Supported!

Supported!

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV

Context:

Oh, the beauty of corporate worship. The joy of seeing God move in the midst of a crowd. How pleasant it is for brethren to come together and experience the flow of the Spirit. This was obvious in the early part of today's extract. The people of Israel experienced the great power of God: the Red Sea parted for their sakes; mighty provisions were made, great things were done in their lives as they journeyed, yet at some point, judgment for sin and rebellion was pronounced.

I must be careful about focusing on corporate worship at the expense of a personal walk with God. Israel saw God at work in the desert, yet, at the slightest difficulty, it was always about a return to Egypt. They kept an eye on how beautiful the past was, and could not see what God was seeking to do in the present. We can be like that sometimes too, so focused on past disappointments or glories that we are unable or unwilling to take our eyes off them and see what God is doing now. God wants me to focus my heart and eyes on him, not on my experiences. These experiences can be so strong that they threaten to take my eyes off God, but if I only know who this God is, and what he has power to do, I will hold on to him very tightly.

Message and Response:

I am reminded that as long as I am in this human body, things will happen to me, both good and the not so good. Life will happen to all men, no matter what the status of their faith is. Trials do not discriminate, neither does death come only to those who do evil. As long as I am human, I will grow old, and if the Lord tarries long enough, I will die the physical death. But as I wait, what should I do? What do I need to know? 

There is nothing strange about the things that God allows to come to you. It is part of the human experience but the difference is who goes with you on that journey. The people of Israel saw God at work in mighty ways, yet their bodies fell in the desert due to disobedience. God, who is the omniscient One, knows what is ahead, and he makes provision for all I need to succeed. If I do not take advantage of the provision, can I turn around and blame God for how my life turned out? 

The assurance is that of a pharmacist, who prescribes medication as is appropriate for every experience. He knows what the diagnosis is, as well as the root cause and consequences, and so he is able to apply the cure as appropriate. I need to trust his wisdom, timing and workmanship. I cannot look at my own experiences and think that no other person has them. It is either someone somewhere is just getting out of a similar situation, or another person is being prepared for that same experience. 

The assurance is that if he allows it, it is because its ability to hurt me eternally has been removed. It does not say that it will not come, but just that it will not overwhelm me. God's path of blessing lies in the midst of some pain, discomfort and pleasure all rolled together. He will bless, and he will also test. He will promote, but can also keep away from the public eye until he has dealt with impurities. 

My experiences are not peculiar to me, but my walk with God is. My experiences define not just my humanity but also the groundwork for God's grace to be manifest. If he brings it, it is because he knows I can bear it. When he brings it, I must take it back to the God who promised to be with me at all times. I have help, the kind that is good for all time. I have support, the kind that can hold me up in the face of the most distressing circumstances. I can smile at the storms simply because I have the presence of God in and with me. Nothing else will do the work that only God can do. Friends, bank account balances, circle of friends and network are all good, and may provide a support system, but at the end of the day, the cord that binds them all together, so that they can function to bring out the best in us, is God. Do you have him? Does he have all of you? His time of favour is here. 

Done Right!

Done Right!

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

Context:

Nothing is said about the person who wrote this psalm, but in the same vein as David's songs are written, we can see the full expression of the acknowledgement of God's person, power and prestige. It takes a personal encounter to be able to make such personal statements. It is when I have known God for who he is that I can serve and worship him for who he is. Have you met this true God? Can I also say that I have met this true God? 

I cannot rely on other people's views and opinions about who God is. If all I know about God is what others say, when these people are no longer there, how do I sustain the relationship and keep the fire burning? Did you note that nothing is first said about what I can get from this God? We make the mistake of thinking that what we can get from God should determine how and why we serve. Until who God is to me is more important than what I get from him, i may not fully understand who God really is and what he expects from me. 

Message and Response:

It is in the light of the above that today's extract makes sense. I am asked to give thanks to God, for he is good. It means that if I am truly in God, it does not matter what my experiences look like; it is the world that defines an experience as 'good' or 'bad', depending on its perception and what if pushes out as its alternate reality. When you deal with the good God, he does only good things. 

Even when death comes, he says all things work together for the good of them that love him. Even in pain, loss and tragedy, God does not change his nature to fit the situation; he changes me from the inside so I can embrace all of him, even in the face of pain. It is a hard thing to accept sometimes but let it be settled in your heart: God only gives you that which he is and has, which is good. 

My response to all that God is, does and gives must be thanks. Job said: even if he slay me, yet will I trust in him. That is a heart that is fully signed on to God, no matter what he brings. Can God trust my heart to be like Jon's? I have to also note that it was a choice made by man to submit to the deceit of the devil, and with sin comes a lot of tragedy. There are natural consequences that now follow man as we walk this path of humanity. We will grow old, and if the Lord tarries long enough, we will all die at some point in time, but there is something that will not stop as long as man's breath exists, and that is God's mercy. 

God's mercy endures forever, and it is so because it is what has kept the world from being completely destroyed. Man has found novel ways to sin; things God punished Sodom and Gomorrah for are being celebrated in the world today. We keep thinking up new ways of hurting each other, but God's mercy keeps finding new ways of helping us live in line with God's will. We are alive due to that mercy. We are kept sane due to that mercy. We are what we are and have what we have due to that mercy. 

However, we note that though today's extract says God's mercy endures forever, it is only good for those who have found God as their Lord. Mercy is God's nature and prerogative, but it is only good for a while as long as the earth as we know it remains. A time is coming when mercy for this earth will be withdrawn and only God's judgement will remain. At that time, nothing I am, hold or know will work, except the personal knowledge of God. I have to answer the question again: have you met this God, or is there another version of a god that you have been following? 

Make sure it is the One God who is merciful, and make sure you respond to that mercy while you still have time. A day is coming when it will really be too late to cry for mercy. It is free now; it is available for all who ask for it. It is required for my walk of faith, and God will provide all that I need so I can be all that he has created, gifted and placed me to be. He will do his own bit; I have a choice to also respond to him. His time of favour is here. 

Kept!

Kept!

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

John 10:11 KJV

Context:

Today's extract is taken from the teachings of Jesus. He spoke in parables to his disciples who did not always understand what he was saying at the time, but now, with the help of the Holy Spirit, we are able to decipher the mind of God on matters relating to our walk with Him. He wants to be involved in our daily life if we will let him. He will not force himself on us, or compel us to respond to him. His grace is freely available, but I am the one to decide how to embrace and fully utilise it. 

Jesus refers to himself as a shepherd, as well as the door of the sheep. He is the one who is life, and also gives life to all who come to him. This is the picture of the shepherd that God would have me see: a God of absolute knowledge, who cares a lot about the sheep in his care, and will move earth and heaven just to protect his own. He leads out his own, and then stands in front of them, so that whatever is coming has to touch him first before it touches his sheep. The sheep, based on relationship, know him as the shepherd, and are ready to listen to and follow him. Guess the question that remains is: am I one of his sheep, or am I still struggling to define who I am and who I belong to? 

Message and Response:

There are shepherds and there are shepherds. Some would give their own life if the sheep will be kept safe. That is the type of shepherd I am introduced to here. The fact that the word 'good' is used here is evidence that there are bad variants. It matters whose flock you belong to, because that will determine what you get. You cannot have a bad shepherd and be safe from harm. If the one who you trust as your shepherd is a bad one, it is only a matter of time before your life is threatened. Whose flock are you? Is God your shepherd? 

Why is God a good shepherd? He is, because he gave his life for us all. That is the determinant if a good variant: one who is ready to do what it takes to keep the sheep safe. Am I all about what I can get? Am I all about what is in it for me? Can I put another person's interests over and above my own? Jesus did all of these things for me, and then demands that I do the same for other people. How would I respond? 

It is also important to emphasize that the focus here is on the sheep. God loves the entire world, and this is why he sent his one and only son to die for the sins of the whole world. He can only keep you safe when you have come into his safe place. I cannot insist on doing things my own way and expect God to just 'deal with it'. God can only keep safe that which has been entrusted into his hands. Am I in his hands? Am I fully committed to him, or do I have other allegiances? Am I his sheep or the animal that is wandering on its own, unsure of its home or its destination? 

He has given his life; what would I give up in appreciation of that which I have been given? This life that was given for me calls me into a new phase of life; a new way of living and thinking. The old way of doing things won't cut it anymore. The new life is one of total commitment to the one who secured it. God has done his own bit; what would I do for him in return? Is there anything in my life that is so big that I cannot let go? May the Lord open my eyes to fully understand what my pursuits and priorities are, so that I can make amendments where required. Eternity is too long a time for me not to be sure of the place where I will spend it. His time of favour is here. 

Reset!

Reset!

