessing to my own generation, as well as to the ones yet unborn, like Abraham?

Praying to God isn't first for God's benefit but for mine. It is an admission that I am helpless and lost without God's guidance and I am saying to God very clearly that I will not dare do anything without his guidance. Pity the man who thinks he is self-made and doesn't need God. Pity the man who thinks he has life all figured out and needs nothing or anyone else. Like all the men and women of old who discovered the power of prayer, God calls us all to walk that same path with him, and see the benefits that are attached. I lose nothing by praying, except my helplessness and despair. I gain a heart full of confidence in the ability and power of God to see me through whatever it is that is present or ahead. There is no room for pretence, hypocrisy or eye-service; God cannot be deceived by outward piety empty of true devotion. If it is done right, God is honoured and he also acts as promised. If it is done wrong, you may spend time doing it, but there is no reward. May I not expend precious energy on that which God does not recognise and will not reward. His time of favour is here. 

True Greatness!

True Greatness!

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

Context:

In the first 10 verses of today's extract, so many lessons are laid out. Jesus speaks to both the multitude following him, as well as his disciples, who also followed him. Which one am I: part of the multitude or one of the disciples? For today, it won't make a difference which one you are; there are many lessons in the bible that apply to all men alive; some only impact those who have made the decision to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour, and then others apply to all human beings, no matter your leaning or allegiance. Today's extract is one of such universally applicable instructions. 

Being seen as great or important is one of the biggest need of the natural man. Even Christians want to make an impact, because they believe that there is a measure of grace upon their lives that is meant to bless the world around them. These desires are good, but it is equally very important how we seek to make these changes. Do I know who I am? Have I sorted out my allegiance to the one and only true Lord and Master? 

Examples are given of the men of Jesus' day: men who loved to be seen and heard; who loved the high seats at public gatherings; who loved to be greeted by all men with respect. That has been the way of the world long before now, and as long as the fallen human nature exists, this will continue. Only a personal experience of the One Lord and Master can cure a man of the need to feel important. 

Message and Response:

For all who truly desire to be great, at least from the perspective of Jesus who speaks here, the path lies through the most unusual and unpredictable paths. The world has its ways of doing things, and the Word of God has its own ways also. Both are ways that can never agree to meet on a neutral ground, because both of them are extreme positions. The world defines greatness by what it can see: bank accounts, circle of influence, network and networth. The word of God simply defines it as serving others. 

It means I can have all the materials that the world holds dear, and still not understand what the Word of God demands of me. I can also hold all the world's goods, and they will not hold my heart, because I know their place and have surrendered them to the control of the one who owns and holds my heart. It is a choice between two extremes, not two middle ground options. You don't get to postpone the choice, as on a daily basis, I am making a choice on who will own and hold my heart. 

And there is no room for pretence or hypocrisy. There is no room for hiding behind names, titles or public applause. These are deceptive mines that can keep a man distracted from the things that really matter, which is service. Service may come dressed as hard work; it could disguise as dirty work that nobody wants to do; it could come as work that holds no applause, done behind closed doors and away from approving or disapproving eyes. It won't really matter to the one who understands service from God's perspective, as the man who has met and follows God has his heart set on that which pleases God, not what tickles man. 

We said earlier that for today's extract, it won't make a difference if you were a disciple or just one of the crowd. That is true, as today's words apply to all men. The challenge is this: how do you align with, obey the instruction or pattern your life after the directives of Jesus, if you do not know him? The challenge is made more critical when you hear Jesus speak, saying not all who even know and call me Lord, will enter into the kingdom of heaven. It is not of men to define what is acceptable to God; God has already defined that, and all who will enjoy what he offers must come to him on his own terms. 

Service, from God's perspective, is the key. The title may help to define the scope, but it is the daily life of the man that will reveal its allegiance and impact. From God's perspective, the man who serves his purpose is greater than the man who sits on the throne giving orders, but will not help. Possession, power, influence and funds are good instruments, but when combined with service, as defined by God, the benefits, both physical and eternal, are enormous. Don't settle for the world's version; make sure that you know and pursue after God's heart for service. Your eternity will be glad you did. His time of favour is here. 

Be Still!

Be Still!

