Settled!

Settled!

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 NIV

For every occupation, there is a wage structure. For every job that is set up, there is a settlement plan for how the job is to be remunerated. We hear of monthly jobs or contracts, as well as income from business. Whichever of these options apply to you, one thing is clear: for every action or input, there is a natural consequence or expected output. Just as it is in the physical, so is it in the spiritual. As I work in the spiritual, I am also entitled to a pay that reflects what has been put in. How does this apply to the verse that is the focus for today? 

The first man, Adam, and his wife Eve, were put in the Garden of Eden. They had all they needed, until the devil came and gave them what they did not really need. He lied to them, taking from them what was eternal, and gave them what was earthly, mortal and temporal. The devil took away the life of God they already had and gave them death. From God's perspective, the day Adam and Eve ate the apple is the day man died, even though he was still breathing. That is how sin came to be the natural progression for all men born of women. No matter who you are, the circle you are born into or the one you grow up in, the foundation and conclusion are the same: all men are born sinners, due to the act of disobedience of the first man and woman. 

By that first disobedience, sin has become the natural way of life for all men. Of course, the consequence of sin is death. It does not matter how long you live; could be as long as Methuselah or as short as a day old baby who dies immediately after birth. The end of all natural life is death. The sad thing is that this death is not just the physical one, but the one that is eternal. If we only lived for this earthly phase alone, we would not have to deny ourselves the good things of life. However, because we know what is at the end of this physical phase of life, we cannot live as we please. God also knows that we could not earn the life of God back by ourselves, and that is why he offered us his son as the way back to that life. 

True life is only found in Jesus. He is called the Way, the Truth and the Life. By him, the life of God is made real and is available to all who will come to God through Jesus. Now, this is where God's offer is unique: it cost God a lot, but it cost me nothing but a decision. I am not asked to pay a price or move heaven and earth to afford it. All I am asked to do is to accept the 'free gift' of life that is on offer. Sin will cost me a lot; God paid the full price so that the power and wages of sin could be fully settled. Someone had to pay the price; I couldn't. Jesus did. The price for sin has now been fully settled. It would be a waste of God's grace if I do not take advantage of this free gift. 

With all that Jesus has given me, what does he demand of me? Nothing much, just a heart that surrenders to him as my Lord and Saviour. I am not asked to offer blood or bring sacrifices. God does not need those things anymore; he needs my heart. That is the place where his work is seen first, before it impacts the outside. With all that God has also done, I can be sure that an account will be demanded of me of what I did with God's offer. God does not waste resources. If he gave me his all, he will also demand my all. His Son was the price for my new life; is there anything I consider too big to also give back to God? Eternal life is at stake; the key is total surrender to and full acceptance of the gift of Jesus that has been given to the whole world. Would you take hold of that gift? Would you surrender to Him? Remember, eternity lies at the end of your answer. Make it count. God's time of favour is here. 

Proof of Wisdom!

Proof of Wisdom!

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. James 3:13 NIV

It is a new day; just at this time of the year, seasons are changing. Spiritually too, times are changing. We are in the last days, spoken of many times in the Bible, when many will pursue after strange doctrines, practices and teachings. We are in those days when it is more popular to blend in than to stand for something. It is a time without any deep thinking or rational thought, when all that matters is to look busy. How do I handle the strange times I am in now? What is expected of me? What determines what's right? 

There are two key words at the start of today's extract, and they are: understanding and wise. James, who wrote this letter to the Jews who had been scattered among the nations, laid out the standard for Impact, and it has to do first with what is inside of me. Too many times, we have focused on the outer: the hypocrisy and the pretence that are easy to keep up, forgetting that that which will last must be based on inner convictions first, before the lives of men around me can be truly impacted. Would I submit myself to the purifying and searing fire of God, so he can work in me, so I can work effectively for him? 

I note that understanding and wisdom are seen as a single substance, which means that a man with wisdom also has understanding. True wisdom comes from God, and understanding is the actual application of that wisdom. You call a man wise when you have examined the quality of his outer life. A fool is so called when you have heard and examined what his life produces. The same goes for the wise man. If God were to ask me, what am I? Am I wise? Do I have understanding and wisdom, as defined by God here, not the false tokens that the world celebrates?