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Isaiah 40:29 KJV

Context:

Isaiah speaks of a God that is very powerful; the one who made the heavens and the earth. Of course, where there is an original, be sure that other pretenders will also make claims of greatness and seek to deceive many people. This is the God who speaks of himself this way: the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, who does not faint nor is weary and there is no searching of his understanding. This is the God who speaks here; which God have you met and are following? 

Whether you admit to it or not, all of us have a backup plan, in the event that something goes wrong. It could be bank account balances, strong enough to make you smile, or it could be a wise circle of influential friends, who can help you when the going gets tough. Whichever one it is, remember: as long as it is not the God who is introduced here, there is no happy ending. The people of Isaiah's day made images that could not move themselves, not to talk of helping those who made them. Before I laugh at their 'ignorance', am I also doing the same: making images and idols out of the created things like me, while ignoring the creator of all? 

Message and Response:

God never leaves man in doubt as to his plan and purpose. He wants to show himself as a great and mighty God; one who can do all things. In the course of life, things will happen that will shake the foundations of all I thought I knew. Long before the challenges come, God wants me to get to know him. It is not about just reading about his mighty works; it is about knowing the one who pulls the strings. 

The rules in the physical also have equivalence in the spiritual. How do I call for help from the one I have not surrendered to? How do I submit to the authority of a God I have not accepted as my Lord and Saviour? How do I draw on and make a demand on the resources of a country that I am not a legal resident of?

Times of fainting will come. Times when giving up is easier than pressing on. The human nature we inherited from Adam is a guarantee that we will not always understand the why behind the what that happens to us, but for those who have come to the Help of Israel, you can be sure that what he offers will be good value for whatever experience may come.

Check out today's extract: he gives power to the faint. When I am tired and weary, more of the same stress will not help my situation. What will be of value to me at the time will be power, help and grace. Who else can give you all these other than the God of grace himself? No one can give you that which he does not have. Read also: to them that have no might, he increaseth strength. I ask: how do you increase something that never existed in the first place? How can there be an increase of something you never had in the first place? 

Meet the God who can make a donkey speak with a human voice, and can change the course of nature by making the sun to stand still and delay going down by a whole day. That is the God Paul testified to when he said: 

But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. 1 Corinthians 1:27‭-‬29 KJV. 

This is the God who calls us to himself, because he wants to prove his power and might in and through us. He does not need anything from me to prove his power, might and grace in me. He does not need my permission to prove he is God, but if I would only allow him, he will take that story of mine, which is negative, and turn it into a testimony. He takes that which I think is of no value and makes into something that moves the world.

In my hands, a tennis racquet may just be very ordinary, but in the right hand, it has led to riches. Imagine what a life in the hands of God can become. Give him all the pieces, the broken parts, the pain, loss and tragedy and watch him make something glorious out of what you would call 'bad'. It matters in whose hands your life is. If it is in your own hands, then it means you are the architect of your destiny. If you don't have the power to influence the present or change the future, of what value then is your control? But when God is the one in control, he is able to supply all that you need down here and also prepare you for life with him in eternity. So, which one applies to you? Eternity hangs on your answer. His time of favour is here. 

Properly Attired!

Properly Attired!

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12 NIV

Context:

Paul writes to the church in Colosse, and the target of today's message is identified in the very first verse: 'If ye then be risen with Christ'. That is the class of people Paul addresses here. It is not the crowd that made up the church at the time, but those who had identified themselves with Jesus. It is not just to know what his name sounds like, or to even know how powerful his name is, but to identify on a personal level with that name. The key word is to have 'risen' with him. 

Have I experienced this Jesus on a personal level? Does he even know me as his own? Am I the one who makes the claim while heaven has no record of my surrender and status? If I will enjoy all that Jesus offers, I have to start from the place of total surrender, which is the cross. Then, and only then, can I live the life that Jesus intends for me. Let it be known today: I will never fully grasp the full measure of Christ if I do not identify with his death. There is a dying to Satan, self and sin that happen, if I will live the life of God. 

Message and Response:

The class of people that is the target of today's extract is again made clear here: God's chosen people. Out of many, he chose me. Out of millions, he set his affection on me. Not to the exclusion of other people, but his love for me is peculiar. His love then calls for a particular response from me.

What is God asking of me: holiness is at the top of the list. That is his nature, and if I will walk with God, I have to walk in line with his nature. How can I claim to be God's child, and still wallow in sin? The righteousness of God in me is such that will not condone, excuse or tolerate sin. Sin and righteousness pulI in opposite directions, so it is impossible for there to be any harmony between them. 

When the nature is settled, then the nurture and the daily living is also settled. I must live, dress, talk and relate in line with the nature of God in me. Just as a particular occupation, such as a doctor or a lawyer, is known by the attire that aligns with it, so also is a child of God to be known by the attire that is worn. Is my allegiance to God obvious from the things that I do, how I relate, how I appear and how I talk? 

And as I check the things that make up my attire, I see a mixture of things that relate to my inner man, as well as my outer man. Whatever it is that God demands will touch both the inner and the outer man. God will change me from the inside, and the outside will testify of that inner change. That which I do not have, I cannot give. No matter how hard I try, I cannot make a grain of corn bear fruit that looks like oranges. My life will bear fruit in line with the  nature that it feeds. 

I take stock again now: who is in charge? Who is pulling the strings of my life? Does my life bear true allegiance to God, or am I faking it as I go along? A day of reckoning is coming; all that is secret now will be laid bare. The world is seeking a change; something different from the ordinary or the way it has always been. Would my life be that difference that will speak to the world? Am I part of the crowd in the world, fully compromised and blended in, or can God count on me, in this sinful and adulterous generation, to make a change and to stand for him? His time of favour is here. 

Sent 2

Sent 2!

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:17 KJV

Context:

Nicodemus, a Jewish leader and teacher of the law, must have felt something fundamental was missing in his life. He knew the law; after all, he taught it regularly, but he had no real understanding of the mind of God about the law. The law was a precursor to Christ; it was to announce a new and better way of access to God. It was to remind us of the weakness of the human nature and the availability of grace and help available in Jesus. Unfortunately, the teacher of the law did not understand the message of Jesus about the need to be born again. Like Nicodemus, have I filled my head with book knowledge of what the bible says, but I know nothing about the heart of God behind the words I have read? Am I all about optics and how I look to people, or have I settled the delicate and urgent matter of what I will do with Jesus? 

A quick review of the verse just before today's extract gives great insight into God's heart, as well as the basis of today's extract. Let's look at verse 16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. At the heart of ALL that God does is LOVE. He does not create a person for whom he has no use or plan, and he will not bring a man to the point of destruction unless the man chooses to walk the path to destruction of his own freewill. That is the focal point of the verse under review God has done all that he can to ensure that all men come to him; what I do in response is my own decision, of my own freewill. God will not compel me to choose him, but he has made compelling arguments why I am better off choosing him. What is your own decision today?

Message and Response:

It was LOVE that took Jesus to the cross, even when he knew the pain and loss that would occur. For the first and last time in the life of Jesus the son, the father turned his eyes away from his son as he bore the sins of the whole world. It was my sin, your sin, that took the sinless Son to the cross. Sin demanded the prescribed price, which had to be a life. The bible says quite clearly that the wages of sin is death. No connection, bank account balance or circle of influence can change that fact. I can try all else; until I come for the washing by the blood of Jesus, my sin cannot be taken away. God's prescription for sin is the life of his son, and all who will get the life of God must take of the life of the son of God. 

The life of Jesus reminds me of what is missing in mine. I come to know that I cannot please God by the fallen human nature in me. That nature has to give way for the life that Jesus gives, which is the life of God. The coming of Jesus to the world reminds us that it is only in and by Jesus that we can please God. Men, both in bible times, and in these contemporary times, have tried to 'bribe' God with several things: good works, charity,  good neighbourliness and a good reputation among men. However, as good as all these sound, they cannot replace the need for the life of God in a man. If I do not have the life of God in me, it won't matter what else I had. If I have the life of God in me, every other thing I do is guided and directed by that life. 

This life of Jesus also reminds me of the eternal consequences of my actions. No matter what I do now, good or bad, it does not end down here. My actions are seeds sown toward my eternal reality. Let no one deceive me into thinking that something does not matter; I will account for careless words uttered by me. If God is this involved in my daily life, it means that it is out of love that this concern is borne. He knows what is ahead, and he provides a way of escape from the trouble that is coming. He has said that this same Jesus is returning again, and when he does, he is coming back for those who have put their faith, hope and trust in Jesus. On that day, bank account balances, circle of influence and network or net worth would be of no use, if the life of God, represented by Jesus, is not in you. 