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Psalms 46:10 KJV

Context:

The sons of Korah, known for their songwriting, are credited with the words of today's extract. There is a place for other people's testimonies, but there is an undeniably powerful testimony when it is your own experience. These sons wrote about God being a refuge, strength and an ever present help in trouble. You won't understand or write about it unless you have experienced it. What is the sum total of my experience of God over the years I have walked with him? Which of these attributes can I say has become a personal story to support my faith? 

So, the sons of Korah, having seen this God at work, invite us all to come and see what the Lord has done, and all the works he has wrought upon the earth. Where necessary, he has brought desolation upon the earth to teach it lessons. There have been famines, wars and disease, and where necessary also, he has made wars to cease. A quick look at the accounts of the bible help put these in perspective. Noah had a flood that destroyed the earth at the time, and then the same God ensured that Solomon never fought a single war all through the 40 years he was king, and the same God ordered king Saul to completely destroy the Amalekites, leaving no one alive. With God, there is no box to fit him into. He does as he pleases, and does not answer to anybody. He can decide to favour me, even in the face of staunch opposition by men. It really would not matter: if God is on your side, vain is both the help and the opposition of man. If God is against you, vain is the help of a million men.

Message and Response:

In the light of the above, today's extract is a quiet message that calls my attention to what is really important. It starts with the two words: be still. In a world that seems to reward activity, this is a strange command. In a world that celebrates motion, even if it is in the wrong direction, I have to be careful to pause as commanded here, and consider what God would have me do. Why do I need to be still? Could it be so that I can see, hear and understand clearly what God would have me know about him? If I am caught up in activity and motion, would my heart be still enough for God to make an imprint on it? God wants to reveal himself to all men, but he can only do so for all who dare to search for him.

Being still helps me to recognise who God is, when he is at work and what he is doing per time. It helps me not to run ahead, confident in myself, or be so far behind that I do not know where he has turned, but to just keep in step with him. Knowing God is the best discipline and discovery a man can find; when you know God, you have found life's best gift. anyone can have.

Among the heathen who do not even know God, he says he will be exalted. That means that whatever God does will bring him glory, even among those who claim that he does not exist. This is the God who made the heavens and the earth before any of us were ever born, so he knows how to keep the earth ticking long after we are gone. He really does not need us to prove he is God, as he can use even stones to bring him glory. It is a privilege for me to be called by the name of the Lord and to bear allegiance to him. I must see every opportunity to speak of him as a privilege, and to see every opening as an opportunity to make God known. I could have been dead now, but that would still not prevent God from being God. Being alive is itself proof that God is God: the one who can kill and can also make alive. That is the God who speaks here and calls me to be still before him.

Which areas of my life need to be quiet so that God can be revealed in them? What areas of my life do I need to submit to God so he can take glory in and through them? What area of my life is still raising itself against the standard of God? It is important that I sort this out, because eternity lies at the end of these decisions. If I do not know him now, a day is soon coming when God will sit as the judge of the whole earth he has created; then, all men will know him as God. Now that I can, I must surrender my life to him and allow him total access and control. Does he have it now? His time of favour is here. 

Tested; Trusted!

Tested; Trusted!

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

Context:

This was James, an apostle of Jesus, who had seen the mighty works Jesus had done while he was on earth. As a Jew, Jesus was sent first to the lost house of Israel, as the Holy Spirit came down at Pentecost, the ministry expanded to include the Gentiles. However, each person knew his scope and stayed true to his calling. Paul knew his assigned audience; James also knew his. Do I know mine? For me, is it anything goes, as long as it is popular? Am I focused on that which God has assigned, or am I into many different pies at the same time, only because it is what the world wants from me? 

And we see the audience for today's extract spelt out: the 12 tribes of Israel scattered among the nations. The message of Jesus had grown, and the apostles had ministered to people who took the same message and spread it wherever they went. In the face of trials, opposition and tribulation, the message kept growing. Don't for a moment think that because you are at work for God, things must always be rosy. It won't happen that way, and the earlier I sort out my allegiance, the better I can cope with whatever comes my way. Walking with and working for God has its earthly and heavenly rewards, but while I wait for that which heaven will give me, I must endure that which the earth will do to me. That is the essence of today's extract. 