And in today's extract, we see the outward proof of the inner work of God in a man's life. We must see the good life, as well as deeds done in humility. You can never fail to see the outward and human manifestation of the wisdom of God in a man's life. It goes beyond what I claim to be, but what I can provide proof of. Talk is cheap; anyone can say anything. However, when all has been said and done, all that will last and provide proof of who is IN me will be what flows OUT of me. True wisdom does not give room to or encourage pride, because it knows its source. It is able to impact because it knows its purpose and target. 

Is my life showing off the inner work of God? Is my life a reflection of the imprint of God? Am I humble enough for God to work in and then out of me, or do I first need to empty myself of the baggage of my past: the dependence on self, the reliance on bank account balances, the trust in my circle of influence and other ephemeral things that hold no eternal value. Men must know from the outer evidence of my life that the Spirit of God reigns in me. That is the proof God would use to impact my world and get people to seek him. My light must shine so that men may see, and glorify God. Anything else is a waste of time. God's time of favour is here. 

Purpose and Pursuit!

Purpose and Pursuit! 

for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Philippians 2:13 NIV

As I read today's extract, something strikes me as very important, and it is the last part of the verse under consideration: his good purpose. That statement controls the entire verse under consideration. Long before I was even thought of by my parents, and even before they came together, God already had a plan for me. I was not an afterthought, with direction, impact and destination all sorted out after I had been born. No, the bible says that all the days appointed for me were written down in God's book even before any of them came to pass. That is how powerful God is, and as a consequence, how powerful his purpose is. My greatest discovery then is to know what this good purpose of God is. I will not find it by accident, but I will also not find it by human wisdom and strength.

It is called 'good' because it comes from a good God. It gets interesting when you consider all that is happening in the world and you ask if God can indeed be good if there is so much evil in the world. I think of this: the fact that God gave man the power to choose between good and evil is itself a powerful thing. He could have made us all robots and compelled our obedience, but because he wants us to love him of our freewill, he gives us the grace to choose him by ourselves. That is power, as well as responsibility, which I must be careful how I exercise. It is called 'good' also because it is all that God has to offer. You cannot give what you don't have, and you cannot expect the world to give you God's version of good since it does not have it. Only God does, and that is why God is good. It is all he has and can give. 

The temporal and the earthly are not the standards of measure for what is 'good' from God's perspective. As I live in this sinful world, things will happen that may not look good, but because I am limited in power and understanding, I will not see the full picture on this side of eternity. I cannot arrive at a conclusion about my present experiences until I fully understand the eternal reality behind those experiences. Men have given up and turned back from following Jesus simply because they could not wait to see the end results of their experiences. God's good purpose is such that nothing of earth can stop or hinder it, because it is defined, set up and worked out by God himself. I am yet to see anything sorted out by God fail to achieve its purpose. It might fail in one person's life due to that person's disobedience, but God purpose will not fail due to his inability to bring to pass that which he has already defined. 

In that light, the other parts of the verse above make sense. Since God has already defined his purpose for me, he is best positioned to know all the materials required to bring that purpose to pass. He knows the right mix of trials, tests, troubles and triumphs that will bring me to the place of the fulfilment of his good purpose. And that work is first internal, before it is ever external. The world defines its impact by the things it can see, feel, hear, taste or touch, but we know how deceptive the physical senses can be. God works in me, but the effect of that work cannot be hidden or ignored. That is why God's inner work is manifest in my being willing and being able to live in line with God's good purpose. 

God will not force me to align with his purpose, but he makes a compelling case for me to listen to him. He is not asking me to just follow him blindly, but He has laid out very clearly what I stand to gain from him. He supplies the inner strength and the outer power to align with God's good purpose. His work in me does not have an expiration date, as I can see from today's extract that the working is in the continuous tense. He does not do part-time jobs, and he does not have partially completed projects. If he is able to start it, he can complete it. He makes me willing to obey, and he supplies grace for me to obey him completely. As I cooperate with him this way, I am fulfilling God's good purpose. My pursuits will line up with his purpose. I am not distracted by other people's 'success' because as long as I am in the centre of God's will, I am eternally secure. Nothing the world offers can beat that. God's time of favour is here. 