Do not let the devil also deceive you into thinking you are not good enough, or that your past life is so terrible that Jesus cannot save you. In fact, if there is any sin that the blood of Jesus could not cleanse, then the death and resurrection of Jesus are all in vain. God assures us that the sacrifice of Jesus, done once and for all, is valid for all time, as long as the earth remains. The guilt of sin is strong; the grace of God that brings salvation to all men is stronger. The pull of sin is strong; the mercy of God that gives strength for a man to live above sin is even stronger. Which one do you want to submit to: the power of God that is able to deliver a man from sin and guarantee him eternal life or the power of sin that leads to eternal death and separation from God? 

There is no man alive who is beyond the grace of God, unless that man is dead. As long as there is life, there is a hope of forgiveness and cleansing from sin, and eternal life with God. Through the gift of God, who is Jesus Christ, the world has an oppourtunity to receive all that God intends, which is life through his son. This life is God's greatest gift; anything else you get from God is the extra layer on top. Nothing and no one else will give you that which only God can give you. Accept this gift, which is free to you, and look forward to eternity with hope. It won't matter how your earthly life ends; it will matter where you get to spend all of eternity. Make sure it is with Jesus. His time of favour is here.  

Forgive!

Forgive!

For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: Matthew 6:14 KJV

Context:

This is part of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus took time to teach his disciples about the principles of his own kingdom. It has to be pointed out here that this message was not to the crowd that was waiting at the foot of the Mount, but for the disciples that had gone up to the mount with him, and had sat down to listen to him. Which one are you: part of the crowd, or one of the disciples? In fact, you can labour and climb up the mount, look, speak and appear like one of the disciples, but if you are not truly one, time will tell. The principles of the kingdom of God calls for different standards. Those who are true disciples are called to a different lifestyle, pursuits and priorities. As I take stock of my life right now, can I say that there is a difference between my old life and the one I have been called into? 

Message and Response:

Today's extract is aligned with the Lord's prayer, and part of the prayer has to do with forgiveness. I wonder why Jesus would emphasize the importance of forgiveness to his disciples, but as I consider the human experience, I realise that God knows our human frame and weakness, and before the challenges come, he would have us make up our minds to choose to do what is right.

Why is forgiveness important? There is a weight, a burden and a heavy load that holding grudges brings. Human interactions breed conflicts; it is impossible for two human beings to live together and not have disagreements; our human nature makes that real. However, my inner contents define my outer reality. Do I consider myself a child of God? if yes, there are standards of behaviour and reaction that is expected of me.

When offences come, how do I react? When human beings act true to type, how do I respond? Am I quick to pay back in like manner, or am I willing to give the benefit of the doubt, allowing the light and love of God in me to shine through? It is easy to project forgiveness when there is no need for it, but it is hard when the call for it arises. What if the offence takes a life, can I still forgive? When I am hurt beyond what is usual, how do I react?

I note that no condition is given for me to forgive; I am asked to forgive, if I want God to also forgive me. When I consider what I have been forgiven, is there anything I consider so terrible that I cannot forgive? When I consider the workings of the grace of God in my own life, is there any offence so big that I cannot let go? 

I note also that what I sow is what I reap. If I expect anything from God, I have to give it out first. If I want God to show me mercy and grant me eternal life, I cannot hold on to grudges and hurt. I must let go and let God have his way, so that all of him can be revealed in me. 

Whatever it is that God commands, he gives grace to enable me do it. He will not demand for it if it is not possible. I depend on that grace on a daily basis, so that my life can enjoy all that God offers. God will play his part, because he is faithful. The rest is up to me. His time of favour is here. 

Sent!

Sent!

Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

John 20:21 KJV

Context:

Jesus had fulfilled the purpose of God for sending him to the world. The price for sin had been paid in full, and the way back to God had been laid out. This was the event that God spoke about as far back as the Garden of Eden, when he promised that the seed of the woman would crush the head of the seed of the serpent. This was it; done and settled. God keeps his promise; He is not man that can lie. What promises has God made to you, but which seem to be delaying? The capacity of the God who speaks makes it clear that he can do all that he promises. 

Message and Response:

This was the first time Jesus would appear to almost all his disciples in one place. They had gathered in fear of the Jews, with the doors locked, but Jesus came and stood among them. What is that locked door behind which you are cowering in fear: is it debt, sickness, poverty, pain, loss? Whatever it is, no locked door can keep out the One who died and lives again to secure life for mankind. If he could pay such a high price to secure life for me, what else would he not give up for me or give to me? 

He came and stood among them; men who were fearful of everything and all he spoke to them was his peace and an assignment. That is all I need to have, know and do. At no time has God promised me that there will be no trials. He makes it clear that the world will hate me and will fight me, yet I have the presence of God in me to make it all worth it. 

His peace is his nature; that is why he can give it in abundant measure to all who ask him. No man on earth can give you that which belongs to God. The world may have its own version, but if it is not the real thing, it can't give you the same result. What is that thing you are holding in your hand right now? Is it that which you have schemed to obtain, or that which God has given you? If it will end where God planned, it has to be with that which God gives. 

And he does not just give peace, so I can sit back, relax and do nothing; he gives his peace so I can get to work with and for him to establish that same peace on earth. That which I have been given is not for my sole consumption but for the benefit of the world he has placed me in. That is the reason why Jesus was sent: to bring God's peace down to earth. All who follow Jesus have the same assignment: bring God's kind of peace to the world. It is not the peace that is enforced by physical weapons, but one that is enshrined and maintained by the presence of the Prince of peace. 

No matter what I am going through now, Jesus speaks his peace into my heart. No matter the storms, his peace is the answer to the many questions. I may not have all I need now, but if I have God, I do have all that I really need. If I have God, I can walk and work with and for him with joy, sure and certain that he has my back and will be with me to the end. He does not send out and abandon halfway; he is there for the whole journey. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are all present, helping and supporting until the work is complete and the walk is fulfilled. Have you met this Jesus, the God of peace? Does he rule your heart, and is he in charge? Can he direct your heart to focus on the things of eternal value, or do you first need to sort out your allegiance? Remember, eternity beckons. You don't have forever. I don't have forever. While there is still time, I must sort out my heart. Eternity will be glad I did it right. His time of favour is here. 

Salvation's Recipe!

Salvation's Recipe!

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:38 KJV

Context:

We read of the last days of Jesus on earth, and the promise of the Holy Spirit who was to be sent by the Father in the name of the son. There was just one requirement: stay in Jerusalem, until you have been endued with power from the Holy Spirit. The disciples stayed in that upper room, and as promised, the Holy Spirit came down, with physical evidence made manifest to all of Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit cannot be at work in a man's life and he will not be obvious.

Simon the reed became Peter the rock, all because of the inner work of the Holy Spirit in him. He was the timid one when Jesus was being tried, denying Jesus three times, but when the Holy Spirit came, he stood up and spoke with confidence, stating that Jesus is both Lord and Christ. I can choose to ignore the signs I see, but there is no doubt that whenever and wherever God is at work, there is always a change that men will see. Yes, they may not understand the origin or direction, but there is no doubting the impact that a life under God's control will have. 

Message and Response:

Peter stood up and spoke, and men's hearts were pricked. If the Holy Spirit is at work, his impact may not be immediately evident, but give it time, it will be made manifest. There is no life so far gone that s/he is beyond the grace of God. Men had the message, and their hearts were pricked. When you hear the word of God, what does it move you to do? Does it move you to ask what you need to do in response, or like some other people, move you to scorn and ridicule? 

The men who heard Peter asked: what shall we do? Peter's response is the recipe for salvation: repent and be baptized, and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The first step is for me to realise that I need help. Is there any distinction between my old way of life and a new one? Do I even know anything about the new life made available in Christ? If the conviction that comes from the Word of God does not move you to repentance, it is not yet fully mature in you. No one can become a useful vessel in God's hands without first passing through the stage of repentance. My fallen human nature is first accepted by God when I come to him, but it has to go through the deep transforming power of God if it is to be used by God. 

Baptism is also an important part of the walk of faith. It is a public declaration of a private commitment made to God. I am telling the world that I am now bound to a new master. I note: baptism is not what guarantees you heaven; only salvation does that, but when I make that public declaration, the world knows I am no longer its subject. Does my life and its present pursuits and priorities prove this is true? Am I truly saved, washed by the blood of the Lamb and fit for habitation and possession by the Holy Spirit? 

The Holy Spirit does not dwell in dirty vessels, and this dirt has to do with sin. You cannot have the Holy Spirit and still be a slave to sin. If I am still struggling with my past life of sin, and I find myself slipping ever so often into sin that God had delivered me from, I need to go back to God and ask him to help me. I cannot walk the walk of faith, fight the good fight of faith, or wrestle against principalities and powers without the help of the One who has conquered them all. In and by him is victory sure, sorted and secure. 