Message and Response:

It is only God that can tell a person to rejoice in the face of trials. Let it be known that joy in the face of trials is not a natural human reaction, but is the product of a heart that God has been able to deal with and Impact. God's touch on a man's heart makes it possible for that heart to respond in a way that makes God known. Joy is not the product of happy circumstances, but the product of inner peace and presence of God. Joy is part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit, so you can't call what you have joy if you do not have the Holy Spirit. 

When God is with you, he makes it possible for you to look ahead to whatever is coming with the right attitude. And the word WHENEVER means that it is bound to happen. It is not a matter of if but when. Part of the package of faith in Christ includes a test of the genuineness of that faith I claim to have. How would God commit more things into my hands if he cannot trust my heart? How would he know if I will stay true to his principles, if it is possible that anything uncomfortable will shake  me up and lead me down the path of compromise? 

And like the Great Physician and Pharmacist that he is, all that he permits have been carefully measured to ensure that they work to his glory and my growth. Like the husbandmam, he prunes me, so that I can become even more fruitful. The process is painful; that which I thought makes me beautiful and appealing, he will strip away, so that more room can be made for increase. The process is painful, but the end is such that the world will know that I have been worked on by a God of mercy and grace, and my life becomes a breathing testimony to the power of God. 

If God knows that nothing can shake my faith, he has won an eternal disciple. As he gives me room for growth, and I grow in my knowledge of Him, I learn perseverance. Nothing is able to shake my confidence in God. For the writer here, James himself, could he have imagined how his own life will end, with King Herod beheading him, with no fuss or comment from the Jews at the time? He was a messenger to the Jews, but who could help him when the day of trouble came? Things may not always end up the way I plan, but one thing is clear: it will always end up the way God planned it. As long as God is aware, my life is on the right course, and that should be enough for me. I couldn't ask for anything more. His time of favour is here. 

Perfected!

Perfected!

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Timothy 3:16‭-‬17 KJV

Context:

Paul writes to his protégé Timothy, who he had spent time teaching and training in the way of the Lord. He had laid his hands on Timothy, who had received God's gifts to bless the lives of those he was called to serve. Paul takes time to warn him, as well as those of us reading these words now, that perilous times are here. If God could send these words about 2,000 years ago, imagine how true and relevant they will be now. God leaves us in no doubt as to what is ahead, so we can make up our minds how we want to respond. In the light of all that is going on around me, with the seemingly careless attitude to sin, am I really ready for the return of Jesus? 

Message and Response:

Paul warns about these times we are in, but he also prescribes the only medication that will enable us survive the trouble that is coming: the Word of God. Paul warns Timothy: continue in those things you have learned and become assured of. It is not about what I say, or ask you to do, but that which you have found out to be true. There is a danger to raising a dependent generation, which is unable to think for itself. It does not search the scriptures for itself, but would rather depend on a man for guidance on what to do. When you have a man with allegiances and uncertain priorities telling you what to do, how can you confirm God's mind if you do not seek it for yourself?

It is the Word of God that can make a man wise unto salvation. The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but for all who have come to know the power of the cross, you know you cannot do without that start. Why is the Word of God this important:

1. Doctrine - the foundation of the church is set on the teachings of Jesus. All doctrines of the church, its beliefs and practices must be based on the Word of God. It is not the vain rantings of a man, no matter how popular or powerful, but the gleanings from the life of Jesus. If he is the perfect example, his life and practices must be perfect lessons for all who claim to follow him. 

2. Reproof - this is seen as an expression of blame or disapproval. God's Word is not complete if it has no warning or correction to make in me. If I think I have arrived, and have no need for caution, then I am in danger of destruction. God's Word must be able to correct me when I have done wrong. If it cannot, maybe I was never God's child. He who God loves, he is able to discipline. 

3. Correction - this is the action/ process of correcting something or effecting a change that rectifies an error or inaccuracy. Closely related to reproof but this time, it is the Word of God that confronts falsehood or heresy with its own consistency. I may be swayed by the strength and logic behind wrong teaching, but as I go back and study the Word of God, clarity will come and the premise of the wrong teaching will be addressed. But as was said earlier, correction can't come if I don't search the Word for guidance. People of Berea were not swayed by the education or eloquence of Paul; they searched out the scripture for themselves to see if the things Paul said were true. Picture that church and tell me how false doctrine or heresy will be established if they continued to search out the Word of God on a daily basis. Can I walk in the same path as the people of Berea? Is all I know about God what 'they said'? 