Kept 4

Kept 4!

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Isaiah 26:3 KJV

It's almost like a 'cause and effect' kind of thing. There is an expectation I must align with if I desire the defined end. This is a season of fear and uncertainty, but it is also a season of faith and assurance, depending on who is in charge of your heart. The end times are characterised by wars, rumours of wars, pestilence, famine and others, but it is also the times of the mighty outpouring of the Spirit of God upon all flesh. Again, it matters who is in charge of your heart, because the control centre defines the focus, the pursuits and the end.

So, here, I have a conclusion already defined by God. He offers perfect peace, something the world will say is impossible, but then, what does the world know? You cannot give what you don't have, so don't expect a world full of discomfort, sorrow and pain to offer you the kind of peace God refers to here. You only get this kind of peace in the Prince of Peace, not in the world of sin. The first thing then that I need to do is check my present location as well as my current direction. Am I where the perfect peace of God can reach me? 

The word 'keep' has a peculiar strength to it. It shows that the one who speaks has both power and capacity to do whatever he has promised. It is not a temporary arrangement, where I am kept safe only for a short while, or only for a short time. With God, with his everlasting arms, what you get lines up with who He is. If he calls himself the everlasting God, it means that whatever he gives you lasts forever. He does not speak carelessly, or make empty promises. If he says it, it is because he can do it. If he says it, he will move earth and heaven to make sure what he promises comes to pass. 

God's role is clear: he does the keeping. What of me? My role is also defined here, and it is the 'stayed' on God. This is also not a temporary arrangement, where I come in and go out as and when I please, but a permanent settlement of my heart on God. My mind is stayed on God because I see him as my Lord and Saviour. I do not consider any other option, because I have found God to be sufficient. I can't afford to jump from one 'power' to another, seeking options where there are none. I can't keep my options open, as the people of the world do, hoping that if one fails, another option is just within reach. With God, He has to be enough. 

It is the harmony between God's keeping and my staying that leads to the conclusion: God's perfect peace. Both have to be present for the prize to be won. If there is any that will fail, there is no doubt which one will, as God is too faithful to fail. He is the consistent God; with the will and the power to do all that he speaks. He will not only keep; he will also supply the grace and strength for me to stay on him. I must draw on that grace and strength, if I will remain connected to the source of help. God can and will, if I also will stay. I cannot lay claim to blessings that my lifestyle choices can't attract. God's time of favour is here. 

Saved!

Saved!

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 NIV

Man's greatest need is not the things the eyes can see, the mouth can taste, the ears can hear or the nose can smell. Man's greatest need is not the stuff that can be quantified by currency or monetary value. We have allowed men like ourselves, who cannot see beyond the now, to define for us what is real and what is not. We then pursue that uncertain definition, unsure whether what we have is real or not, and definitely unable to categorically and confidently explain our heart's pursuits and priorities to someone else. How do I get to the point where I can be certain that what I hold on to is the real deal? How can I look to the future with hope, sure and certain that no matter what comes now or what is ahead, the One I have and know is sufficient and enough for me? I need to be really sure, as I look at the uncertain world around me.

Man's greatest need is eternal life. Life, as we know it now, is short. Even if you get to live up to 969 years, just as Methuselah did, those years are nothing compared to what you still get to spend in eternity. Methuselah has been dead now for centuries, with the entire genealogy starting with Abraham up to the taking of the land of Canaan by the Israelites taking at least 1,000 years. If this life is not all that matters then, how do I make sure that what I hold is the real deal? What is that real deal? The real deal is not an idea, concept, value system or set of principles; it is a Person. This is where matters of Christianity differs from all other religions. We hold on to a Person, who defines the principles and policies of our lives. The procedures are there, as well as the codes of conduct, but they only make sense and have impact when they are adhered to in the light of the Person. 