The Holy Spirit is a gift, not one to be obtained by force or by accident. It is the result of a deliberate decision; one taken in the knowledge that only by Him can I please God and end up in heaven with him. Down here, I need his help. Down here, the complexites of earth require divine guidance, only available in and by the Holy Spirit. He is a gift; freely given, and available to ALL. It calls for a decision from me: would I accept the gift or reject it to the end of my life? Remember, eternity beckons. Soon, a day comes when that eternity becomes a reality. The Holy Spirit is God's seal of redemption for all who have accepted him as Lord and Saviour. Have you? His time of favour is here.

Power of the Tongue

Power and

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. Proverbs 18:21 KJV

Context:

Most of the wise sayings in the book of Proverbs are attributed to Solomon who God said that there would be none like Solomon before him and none also shall arise even after him that will be like him. He got his wisdom from God, when he was asked by God to make any request. We see the actual manifestation of this wisdom in all the words he wrote down, but as age crept up on him, he lost sight of what was truly important and started chasing shadows. First lesson: it is not always about how you start but much more how you end. Even when God has promised you the treasures of the whole world, there is a part that I must play to make sure that what is promised finds full expression in and through me. 

It is in that light that today's extract can be fully understood. When I want God to do something for me, what would he expect me to do to ensure that whatever it is he does, it will meet adequate preparation on my own part? There are quite a number of things, but today, we can only look at the contribution of my lips and heart, and how they work together to bring God's purpose to fruition in my life, or to prevent God's purpose from being realised and fulfilled. 

Message and Response:

The tongue is such a small part of our bodies, but it is capable of mighty things. James 3 calls it a little member that makes great boasts. However, it must be noted that the tongue does not exist on its own; whatever flows out of it is a function of the investments I have made into my heart. I do not know how science does it, but there is a source that says that there is a link between poor oral health and an increased risk of heart disease. Think about that for a moment: what happens in and around your mouth can affect your heart. If this is true in the physical health space, think of what it means in the spiritual health space. 

I want my life to produce figs but I have spent all my life storing up thorns. When there is a need to place a demand on the storage, how do I ever imagine that I will get figs? If I have never stored up figs, I cannot withdraw figs from the storehouse of my heart. You get out what you have put in. You can't give what you don't have, or was never yours in the first place. All my life, I am storing up either towards life or towards death. There is no middle ground, or a place of no consequences. I don't get to walk away from the results of my investments. 

Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Even a fool is thought to be wise as long as the mouth is shut. By my daily life, I am working towards one extreme. There is no fence; no middle ground. Check out the verse just before today's extract: A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. For every man alive, there is a vacuum that something must fill. We were born with a desire to impact the world we were placed in, but the world will only give that which it has. If I don't like what it gives me, then I can make my own. I must invest time and resources to make sure that my life produces that which God can be pleased with. 

Lives have been built up and others have been destroyed by the right and wrong use of the tongue. There is a warning at the end of the extract: they that love it will eat its fruit. If I want to eat the fruits of my life with joy, I must take utmost care during the planting season. If I will look forward to what my life will produce, I must take care of the season of planting and preparation. If God were to feed me with the fruit of my life now, would I eat it with joy? Is my life producing fruit that looks like what God can back up? As long as I have life, it is not too late. I can make changes. God's grace never gives up on a man unless that man rejects the grace to the end of his life. May the Lord help me to watch my life's input, so that its output can look like that which glorifies God. His time of favour is here. 

Awaiting the Unveiling!

Awaiting the Unveiling!

I pray with great faith for you, because I’m fully convinced that the One who began this gracious work in you will faithfully continue the process of maturing you until the unveiling of our Lord Jesus Christ! Philippians 1:6 TPT

Context:

The letter to the church in Philippi was written by Paul and Timothy, addressed to the entire body of Christ there, irrespective of age, gender or tribal origin. The message of Christ is not restricted to boundaries; Jesus did not die for a specific kind of people. He died for all men, and the offer of life is made to all men, and all who come to embrace that life, no matter how terrible their past is, receive that life. Have you embraced this life? 

For all of Paul's letters, the tripod of grace, mercy and peace of God featured prominently. The walk of faith cannot be done without this tripod. No man comes to God on the basis of intellect or influence; we come because the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. We come to God because his mercy cleared the way for us by the cross. If I have then received all of God's gift by his grace, where then is the place of pride or boasting, as if my labour of striving earned those things for me? 

Message and Response:

It is that grace that is the foundation, pillars and frame of today's extract. All of us who are alive are products of grace, no matter what our salvation experience is. If I have met Christ, it is by grace. If I have not, it is by grace that you are kept alive so you can make that decision. There is a warning though: the fact that people die daily is a stark reminder that this grace has an expiry date. We were not promised eternity on this side of earth and with this earthly, sinful, mortal body. We have a specific timeline, which is NOW, to embrace the free grace of God. The next minute after you read this might be too late. 

If you have embraced and accepted that work of grace, God has already began a work in you. He is the One who initiates and sustains the work of grace in a man's life. It is called grace because works, labour and connection cannot secure that work for you. Otherwise, man will boast as if he had anything to do with the work of God in him. Then another warning: I cannot embrace the grace of God to start the journey, and then think that I can make the rest of the journey outside of the grace of God. 

This is a journey that from start to finish is about the grace of God. It is God who births and sustains it, and is able to bring it to completion on the unveiling of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is not a journey that you can determine its end, but on a personal level, you can decide to limit its operation in your own life. It does not mean it is not at work; it is just that you have decided not to allow the free flow of grace that is possible for all who have embraced Christ. 

A day is coming when Jesus will be fully unveiled. A day is coming when the full benefits of grace will be revealed. A day is coming when the full work of grace will be fully manifested and concluded in us, when our mortal bodies will be changed to immortal ones and death, sickness, hell, the grave and the devil will have no power over all who are under the grace of God. This is God's perspective, not mine: it is grace that seals this work, and if I will get all of it, I must get all of the grace that is available in Christ. 

He does not leave you the same way he met you; there is a process of maturing, a journey of discovery that he takes me on. It is his desire to make his life fully known and revealed in me; it is of no use if his grace cannot lead me to eternal life. Paul was a direct beneficiary of this grace, and we see the mighty things that this grace helped him do. Paul knew very clearly how he was able to do the things he did, and he gave all the glory to God for that grace. It is still the same God and the same grace, with the same end in view. 

That maturing will NEVER be concluded until Jesus is unveiled and revealed. I cannot rest on my oars or look at all that I have 'accomplished' and think that there is nothing more to add. Grace is the key to all that God promises here. Have I embraced that grace? Am I walking in it on a daily basis or am I struggling with juggling a number of options? Remember, it is only the grace of God that can unveil, reveal and bestow all that God offers. Nothing else will work. His time of favour is here. 

Wait and Get!

Wait and Get!

Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Psalm 37:4 KJV

Context:

Again, this is David, the man who knew how to get God's attention. He was a flawed man, just like many of us, with one of his weaknesses being women, but there was no doubt as to the quality of the commitment of his heart to God. How's my own heart? Can God trust its focus and dedication, or are there too many things fighting for attention at the same time in my heart? 

Focus defines pursuits and priorities. If I am all about what I can get out, I wouldn't do much about what I can put in. No wonder David warns in the early verses of today's extract that I should not fret over the 'success' of evil men. We have allowed men without the fear of God to dictate the focus of our hearts. We have allowed our eyes to drink in all that they have, while we ignore who they truly are from God's perspective: wicked and evil men. How can the fear of God and the fear of man dwell in the same heart and at the same time? 

Message and Response:

In the light of the above, today's extract is very important. I have to truly define what my focus is. I could lie to myself; it is the Holy Spirit who can show me who I am and what my priorities are. For David, this was his prescription: Delight in the Lord. That is quite deep. For those who are married, remember the first love; weeks, days and hours will seem like minutes, because you were looking forward to spending time with the one you loved. That is the same commitment and zeal that God seeks from all who claim to follow Him. 

How can I delight in the Lord? My heart must be daily tuned to him, listening for what he wants to tell me from his word as well as the world he has created. His will must be my utmost priority, and I cannot have my own way, no matter how palatable or convenient it may be. There is joy from my daily encounters with God, and I seek to know more of him and have more of the joy that he brings. 

Don't think for one moment that making the choice to delight in the Lord will be that easy. The devil knows the power of a focused life, and he will do his utmost best to give you viable options. He will present evil as good to you, in the hope that you will be too distracted to know the difference. And man's heart has been made in a way that something must occupy it at all times. If it is not God pulling the strings, it isn't you either. You have the power to determine who does, but truly, it isn't you in charge at all. How can you control and determine the outcome of something you could not and did not create? The one who created the heart is the one who is able to help it to live and do right. 