4. Instruction in righteousness - and for my daily walk of righteousness, the Word of God is the only tool. Yes, life may call for different reactions at different times, but you cannot go wrong with the guidance of the Word of God. We make the wrong assumption that the Word of God, physically written down centuries ago, does not have the answer to the issues of today. We forget that it is called the Word of God, the contemporary and eternal God, who speaks into the end even before the beginning began. There are at least over a thousand verses of the old testament that were actually repeated in the new testament, and there are also several other parts of the new testament that are still awaiting fulfilment. That tells you that the Word of God is more than words; it is the person of God himself, by which the earth and the heavens were made and sustained. When I have that Word, I have all that I need for life and Godliness. Without the word, I am like a ship cast out to sea without a compass and an anchor. The waves will eat me alive. I dare not look into the eye of the storm without adequate preparation, and I cannot be fully prepared for that which is ahead, without the help of the One who speaks into the future because he owns, holds and controls it. 

You will notice that there is no OR between all the four points above. You cannot pick and choose that which makes you comfortable; in fact, if the Word of God makes you too comfortable, watch it. It is a means of constant self-examination; you never get to a point where you think you have it all figured out. Until the day the Lord comes for me, it is a daily call to examine myself to see if I am still in the faith. The same verse in the Word of God may call me to order, and yet be a word of encouragement and comfort to another person. It could wound me so it can heal me, and the same word can become instruction for another. All the four points above work towards the stated end: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. That which the Word of God cannot save, it cannot bring into eternal life. Whatever it is that denies the impact of the Word of God, that thing is beyond saving. If the Word of God cannot convict me, then it cannot save me, and if it cannot save me, then I am not fit for the kingdom of heaven. After all, the Word of God is Jesus himself, and if he is not my Lord and Saviour, how do I claim that which is only available in and through him? 

As long as I seek perfection, this is only available in the one whose word is perfect and all his ways are just. And it is ALL parts of it, not just the lovely Songs of Solomon, but even the accounts of wars, with God directing the utter destruction of nations. As I read these words, it is clear to me that only a daily walk with God will preserve my life from evil. A lot is going on around me and a lot of uncertainty around the events of the end time. I hold on to the Word of God. All that is here now  has been foretold by him so there is no surprise. Do I seek perfection? Do I seek impact as defined by God, not man? The answer lies in the Word of God. His time of favour is here. 

Fear; Trust!

Fear; Trust!

The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever leans on, trusts in, and puts his confidence in the Lord is safe and set on high.

Proverbs 29:25 AMPC

The Context:

King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived in his own time, had the endowment of wisdom given to him by God. His words in the book of Proverbs have become the raw material for so many deep revelations of the mind of God for man. And Solomon would know what he was talking about here; as long as he obeyed God, he was the only king of the united Israel who did not have to fight a single war. God gave him peace all around, so he could build a temple, and also hold court with the powerful people of his time, displaying the gift of wisdom he had been given. As I kneel down to pray daily, what is my focus: that which will celebrate God or that which promotes me as the best thing that could happen to mankind? Is God glorified in me or is he seeking to catch my attention so I can at least draw glory to him with my life? 

Message and Response:

That is the context of today's extract. At all times, I am under the control and influence of a master. I do not own my life, no matter how strong the argument in that direction is. We deceive ourselves when we think that we have any direct control over a life we did not create, whose origin we do not know and whose end has not been placed in the hands of anyone. That is why I am not expected to accord man the glory, awe and fear that is due only to God. 

The moment my heart turns to fear man, I have become a prey to the enemy. As long as the devil is able to replace God on the throne of my heart, he is able to promote his agenda, which is to steal, kill and destroy. The devil does not have any free gift; rather, he will take that which you already have and seek to pollute or change it. Who sits on the throne of your heart? Who is in charge of the daily decisions that you make? Can God interrupt your well-laid plans to advance his own, because your heart is in the right place? 