How do I meet this Person? Who is He? Today's extract reveals the full picture, as well as what I need to do to know him and make him mine. There is a physical confession of the lips; one that people can attest to, that shows that my heart seeks a new master. You do not call silent words a declaration; a declaration has to be heard or at least witnessed by one person. It is that declaration that is the public confirmation of the believe in your heart. The two have to align if what you hold on to is to be the real deal. I can make all the noise in public; show off all the 'right' moves that show me off as someone who knows the Person, but the thing about hypocrisy is this: you cannot fool all of the people all of the time. If there is a disconnect between my public declaration and my private belief, it will be obvious eventually. It is this harmony between the public declaration and the inner belief that leads to salvation.

Can I say of a truth that both of these things are evident in my life? Can I say of a truth that I know the Person and He also knows me as His own? Have I made a public declaration that Jesus is Lord, and is His Lordship and authority evident upon my life? Is that declaration just a show, or does it proceed out of a heart that believes in the death and resurrection of Jesus? Be sure of what the basis of your belief in Jesus is. Is he to you just a great man, a prophet, or the Saviour of the world? Whatever else you believe Jesus to be, the fulcrum on which our faith is based is the timeless message of the cross, the grave, the resurrection and the coming glory. There is no part of the above that you can take away, or deny, if what you hold will be the real deal. We live on earth, and if Jesus tarries long enough, we die and live forever with Jesus on the strength of the above. 

I just must carry out an audit of my life today. What is my belief system at the moment? Do I believe that Jesus is the Saviour? Have I accepted him as Lord and Saviour? Does He know that he is my Lord, or am I still struggling for clarity and foundation? If I believe he is the Saviour, have I declared him as such in my life? Do my friends know my stand? Do they know who is without any doubt in charge of my life? Does the imprint of Jesus upon my life shine out for others to see? Am I the silent type, never quick to declare who I am so that I do not offend people, or is the light of Jesus so evident upon my life that there is no doubt that he lives in me? These are questions that all who seek to gain eternal life with Jesus must answer; eternity is too long a time not to sure about what your priorities are. God's time of favour is here.

 

Wisdom!

Wisdom!

Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. Proverbs 17:28 KJV

How do you measure wisdom? What is the right definition of wisdom? Let's look at a few samples: the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgement. OR: the fact of being based on sensible or wise thinking. OR: the body of knowledge and experience that develops within a specified society or period. A few things are clear here: there is an inner quality built up over time, which is then made manifest in outer impact. Wisdom may first be an abstract quality, but its proof must be seen, heard, felt or experienced. When I sit with a person called wise, there is an experience that will lead to that conclusion; could be the reaction of the person to provocation, or how the person handled a potential conflict or the words that I heard the person say, and in very extreme cases, like in today's extract, the words that were not spoken. 

This is the peculiar situation with wisdom, as seen in today's extract. We see wisdom from the manifestation of it in the lives of people around us; we call men and women wise based on our interaction with them, either by words, actions, reactions or relationships. Rarely do you call a man who does not speak at all wise. How do you measure his wisdom? How do you prove his wisdom? This is where God's measure of a thing is always different from how man measures the same. Man defines wisdom from that which he can feel, hear, see or sense. God measures wisdom from that which man cannot see or sense, such as the state of a man's heart and the fear of God in his heart. You don't first see or hear the fear of God, but you cannot doubt the proof of its existence in a man's life. It does not need to shout to be heard; but its impact cannot be denied. 

This is where the power of silence comes in. In a world that is shouting to be heard, this message is not popular. In a world where man wants to have the last word, or not to be seen as a silent fool, the message in today's extract goes against all that is natural. Yet, we read here that a person who is a fool is even considered wise when he learns to hold his peace and not say a word. It is not natural, which is why it is deemed to be wise when a man goes against all that is natural to him. There are instances when the right words will resolve a conflict and there are times when even the smallest word can ignite a war. Men have gone to war and lost their lives simply because of the wrong use of words. Men's lives have also been saved by the right use of words. I have to learn the right time for words and the right time for silence. It is a sign of wisdom to learn the right time for each of these. 