The above is the foundation to the second part of the verse. We all claim the second part, praying that God will give us the desires of our hearts. How will God validate the desires of a heart that is not under his control and influence? If my delight is not in the Lord, what is the guarantee that whatever he gives me will give me the peace and joy I am looking for? 

My heart is key to all that God is and can do in and through me. The battle for control will take place right in the heart. It is the unseen battle that will define the obvious pursuits of my life. When my own will is aligned to his, I can only ask for the things that bring him pleasure. God will give me all I ask for with pleasure, because he knows he already owns and holds my heart. He knows that my heart is on him, and that I will use all he gives me to glorify him, and not do anything to bring reproach to his name. Can God trust my heart this way? Does he hold all the parts of it or just a small part of it? These questions need to be answered, in the light of eternity. Nothing down here can replace the loss that will come if I miss the will and eternal purpose of God for my life. I owe it to God to live my life through his heart, so that he can bless my life and make me a generational blessing. His time of favour is here. 

Praise and Proof!

Praise and Proof!

I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works. Psalm 9:1 KJV. 

Context:

Once again, this is a song or psalm by David, a man after God's heart. He knew how to make God smile, as he was quick to praise him. He had many reasons to praise God, as is evident from the numerous psalms attributed to him. For me, what is my first and foremost consideration where God is concerned? Is it first about what I can get from him, or what I have come to know about him? 

The natural man is given to rational thinking: we want to understand the reason why we should do whatever it is we are asked to do. We want to understand the WHY behind the WHAT, but with God, there are times when all you need to know is that God is who he is. I can know God from the things he does, but it seems that the only thing that lasts is that which is personal to me. That knowledge is all that is required to make me praise God. I do not need a big reason; I just need to know that God is all I need.

Message and Response:

I note that David had resolved in his heart to praise God, not because of what he could get, but because of his knowledge of who God is. For me, the question then is: why do I praise God? Do I even know him at all? Am I in it for what I can get out of it, or am I in it for what I can give back to God for all I have received from Him?

How easy it is to focus on what I do not have, and ignore all the great blessings I have received from God. The devil will have me focus on the things I lack, while ignoring the many other things I have been given. I do not see in today's extract anything of note that David had received, and for which he was praising God; can I do the same?

And he knew who he was praising. David called him Lord. What do you know about God? Do you know the one true God, or are you focused on the many other pretenders who call themselves gods? If it is not the genuine article, no amount of window dressing can turn the fake into the original. God wants to be known by all men, because he wants his praise to flow out of me without compulsion, and out of a heart that fully appreciates and understands who he is.

David's whole heart was fully committed; there was no room for hypocrisy or eye-service. If there is anything God has said he hates, it is double-mindedness. He would rather that I made up my mind to either serve him or reject him. There is no fence for this one; I am either all in or all out. We fool ourselves if we think we can get away with pretence; God is too wise to be deceived by outward show because as the creator of the heart, he knows all its hidden motives. I cannot fool God, so it is utter foolishness to even try.

And my life must be one that shows off the mighty and marvellous works of God. What is praise of God if he does not lead people to also know this God? As I praise God with my words, actions and interactions, I am making God known to the world around me. If men were to perceive the aroma of God from my life, pray, what kind of smell will my life give off? Is my life a public declaration of my personal walk with God or is there some hypocrisy I need to sort out first? 

If David had not seen marvellous works, how would he have spoken about them? As God deals with me, he is building up capital. I am storing up treasures around my experiences of God, so that when men ask me, I can draw out of those experiences and make God known. My life is the canvas on which God's mighty art is revealed, and whatever it is that he writes on it becomes his message to the world through me. What is God saying to the world through me? Does he hold and own my heart in the first place? God will be glorified, whether I like it or not. He wants to use me, but I must cooperate with him so he can achieve all that he wants to do in and through me. Is my life a place and spring of Praise? His time of favour is here. 

Seen; Kept!

Seen; Kept!

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

1 Peter 3:12 KJV

Context:

Peter first addresses those who are married among his audience, pointing to the blessings that accrue from marriage. Even when one partner is not saved, the life choices of the saved one can become a message to the other. It just shows that there is nothing I do that is in vain; God does not do mediocre or ordinary. My life is gifted and placed to make impact, and I owe it to God to make it so.

Peter then goes on to speak to everyone else. The offer is for WHOEVER chooses to respond, and to choose life as offered by God. It is an offer to anyone, but the benefits are for those who respond to the offer. How can I lay claim to the blessings of a God I do not recognise as such over my life? Check out what such a person needs to do: refrain his tongue from evil, refrain his lips that they speak no guile, eschew evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. As I read these words, it is quite clear that anyone who will get all that God is and offers must be willing to align with what this God wants. There is no room for inactivity, indifference or inaction. Inaction itself is a sign of nonchalance. 

Message and Response:

Today's extract makes it clear what I stand to gain if I do what God wants. Please note the most important personal information in the verse under consideration: the righteous. It is not just anyone; these are for people who have made the ultimate surrender, giving up control to the one who is Lord and Master and Saviour. Am I one of such people? Are you? It is not what people call you, or how you seek to express yourself, but that quiet confidence and assurance that you belong to God, and the presence of God in you providing an assurance of eternal life. If any of these things is missing, you have this one life to make sure you get it. Your eternity will be glad you did. 

So, what does being righteous give me? First, I get God's eyes on me. This is a God who already sees and knows everything; imagine him with his eyes fixed OVER me, with nothing about me escaping his attention. Note the words eyes OVER. God sees from a vantage point: not a single thing about me escapes his attention. He watches my going out and coming in; shielding me from evil because he can see them long before they even manifest. 

Secondly, his ears are OPEN to my prayers. What can beat having God listen in on my conversations, providing answers and assurances, and giving me peace, no matter what the response to my prayer is? I am sure he has heard me, and I go on to face whatever the world throws at me because of his backing and support. I note that I may not get what I want, but I have all that I really need. When you have God, it does not really matter what else you don't have. If you don't have God, then nothing you own or hold now will do you good on the day God demands his life from you.

And that leads to the third point: for all you live in sin, and do evil, the Lord is not just an onlooker or a bystander, but one who is actively opposing those who do evil. It may look like evil is succeeding, but by the workings of God's grace, he does not delight in the death of a sinner. He is always ready with open arms to welcome in all those who turn away from sin and turn to him. As long as I turn to sin, God turns his face away from me. Even for his son Jesus, God turned away his eyes as his son hung on the cross, and for the first and only time, we see Jesus cry that his father had forsaken him. That is the consequence of sin and if God could deal with his own son this way, imagine his view of sin, especially when one does not repent and holds on to it to the end. 

I have a choice to make: seek after God's righteousness or remain in sin. There are only two choices, both with equally eternal consequences. God tells us all what the present features of both extremes are down here, so that I can make an informed decision. He does not leave me in doubt, and I can't claim ignorance because once again, I have now read it. God wants to do mighty things in the lives of all of us, but the greatest limitation is always the exercise of my own freewill. I am enjoined to seek after the righteousness of God; only by it can I get all that God offers, and also end up where he is. His time of favour is here. 

Settled!

Settled!

The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

Nahum 1:7 KJV

Context:

Nahum received a vision, a message about one of the enemies of Israel: Nineveh. God's wrath was to be poured out on the nation due to its sin and wickedness. This is a lesson to be constantly hammered home: God punishes sin. It does not matter who you are, what you are doing now or how popular you are now; sin leads to destruction. Things may be looking up for you, but beware of the deceit of sin. It lulls you into a false sense of security, especially when the punishment for the sin is not immediately applied.

When you read: "The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The Lord takes vengeance on his foes and vents his wrath against his enemies. The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished", you have to pause and ask yourself if you are on the right side of those words. You don't want to be caught on the wrong side of God's anger against sin. His love is amazing, but his anger is equally all-consuming. His mercy lasts for a lifetime, but his anger against sin has eternal consequences. I need to examine myself again in the light of God's Word and see where I need to make amends.

Message and Response:

As I consider the thought in the paragraphs above, I wonder what today's extract is all about. How do I embrace the message in today's extract, in the face of God's judgment of sin? How do I see clearly that which God would have me see, so that I can lay hold of that which he desires for me? The secret to the blessings of the first part of today's verse lies in the second part of the verse: God knows those who trust in Him.

It is not about what I claim, but what God knows. It is not about what men say, what they applaud or what they approve of, but what God says he accepts. If God accepts my life and offering, does it matter what the opinion of mortal men is? If God rejects my life and all it offers, does it matter if the men of the world fete and celebrate me? I must be careful about the things that my heart holds dear, because what God counts as important are usually not things the human heart naturally seeks. This is why I must be careful about the state of my heart and the things that are its pursuits and priorities.