There is no vaccum at any time in my heart. If the fear of man is in place, God waits to see if I will give him room. He stands at the door of my heart, waiting for me to decide for him. He does not force himself on me; he will wait for as long as it takes, as long as I am still alive. If I don't trust him until death comes, I cannot turn around and blame him for the consequences of my decision. What then, is the other option: it is the fear of God. At all times, there is a fear in charge of my life. There is a bad fear, leading to bad outcomes, and there is a good fear, leading to good outcomes. 

The man who leans on, trusts in and puts his confidence in God is the one who is kept safe from the other type of fear. And it means that one kind of fear makes it impossible for the other type of fear to operate. When I give God the reins of my heart, he is able to clear out the cobwebs of the other type. Look at the words used: leans, trusts, puts his confidence. Those are the words of total dependence on God; no room for second opinions. I can't lean on the devil and the Lord at the same time, and when it is God in charge, I am lifted up to the level where he operates. That is why the one who trusts in the Lord is safe and set on high. It does not mean that stuff will not happen, but I have the sufficient grace of God with me, able to preserve my life through all that may come. Even when all I want does not happen, I do not worry, because I know that God is in charge and whatever he permits has all the ingredients for my miracle and lifting. God cannot be in charge and I will still fear the things that men without God fear. It does not mean that 'bad' things will not happen, but I have the privilege of the Lord of the Universe on my case, working in that 'bad' situation to ensure that the end is good, just like he is. That is the privilege I have, and which I must hold tightly to. So, for you, who is in charge? Your control point defines your destination. His time of favour is here. 

The Eternal!

The Eternal!

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV

The Context:

In order to fully understand today's extract, it will be good to look at the chapter before. It lists all the gifts of the Spirit, highlighting how all of them work together to glorify God and to bless man. However, it has to be noted how that chapter ends; the very last sentence reads: And yet I will show you the most excellent way. There is a place for gifts, but there is something about the heart with which the gifts are used. 

We can place emphasis on the workings of the Spirit in the lives of men, but what about how the Spirit impacts the hearts of men so that the offerings of their lives are acceptable to God? What if I can heal the sick, raise the dead and speak in unknown tongues, yet I have forsaken my first love? This is the danger of Matthew 7: 21-23, where I am told that not all who call Lord, Lord, will enter into the kingdom of heaven. I can do all the right things, yet my life will not be pleasing to God because I have left out the most important part of my life, which is the nature of God- love. That is the summary of the entire chapter from which today's extract is taken. 

The Message and Response:

I read the entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 13, and I see God's standard laid out so succinctly. There is no room for hypocrisy; what love is has been made plain. You either have it or you don't; you can't fake it, and you can't force it out of anyone who does not have it. I must take careful stock of my life today, with the help of the Truth, who does not lie, so that I can know where I truly stand and where I need to make amends. 

In that light, we consider then today's extract. These three things run through our entire Christian experience. We come to God and walk with him by faith, and we walk and work with and for him in the expectation of receiving the eternal reward promised for all who endure to the end. So we see both faith and hope. And of course, we see love, God's very nature, also part of the tripod on which our lives are set. These three are important, but love is the greatest. How does that work? 

What is it about love that makes it special? Could it be it is because it is the only one with which God's nature is described? We don't attribute faith and hope to God; that is man's perogative. I am the one required to believe God, and to hold on to him for that which is ahead, as he has promised. But no matter what my reaction or response to God is, I have his love. Even to my dying day, his love will not let go until it is truly late. That is the one attribute that God first shows me, before I am empowered to show it to other people. It also means that I can have faith; I can even have hope, but I will not go very far without love. 

As I strive for excellence in life and ministry, what do I consider as priorities: the things that men can see, or the nature of God in me? What do I spend time on: what makes me special or what shows God off in my life? Not saying faith and hope are not important, but they will be of no eternal consequence when heaven beckons. Think about this: faith and hope only keep me focused on the eternal, and as soon as eternity is here, faith and hope expire. But for all of eternity, love remains relevant, because it is the nature of God. Therefore, I must get my pursuits and priorities right; I cannot rely on what is popular by men; seeking to please men who cannot guarantee me life, and then ignore that which secures eternal life for me. Have I secured that which can secure eternal life for me? His time of favour is here.