If I will be a life that God can use, I must be a life that God can trust with his deep secrets. It is not all that the eyes see that the mouth is permitted to speak about. Even Paul was not permitted to speak about the amazing revelations he saw of Paradise, not because they were not true, but because at the time, from God's perspective, it was not the right time to be revealed. I must have the same heart; not quick to speak, but quick to listen. Words have power, as seen in how God created the heavens and the earth. All who will live under God's command must also hsve that same heart, so that God can make use of them, and their lives can be instruments of use and impact in the hands of God. God's time of favour is here. 

Few instances where silence is deemed to be wise

Saying nothing is the wise thing to do 

Priorities!

Priorities!

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33 KJV

Right before the crowds that followed him everywhere, today's extract is addressed to Jesus' disciples: men who had made a choice to follow after Jesus. Following Jesus requires that I sit down and at least have an idea of what I am called out of and into. This call is not something to be taken lightly, as it may demand something of value from me. Following Jesus will require me to define my new priorities. He wants to do a work in me, but I have to let him. I have to cooperate with him, so that I can enjoy the fullness of all that is possible in and through him. The first and most important question then is: have I surrendered to Jesus and made him my Lord and Saviour? Is He Lord of all or in charge of some of my precious possessions? 

As today's extract is spoken to disciples, what is expected of me? My pursuits must line up with God's desires. He created the current contents of the heavens and the earth before he made man and placed him in the Garden with all that man would need. Man had work to do, but first he had God in him for fellowship, communion and direction. He must do all he can to nurture both, but he must not neglect the correct order of priorities. If I take good care of God's creation, but neglect fellowship with the creator of all I see, what is the gain in that? If I also claim I am pursuing after God with all I am, and yet I am not relevant or making an impact on the earth he has placed me on, of what use is that also? 

It is therefore clear that I have to set my priorities right. Both are required for life, but one practically feeds the other. Jesus lays out the right order in today's extract: the kingdom of God and his righteousness. That must be my first consideration. It is the inner light that drives the outer pursuit. When God sits at the top of my daily plans, it is easy for him to direct all other parts of my life. Seeking after God's kingdom means pursuing and promoting the things that make God's heart glad. It means finding and keeping close to your heart the things that God also holds dear to his heart. You won't know those things by accident or inference, but by a daily relationship with him. 

The things of this world are also necessary. You need to eat, drink, wear clothes and also have a place to lay your head. These are legitimate needs, but in the light of the verse under review, if I worry more than usual, does that guarantee that I will have more of these earthly provisions? The men of the world set store by these things, seeking to define success by how much of these things a man has, but unfortunately, God's view is that a man's life does not consist of the abundance of the things that he possesses. None of the earth's provisions will go with me into eternity, so I need to have the right heart in dealing with the things of the earth. 

When I have secured the eternal, the earthly knows its place. When the eternal has been settled, God knows that nothing of the earth can distract me from him. He knows that whatever he gives me will not take my heart away from him. Can I say with confidence that this is true of me? Can God entrust the riches of the earth into my hands, sure and certain that they cannot draw my heart away from him? Take stock now; what are the things you take as important right now? If they were taken away from you, would you still be fine? If the world's goods were taken away, would you still be a seeker of God? If God were taken away from you, would you seek him as you search for lost treasure? Whatever your answer is reveals your priorities. May I not get to the end of my earthly life and discover that I had chased after the ephemeral and the eternally irrelevant. God's time of favour is here. 

Kept 3

Kept 3!

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

Psalms 34:8 NIV

This is the same chapter as the verse we considered yesterday. The psalm was written by David, a man who had come to know God on a very intimate level, and had experienced God on a level that most people of his generation had not. He spoke about God, not from hearsay, but from a place of personal encounter. It made all the difference; king Saul also made mistakes, committed sin too, but his heart was not right with God. David committed sin, but he would run to God as soon as he was made aware of his wrong. He sought God all through his life, whether away from prying eyes in the desert with the sheep, or in the king's palace. No wonder God was pleased with him and called him a man after his own heart. God is still looking for such people who will put all their hope and trust in him like David.

David asks us here to come and taste the Lord. There can never be a replacement for that personal encounter. Men and women of old had their stories to tell. A few like Lot were content to go along with other people who knew God. They did not seek God for themselves, and it is not a wonder that they ended up the way they did. Others like Abraham sought God out and when they found him, they would not let go, and till today, we enjoy the benefits of that man's discovery of God. No one experiences God and is able to keep it to himself; it is an experience that will take hold of you and flow out into the lives of all who come in contact with you.