In who/what is your trust? When all else fails around you, who/what is your first thought of safety? Your answer is a window into the object/target of your trust. If my default setting when trouble comes is to check my bank account balance, or it is to call on my circle of influence or to draw on my political or personal network, there is your answer. There is absolutely nothing wrong with having them, but are they all you seek, to the exclusion of the God who can wipe them all out in a second, if he desires so? Ask Job, maybe the richest man in his own time, who lost all he owned in a single day. Even his wife and best friends gave him the suicide option, but his heart trusted in God, and even in the face of provocation and uncertainty, he held on to God.

We know how Job's life ended, but what if you cry out and it seems that God is far away; what do you do? How do you handle the season of 'silence'? There is a peace that total trust in God births in a man's heart that no bad experience can defeat. If I am fully fixed on God, my heart cannot be drawn away and enticed by the offerings of men. The peace that trusting in God brings is the type that can not be defeated, even by death. I just have to make sure that what I hold on to is that genuine version, the type that God gives.

He is a good God, who does good things, but his path may lead me down the valley of the shadow of death. He is a strong hold in the day of trouble, but how would I know the value of who he is if there is actually no trouble to prove who he is? How would I prove Him to be a stronghold if there was never any need to seek refuge or protection? Men like David knew the value of a place of refuge; he sang a lot about his personal experience. 

Do you have a personal story of your own experience of God as protection and a refuge from trouble? Does God know you as his own; as someone who has put his absolute trust in God? When the world around you denies the existence of God through its words and actions, where do you stand? Can the Lord trust your heart, that it is a place from where he can be made known to men of this generation? God is seeking men whose lives he can live in and work out of; men whose hearts are totally committed to Him. Are you one of such people? Am I? At the end of it all, the one who lives in me and controls my life will be made known. Eternity beckons; I must be sure that God knows me as His own. My heart must be settled in me that He is fully in charge. His time of favour is here.

Connected!

Connected!

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Romans 8:35 KJV

Context:

Paul writes to the church in Rome, and this chapter is all about my walk with Christ, the weight of what he has done, the weight of expectation from all who claim to follow Christ and the eternal value of all that is ahead. I am not called to a mundane or mediocre walk, or to one that is just good for the earthly phase alone, but to one with a personal and daily experience of God leading to eternal life with God. Have I truly met this God, or do I really need to go on that journey right away? 

I note: nowhere does God promise a smooth sail. The fact that I am on assignment for him does not preclude me from experiences that may seem unpalatable. In fact, it seems that tough times are God's recipes for bringing out his best in me. Pleasant experiences are very good, and it is easy to serve God when all your needs are met and you lack nothing. In fact, we can promise heaven and earth that we will serve God when he does a particular thing for us, yet when he does it, that thing could become a stumbling block to our effective service. How do I take all that life throws at me and never lose my connection with God? 

Message and Response:

Two related questions are asked in today's extract. I take stock of my life in the present: is there anything that can cause me to look away from the author of my salvation and look elsewhere? In the light of all the pain and pressure all around, am I tempted to try what the other side has to offer? Have I come to a point where like Isaiah, I can say that I have set my face like flint: refusing to be distracted, no matter what comes? This is the product of a settled and fixed heart; not one that can be easily distracted by what the world offers. 

Is there anyone who can hold my heart and cause me to look away from the author of my salvation? Is there anyone who can dictate terms to my life and cause me to make compromises? My heart cannot take two extremes or two competing interests. It is either my heart is focused on Christ alone, or it has made room for the devil. I can't play both sides; God does not take competition. How is my heart? How's yours? Is it in God's hands, or is it under the influence of people? 

Then comes the events, circumstances and situations around me. Check out what things are listed: tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword. None of these things is palatable; they come to shake up and prove the quality and depth of that which I hold on to. Oh, trouble will come; it is not a matter of if, but when. The fallen nature of man makes it easy for sin and its effect to be visible and felt. But then comes the decision: how much of all these would I allow to pollute that which is in me? How much of the drama outside me would I allow to come into my heart? What is that thing that is so powerful that it can draw my heart away from that which God offers? What is that person that is so close to my heart that s/he can take the place of God in my heart? 

Note: the devil will keep trying to distract. He knows that God's love is an all-encompassing one and he will do all he can to dilute it or to keep me away from the realisation of its full potential. I must set my heart on God, to the exclusion of everything else. Before the pressure comes, like Daniel, I must make up my mind to depend on God to stand for him. Like Joseph, I must be conscious of the presence of God so that my actions and decisions align with God's Word. Nothing must be more important; no one must be more important than the God who gives me breath. His love is given free of charge to me, but it demands a particular lifestyle from me. It requires that I focus on Him, to the exclusion of anyone else. When his love girds my heart, nothing outside his love can upseat him in my heart. Guess the question that matters is: is God's love the entire focus of my heart and is it so powerful that all else fades away? If it is not, it is not too late to get it right. His time of favour is here. 

Poor, yet rich!

Poor, yet Rich!

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:3 KJV

Context:

It is important to keep emphasis on the fact that the Sermon of Jesus on the Mount was to his disciples. A crowd was always part of his earthly ministry, and the crowd followed him everywhere he went. They all saw the miracles, but very few actually believed. Be careful of a heart that seeks after popular opinion and not the living and enduring Word of God. Be careful of hearts that want to follow the latest fad, not the truth as laid down by God. At the end, nothing lasts forever except the Word of God. 

Today's extract is also a message to those who follow after Christ. The one who speaks is not seeking for public acceptance, and will not bend his standard to seek after man's acceptance. It is man that needs to decide what he will do: embrace and follow the standard, or embrace and follow the deception of the devil. You can't do both at the same time. Today's extract lays down one of such truths that require a response from me. What is it going to be? 

Message and Response:

What does it mean to be 'poor in spirit'. First, it is not that which the world can fathom, understand or dispense with. It is first an inner state, before it ever manifests as an outward thirst and pursuit of that which is God's. The one who is poor in spirit is one who is very clear about his state and need, and knows exactly who is able to meet that need. 

There is no room for self - sufficiency or a feeling of having arrived. It never gets saturated with head-knowledge. It always has room for more of God, never in a state of being full. The one who is poor in spirit does not measure his need for God by the things that engage the heart of the carnal man. The carnal man is concerned with appearances; his life is defined by bank account balances, network or net worth, or the circle of influence he moves in. His sense of esteem is measured in terms of what he can get out of the relationships in his life, not a sense of gratitude for all that he has received freely from the God who loved enough to give his life. 

In the light of the above, he knows what he needs to do: always seek the help of the one who can truly satisfy. There is a God-shaped vacuum in the life of every man that is created by God; some fill the gap with activities, friends, or some other secret things, but before the God who sees all, what can a mortal man hide from his immortal creator? A heart that truly seeks after God will NEVER be turned away; that is the promise made by the God who asks us to seek him. How should I respond? 

It has to start at the cross. A life that will end up where Jesus is must walk his path. How do I make it to heaven if I do not submit to his authority? How would I be all he wants me to be if I do not submit to his authority? How does he satisfy my need if I do not even admit to the need? How does his riches become my reality if I do not even recognise the problem of poverty that requires his help? The cross is the place of total submission to God; where all of pride and self are broken down and dealt with. It is the place of man's helplessness and God's ultimate offering of divine help leading to eternal life. The kingdom of heaven is for all who have walked the path leading to it, and this entails total surrender to God. Have I truly done this, or am I still struggling with control issues? Am I stuck on what I can get, or am I willing to take God at his Word, sure that he can bring me to the place he has prepared for me? Eternity beckons; how would you respond? His time of favour is here. 

Even If!

Even If!

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. Habakkuk 3:17‭-‬18 NIV

Context:

Habakkuk the prophet had one contention: why would God hand Israel over to the enemy, a nation even more wicked than Israel at the time? He asked God a number of questions, and of course, God, in his own prerogative, answered. We can be like that sometimes, excusing our sin with the false conviction that it does not really matter, or it is not as serious as it is being made out to be, or that after all, the other person is even worse than we are. I must be careful about my pursuits and priorities, and ensure that they line up with his will. 

God's view of sin has not changed, no matter what the dispensation or generation is. We excuse sin on the ground of expediency, or we are simply ignorant of what it is that God frowns at. No matter what it is I have held on to up to this point, I must make sure that I see sin from God's perspective, and take required steps to restore my relationship with God. That is the foundation of today's extract. 

Message and Response:

What if I have checked my life in the light of God's word, and there is no sin to repent of? What if I have truly examined my life and it is clear that God has helped me to walk with him? Even if there was sin, and I had repented and gone back to God, and he had forgiven me, yet nothing seems to work around me, what do I do? 