In that same sentence of taste is see. The experience of God leaves a lasting impression in the mouth and on the eyes. The mouth is the doorway into a man's inner parts; if you would poison or excite a man, the mouth is one of the paths to that experience. No wonder David spoke about taste. If a man will also be led away and enticed or made to encounter the wonders of God's grace, the eyes are the path to that experience. My human senses are God's way of proving that he exists and can do whatever it is he has promised.

He offers all of himself, but he will not force himself in anyone. For as many people as come to him seeking refuge, he makes a clear promise that they will find him a suitable refuge. He calls such people blessed; what other definition can you give to a person who has found God for himself and has taken God at his word and is accessing all that God offers? That is the path of blessedness: being all that God wants for me, and able to access all that He offers.

Storms are coming, if they are not here already. Winds will blow and beat against the house, and tough times will come, but long before these things happen, God's promises are already with us. His protection, provision, power and peace are all freely given to us, waiting for us to embrace and possess. Like David the writer, I must come to the point where it is God or nothing at all. I must learn to completely trust in God. Even when I do or go wrong, God will not reject me to the end, as long as I repent and return to him. His grace is sufficient; can I trust him to the end? God's time of favour is here. 

Kept 2!

Kept 2!

The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; Psalms 34:19 NIV

As I read today's extract, the first thing that requires sorting out is my identity. If I will access the blessing and benefit spelt out here, I have to first define and determine who I am. The identity spelt out here is the 'righteous'. It is not necessarily those who are moralists by the world's standard, or people who have learnt how to pretend, but this is about people who have come to put their total and complete trust in God. No matter what the earthly achievements are, they know they are defined by who God is in their lives. They do not rely on or are defined by the ephemeral things such as bank account balances, circle of influence or friends, political or economic connections and the other things that give mortal man false comfort, but all their hope is in God. Can I be defined as such a person? 

David, who wrote this psalm, knew what being righteous actually meant. In the early parts of the book of Psalms, he moved from being sure of the cleanness of his hands to being dependent on God's grace and mercy. There is no room for self-righteousness and pride; no room for self-promotion. It has be total and complete dependence on God. Being righteous according to God's standard does guarantee that there will be no issues or troubles but it simply means that you have the help of a God who is in charge of all of life and can lift you up. Life itself is a guarantee of tough times, but the joy is that before the tough times come, God is already offering help that is fit and meet for the times that are coming. 

The Lord delivers; that is his nature and his promise. All through the accounts of the Bible, this power/attribute is made clear. He does not say we won't lack, but he says he will provide all our needs. He does not say we won't be ill, as is the way of the human race, but he says he will heal. How would I appreciate provision and healing if there were no situations that required these? When I read of a promise of God, the only way for me to fully enjoy and understand the benefits of the promise is for me to experience the circumstances that led to the promise being made. David knew this, as his life story made it clear that he was a man who enjoyed God's protection from trouble at different times, even the ones that were of his making. 

And that is the other thing about God: never holding a grudge or holding my offence over me forever. His love makes it impossible for him to be angry forever, as long as I repent and return to him. For all who are parents, we know the love we have for a wayward child; imagine then the heart of love of a God who is himself called Love, and imagine the extent he is willing to go to prove his love to us, no matter what it is that we have done. No distinction is made here between the troubles I cause by my own mistakes, or the ones that come as a result of simply being human. No matter how many they are, or how terrible they get, God is saying he has all things under his control. ALL means all, not almost all. He won't be Lord of all, if there was anything that he could not control. 

Whatever it is, lay it all down at the feet of the Lord of all. It may be heartaches, hills, valleys, illness, financial crisis, uncertainty about the present and future, marital or job-related issues. Whatever they may be, God says he delivers from them all. From the accounts of the Bible from creation to revelation, it is clear that this God can do whatever he says he will do. All I need to do is trust him by leaving the problems in his hands. If I don't leave them there, it means I don't trust him to deal with them. If I leave them with him, I can't be worrying and fretting about how he is dealing with them. That is his prerogative. All I am asked to do is leave it all, trust him completely and know that he will not disappoint. That is enough for me. What of you? God's time of favour is here.

Inner State!

Inner State!

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Romans 12:12 NIV

The external is the focus for the natural man. He derives pain and pleasure from the things he thinks he can control. He defines success by ephemeral and physical things such as bank account balances, circle of influence, net worth and other similar matters. He really cannot define what success looks like, but yet man keeps running, seeking after the thrill that he thinks he can get from something in his hands. Life has shown that riches and wealth do not actually buy you sleep or peace. For the natural man, nothing is ever enough. He lives for the chase, no matter what he already has. How then can a man have that which is really important? How does he know when he has it and when he does not? 

One thing must be made very clear from the start: the inner state determines the outer. It is the inner presence that defines the outer punch and impact. The world does not have the answer, and that is why it will provide 'viable' alternatives, because there can be no vacuum. Someone or something has to fill that space in a man's heart. If God does, there is an inner peace that will shine out. If it is not God, then there is an outer storm that no amount of makeup or activity can hide. That is why mere activity is not the true measure of inner peace. A man can be quite active but using that to cover up the lack of peace. Who lives in you? What is the state of your inner man? 

Today's extract makes it clear that the inner is quite important. Check out these attributes mentioned in the verse above: joyful, patient, and faithful. None of these can be defined by physical measures. You can't define the breath and length of joy, but you cannot miss it when it is there. You cannot put a monetary price on patience, but you can break through any wall or barrier simply by having and exercising it. No amount of money can buy you faithfulness and consistency, but when you find someone who is faithful and committed to a thing, you have found someone to be trusted. Am I that kind of person, who has his inner man sorted out, or am I still struggling for relevance and direction? 

Those inner attributes will always have physical manifestations. The man with joy views all situations with hope; the man with patience can bear affliction even if it hurts and the man who is faithful is seen to be a man of prayer, given to a daily relationship with God. So, you see the physical manifestations, but they flow from the inner condition of that man. They do not happen or form overnight; they take time to form, by constant use and by daily dependence on the source of the inner conditions. 

The man who has settled his inner man has joy, no matter what the exernal state dictates. The man who has learnt patience from his walk with God looks ahead to tough times, knowing that they don't last as long as God does. The man who has settled his heart on God can worry less and pray more, sure that God has his back, no matter what else is happening around him. He can look forward to eternity even while making impact down here on earth, because he knows that the one in whom he has put his hope is able to keep to the end. Do not labour to impress a man like yourself; seek the inner presence of God. When you have him, you have all you need for life and Godliness. If you don't have him, it does not matter what else you have. Who do you have? Does God know and have all of your heart? God's time of favour is here. 

Humility!

Humility!

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

Being a leader means being entrusted with responsibility. It means that there is a recognition of a particular kind of grace for administration or leading people. The amazing thing also is that it does not have to be exercised over thousands of people; it can be over a team of 2 people, or even in the family set up, or in an association of people of different cultures, traditions or backgrounds. From God's perspective, it is not what is visible, such as who you lead that matters first, but who you are on the inside, and that is the focus of today's extract. 

Man celebrates that which he can see; God focuses his attention on that which is hidden away from public view. Man applauds that which he is able to define according to his taste and human preferences; God also applauds that which he has also defined according to his standard. The issue then will be: whose view drives my pursuits and priorities? Whose view is my passion? Am I living for the applause of men or the applause of heaven? Am I all about what people would say, or have I weaned myself completely off people's expectations and opinions? This is quite important, when you consider the eternal consequences of whatever choice is made. 

And I note the responsibility to humble myself is mine, not God's. If God has to do it, it means I have messed up. I must keep in front of me at all times the need to stay humble. No achievement, recognition or ability is worth losing God's favour over. I am told to humble myself under God's mighty hand because that hand is limitless in what it can do and achieve. Man can only lift you as high as his own arms can carry you, but there is a God who can lift you beyond the expectations and limitations of man. It is this same God also that can bring a man low to the ground, stripping him of all honour and respect, so that the man can learn that God is the ultimate power. Ask Nebuchadnezzar, who was stripped of all reason and made to eat grass like an animal for 7 times or years. Interestingly, the kingdom was preserved for Nebuchadnezzar until he learnt his lesson to fear the God of heaven. It is that same hand that I must fear, and I must live my life in the light of that fear. 