A time is coming when things will look like they have stopped working. A season of tough times will come for all men, irrespective of ethnic or spiritual status, but one thing that those who know God have going for them is the fact that they are not alone in facing what is ahead. Who is in charge of your life? Who sits on the throne of your heart? These questions are fundamental to what is ahead, and how it will end for you. 

What happens when you have spent time planting, and then there is nothing to harvest? What happens when I have invested resources and time, yet there is nothing to show for it? What happens when there is no reward for my sincere labour and striving? What crosses my mind as I see all the preparations I have made go to waste when none of the things I have invested in has yielded anything? How do I keep alive that which is in me, when everything around me is falling to pieces? There is just one answer to all these questions, and it is the inner condition of my heart. 

No matter what goes on around me, I must be careful not to allow it to get into me. As long as water stays outside the ship, it doesn't matter how terrible the storm is. As soon as water enters into the ship, it does not matter how calm the sea is. My greatest assignment is to guard my heart, so that junk does not take root. Whatever I take time to invest in grows. If it is a focus on the lack, the challenges and the pain, they will grow. However, if I can focus on the grace, help and mercy that God can give, then it is my relationship with God that will grow. 

I notice today's extract starts with THOUGH, not IF. These things will surely happen in our lifetime; positive confession won't stop them, but a heart of faith will make the journey worthwhile. It is the inner presence of God in a man that makes it possible for him to rejoice; joy is part of the fruit of the Spirit, and is not conditional on physical things. That joy is based on who I know, not what I have. Possessions do not guarantee God's presence and bank account balances can never fill the vacuum that only God can fill in my heart. 

Do you have God, or are you content with what your hands are holding on to right now? Remember, nothing of this world was built to last forever, and if all I have is only that which the world gives, I really don't hold anything of much value. If I have joy, I have everything. If I have God, my eternity is sealed. Seasons change, but the man who has God has sealed eternal life, no matter what happens down here. Do you have God? His time of favour is here. 

Gifting of Peace!

Gifting of Peace!

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27 NIV

Context:

Jesus takes time to teach his disciples about the coming kingdom. He was about to go the way of the cross but he gave the disciples the assurance that it would not end in disgrace. The cross was a necessary part of the plan of God for the salvation of all men. With Jesus dying on the cross and rising up again from the dead, hope of eternal life has been sealed for all who will believe in Jesus. Help is also now available for all who will come to the saving knowledge of this same Jesus. 

Message and Response:

The reason why I can look forward to all that is ahead is because of the quality of the person making the promise in today's extract. Who is he? In various parts of the bible, he is referred to as the Prince of peace. This means that he is the heir of God, the king of righteousness and peace. The one who is peace is the only one who can guarantee the right kind of peace. 

Oh, there are various versions of peace as defined by the world. There is a kind of uneasy peace that having nuclear weapons can give you, but it is an uneasy peace because other enemies too will seek to build their nuclear arsenal. There is a kind of deceptive peace where ignorance is bliss, and you can ignore facts and figures staring you in the face. However, we know that the only kind of peace we should focus on is the kind that lasts for all of our lifetime, and can guard our hearts even when everything is going to pieces around us. That is the kind of peace Jesus talks about here. 

It is not surprising then that he speaks about his own version of peace, not the fake versions that are available everywhere. How does the world give you anything? It will promise you heaven and earth, yet it does not have either. It fills you with a sense of worthlessness if you do not measure up to a certain standard, yet it cannot define that standard, but can only show you by comparing you to someone else. The world will give you something, yet take something of even greater value from you. Sometimes, the world will give you riches, yet take sleep from your eyes. It may give you wealth beyond compare, yet take away your health. Taking the peace that God offers sets your heart at rest. You can have trouble all around you, yet you can smile because you have someone inside of you who sets your heart at rest. 

That is the major difference between the world and those in God. We may all have the same experiences, the same pain, the same loss, but in the hands of the God of peace, you know it will end in praise. God gives free of charge, demanding nothing in return except my heart. He wants total control so that he can be all he is in my life. If I limit him to some areas of my life, how does he come through and intervene against the exercise of my freewill? If I place boundaries on what areas of my life he can touch, how can I complain when those areas not under his control get out of hand? Can I turn around and blame him for not intervening? 

The end of the verse is also instructive: Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. You can only claim this when you are also in line with the earlier part of the verse. Trouble will come, if it has not yet come. Things that would normally induce fear will come, but ahead of them, God speaks to my heart and tells me not to be afraid. I am privileged to have a God who knows the end from the beginning, and who speaks into that future with certainty, because he is able to make all things work together for my good. This is the God the apostles came to know, and the one who seeks to make himself known to us today. He knocks on the door of your heart, would you let him in? He will not break down the door or force himself on you or go against the exercise of your freewill. It has to be your personal decision; choose the peace of God today. Your eternity will be glad you did. His time of favour is here.

Seed and Consequences!

Seed and Consequences!

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. Luke 6:45 KJV

Context:

This is Luke's version of the Sermon on the Mount, which was extensively covered in Matthew. The lessons are the same: Jesus speaks to his disciples, not the crowd that followed him. His standards are not optional or negotiable; he does not force himself on anyone, but if you would walk with him, you have to follow his principles. It is not a popularity contest so if you are looking for a crowd to support it before you follow it, then you do not know what God has called his own to. All who will truly follow God must align with his standards. 

Message and Response:

Today's extract speaks to the power of the seed and time. It does not matter how long I hide the seed or store it up away from prying eyes; the moment it enters the ground, the very place of its manifestation and revelation, it is on the way to being exposed for what it is. I can call it a grain of corn, but when the full exposure comes, no one has to be told what it is I have planted. 

Just as it is in the physical, so is it in the spiritual. We think we can give off positive or spiritual vibes, hit the right notes and say the right words and all will fall in place, but when it comes to God, it does not work that way. When you work for a treasure, it takes time, patience and effort. You can control a few things, and a few things are outside your control, but one thing is clear: there is a part I must play in the preparation for treasure. Have I prepared the safe place where the treasure will be stored, away from all who may seek to steal it? Have I taken time to search out for the best place where the treasure may be located? Do I know the value of that which I seek? 

When a good man brings out that which is good from the good treasure in his heart, it did not happen overnight or by accident. That was the result of investing time in getting the right materials into his heart. We allow junk into our hearts, then when it is time to draw out from the heart, we are surprised to find junk there. Pray, what did you spend time storing up? By God's own standard, you cannot give what you do not have. The only credit card that works for me is the grace of God, whereby I can draw freely and without price. However, for everything else, I have to work at it. I cannot draw out of an account that which I did not put in. Even if the world is able to give me that which I did not put in, there is a price to pay, and it is usually a heavy one. 

The heart is that battleground, where all of these things happen. It is that place no physical eyes see, yet all that comes from it is obvious to God. Man can be deceived by all the hypocrisy and lies the fallen human nature is capable of, but there can be no deceiving God. He made the heart, so all of its drama is laid bare before him. How is my heart then? Is it a place where God can reach in and do his work, or is it my personal property, under my sole control? Is it a place where the seed of God's Word can find fertile ground and then bear fruit? Again I say: you cannot demand that God bless something he has not birthed. If it is not of him, he will not sustain it. 

Of course, no matter how long or hard you try to hide it, it will all come out some day and it is usually on the day you open your mouth. The heart and the mouth are connected; as soon as I open my mouth, all that is stored up in my heart is revealed. The Bible says that even a fool is thought wise if he shuts his mouth. With the way the human race works, it is not possible to remain silent all through life. We speak by our words, actions, habits and relationships. The things I consider important are revealed by how I live. The mouth will not speak of that which it does not have, and cannot claim that which it does not know. 

What is my mouth speaking at this time? If all you have are curses and harsh words, imagine the state of your heart. If all I can produce is what the devil rejoices at, imagine the state of my heart. If God can recommend me to another person as his child, because he knows that my mouth will reflect that which is his heart, then I am blessed indeed. Guess one of the most important question that I must answer is: what am I spending time investing in and storing up? I had better be sure it is the right stuff, because one day, a demand will be made on this store. May it be that which God accepts and can recommend. His time of favour is here. 

Effective and Efficient!

Effective and Efficient!

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. Psalm 19:7 KJV

Context:

David is credited with writing this psalm, and as you read the whole chapter, you know that it takes personal experience to write this way. Until you have an encounter with the Word of God, you may only be able to speak eloquently of the letter but not the Spirit. From a young age, David had made it his duty to seek God out. His life choices showed that he found God. He did not always make the right choices, but there was no doubt the place God had in his heart. Where does God stand with you? Is he your all, or do you have room for other 'viable' options?

One of the surest ways to know God is through the written Word. This generation is privileged because God's Word is very available in the letter form; most of us use smartphones that provide the bible in various versions, all available by regular data subscription and some even offline., However, we are more open to embracing the values of the world than those of the Word. We can recite whole albums of songs from those who don't care who God is, but we struggle to recite two verses of the Bible. How can a man grow in God if he does not know what God cares about? 

 

Message and Response:

This is why today's extract is instructive. It is called 'the law of the Lord' because no matter what I tell myself, God's Word is not a list of negotiated points, but a window into his will. I do not get to choose which one I will obey; I must either take all of him or none of him. We want to make God our buddy; someone we can take up when we want, and drop off when we want. Indeed, he is our friend, but he is a friend with rules of engagement. I cannot enjoy the fullness of who God is until I take up the fullness of who he is. It is as simple, yet also as complex as that. 

When I embrace the law of the Lord, what do I get: a conversion of the soul. No man encounters the word of God and remains the same. No man meets with God and is left the same way. There is a work that God must do in the life of all who come to him. He cannot deal with sin, so he has to do a work in me that will deal with the nature of sin in me. That work MUST be done in anyone who looks forward to eternity with God. 

Don't settle for the surface work that men can bring about; make sure that God does the work in you that will last till eternity. It is that inner work that will last; every other work is on surface level and will only be good for the earth. Is my soul converted, or am I still pushing around the body of sin I inherited from Adam? Jesus has no use for that body of sin, and his sacrifice on the cross makes it clear that a life that reflects the finished work of the cross is of value to him. Am I converted? 

John the Apostle, in the book of Revelation, writes about the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. There is a witness to the power of God, and the effectiveness and efficiency of his Word. He does not speak anyhow; he means what he says, which is why his testimony is sure. Men swear by someone greater than them; God swears by himself. He is not caught out by man's weaknesses because he is not man. Another version reads: The rules set down by the Lord are reliable and impart wisdom to the inexperienced. Once again, you get the clear message that God is not negotiating with me or seeking to please me. I am the one who must strive to please God by embracing his rules. 

What do I get from the rules: they impart wisdom to the unexperienced. Or make wise the simple. Man's greatest mistake is to think that his intellect or reasoning can help decipher God. There are learned men, with academic degrees from all over the world, who do not know acknowledge God. It is not in the multitude of degrees, but in the degree of personal experience of God. Am I a simple man in need of the wisdom only God can provide or have I arrived, safe and secure in my knowledge and not in need of help? It is foolish to think that there is anything in me that can secure eternal life for me, outside of God. The one who promises it is the one who can secure it. If he says I can only get it through Christ, and because he does not lie, I won't really get it anywhere else. 

Am I in dire need of help from God and taking the steps to seek him out? Remember: this is not a negotiation; this is a command structure, with God as the leader and all who have submitted to him as his subjects. His instructions become our daily pursuits, so that we can take hold of all that he promises all who come to him. All of him is available and accessible, and what you get in and from him will speak into eternity. His time of favour is here. 

Acceptable!

Acceptable!

Do not forget or neglect to do kindness and good, to be generous and distribute and contribute to the needy [of the church as embodiment and proof of fellowship], for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Hebrews 13:16 AMPC

Context:

There is really no name indicated at the start of Hebrews to let us know who wrote it, but it is generally attributed to Paul. All of life, both earthly and heavenly, is addressed in one form or another in the book of Hebrews, and in today's extract, we see God's view of the life he has both called us out of and into. 

God never leaves us in doubt as to what his expectations for us are. He does not leave us to grope in the dark or to strive for acceptance on our own terms, but he provides the strength and grace we need for the journey ahead. 

Message and Response:

We are enjoined not to forget to do kindness and good. It means that it is possible I could forget, or I could get carried away with the daily grind of life that I forget to impact the world I have been placed in. And it is specific: I do not get to do whatever catches my fancy, but that which aligns with what God intends. 

I was placed on earth to impact earth. I cannot be so focused on heaven that I am irrelevant down here on earth. Of what use in heaven is a life that earth does not recognise or been impacted by its message? How does God take glory from a life that does not speak of him in any way? I must take stock again right now: who am I living for? Who do I seek to glorify by the way I live my life? 

Check out the words: be generous, distribute, contribute to the needy. That is the summary of my expected impact. It is to be an outflow from my life out of the abundance of the inflow of the life of God in me. I was not made to be like the Dead Sea, always receiving from other sources of water, but never flowing out anywhere. It will lead to a stink, because it is in flowing out that God keeps his unction fresh in my life. I was not made to be a vessel that only takes in, but also a fountain and a spring. This is why the water that Jesus promises is that which becomes a spring of loving water flowing unto eternal life. 

The church is the mirror of God's mind. It is the place of the physical manifestation of the presence of God. As we all live the life of God, we make God known. The world will only get to know God when we make Him known, and what better way can we do this than when the world sees something different from what it is comfortable with? The message of Christ must make the world uncomfortable and seek to know why we are different. If it is the same as what the world does, then it cannot be of God.

No wonder the passage ends with the word of encouragement that God is pleased with sacrifices that impact the world we have been placed in. It must cost me something; it must take something from me, and it must make me seek higher and nobler things which make God glad. Can God keep blessing the work of my hand as it is presently constituted? Is that which is in my hand right now that which God can bless? If it is not, it is not too late to make changes and get it right. If it is, keep at it. God is not a debtor, and he rewards everyone who seeks him the right way. May the Lord accept my sacrifice and may he be pleased  with me. His time of favour is here. 

Love is......

Love is.....

Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].

1 Corinthians 13:7 AMPC

Context:

In the chapter before this one, Paul talks about the gifts of the Spirit, and how they all work for the good of the church. However, chapter 12 ends with a direction to a more excellent way, and lays the groundwork for the chapter on love. It would appear that from God's perspective, all the gifts of the Spirit have a right context, and it is that they must flow out of a heart of love, not showmanship. Man wants to turn all of God's gifts into commerce; we want to use God as a sounding board for our own announcement. The gifts belong to God and should be used for his glory but we seem to desire to make it all about ourselves. How do I put the right heart behind the right actions? How do I ensure that what I do is based on that which God approves? Love is that answer.

Message and Response:

The chapter where today's extract is taken from starts with the very clear idea that no gift would profit me if it is not used in love. Today's extract goes on to talk about what love is and does. As I read it, I get the picture of the totality of man's relationship with God as well as man being established here. No matter what comes; how hard the work or the burden is, if I have the clear understanding of who I work for, I can endure anything. Oh, hard times will come. Working for God does not exclude me from painful experiences, but I have the assurance of God's presence in me to keep me focused on what truly matters. I am not choosy about my experiences; I just want to make sure that I have God's love in me.

When that connection with God is secure, my connection with man is also secure. Love is ever ready to believe the best about everyone, not because you are stupid, but because you are also the recipient of a love you did not deserve. The one who knows the value of what s/he has received is always ready to extend it to other people too.

I hope because I know that it does not end down here. There is something amazing to look forward to; in God, there is an end to all of these. Hope in God makes a man hold on, even when things are difficult. When you read the words: "its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances", you know that tests are coming. God would not mention the possibility of fading hope if it were not possible. The reason why hope does not fade is if it is founded on the one who births and sustains both hope and love.

Love, the type God births and sustains, is also presented as enduring everything without weakening. It stands the test of time because it is birthed by the Ancient of Days, who has no end. It is enduring because God is also described as love. No wonder the chapter where today's extract is taken from ends with the words: And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. Faith and hope have an expiry date, and that is when this present earthly life ends. I have no need for faith and hope when their benefits have already been achieved. But for love, long after this earthly life is over, God, and all that he is, still continues. 

And I see the words that depict the totality of my life. EVERY and ALL is used about 5 times in the one verse. I don't get to pick and choose that which I will do; I am either all in or all out. I can't pick that which makes me comfortable and reject that which is inconvenient. No matter the circumstances that may come, or how nasty the person is, or how much the situation or person rubs me off the wrong way, I must settle my reaction in line with God's nature in me. If I have God's version of love, everyone will be welcome. If I have God's kind of love, I will not have a preference for those who deserve to be loved. All will be loved, just as God showed me amazing love. 

No matter what else I get, I need to get all of God. Life will not be complete without him, and nothing I hold on to will make sense outside of him. Do you have love, the type that reflects who God is? Can I say of a truth that I have God's kind of love? As I audit my life, can I see all the attributes mentioned above? It is never too late to get it right; the love of God is such that will continue to supply grace so that my life can be all that God wants it to be. If I do not have it, I can ask God for it. My eternity will be glad I did. His time of favour is here.