It is not a fear that cripples, but a fear that preserves a life from sin. It is a fear of offending God, leading to a heart that loves God and always wants to please him. In every relationship that works, particularly when there is a superior authority involved, there must be the right mix of awe and love. The superior authority is the One who will lift up the lesser authority. When the time is right, as long as I live right, the superior authority knows how best to lift me up. It does not have to happen the way I envisioned it; as long as God is involved, the way and manner he will lift me up is left to him. 

I just have to trust his wisdom, as well as his grace and timing. He is never late, and he is never wrong. When he does the lifting, the whole world knows that this is God's doing, and when it is I trying to do the lifting, it will be clear to me as well as the world that this won't work and won't last. Let God do the heavy lifting; he has been doing it since before creation and he will continue to do so because he is the God of all the earth. I am safe in his hands, and I am better off trusting that he knows what he is doing. God's time of favour is here. 

Kept!

Kept!

Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word. Psalm 119:114 KJV

We live in a world of uncertainty. Life is hard; sin has made sure of that. The things God made easy for us have now become work. Some of the things the man in the Garden of Eden was  commanded to dominate are now beyond his control. We now live in a world where it is normal to fight for all you want; we have proverbs and wise sayings that seek to promote man's labour over God's favour. Man seeks measures to protect himself, because he is not sure who or what else can protect him. He builds high fences, yet he cannot sleep. He employs guards who are human like himself, equips them with tools made by men like himself, yet he wonders why these also can't protect him. Nothing of the earth can keep you from the evil of the earth. You need more than what the earth provides in order to secure that which heaven provides. 

This is where today's extract provides answers to life's questions. If there was no trouble ahead, I won't need a hiding place. If there was no danger ahead, God won't offer me a secured place in him. God offering me a hiding place and a refuge is an acknowledgement of the fact that life will pose challenges that will require these things that God offers. What is the use of a hiding place if it cannot serve as a secured place? It is not a hiding place if just anyone has access to it. It is not a hiding place if the One who offers it is not capable of protecting all who come to rest in him. God is staking his reputation here, telling me that I should try him and see if he is up to the task. 

From all who have tried God in this manner, I am sure that their testimony will confirm that God is able to do all He has promised. The writer of this psalm was speaking from personal experience too, because he referred to God as 'my' hiding place and 'my' shield. That is personal. It is not enough to hear other people say it; there is really no replacement for that which you have come to know and experience for yourself. It stays with you in times of uncertainty. It helps you hold on in seasons of dread and fear. 

Calling God 'my shield' also means that I know there is a war ahead. You don't need a shield if there is no war. A shield protects from flaming arrows or darts, or anything that may be thrown against me. It can also be used as a battering ram, pushing back against forces coming against me. The reason why I have this confidence has nothing to do with only me, but with all that surrounds me: the hiding place keeping me away from the prying eyes of men, the shield protecting me from all obvious dangers, and the word of God offering me daily leadership and guidance as I seek to navigate the uncertainties of life. 

Is my hope really in the Lord or in 'viable' alternatives, which really cannot save? The Word of the Lord is the answer to all of life's questions. It is God himself, as he is the Word. He speaks himself into all situations that I call him into, and he is able to perform all that his Word pronounces. I need then to get a Word from God for everything I may be going through. Whatever it is, no matter how hard it is, I need to hear from God on that matter. That must be the basis of my confidence, that God has a Word for me. I can look ahead to all of life once I know that the author of life is on my side. Do I know him? Does he know me? God's time of favour is here. 

Abide!

Abide!

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

Jesus was speaking to his disciples here, and as it has been said several times, it is God's desire to direct my life, but I have the responsibility to place my life in his hands. He will not force himself on me, and he will not go against the exercise of my freewill. He is the God of absolute wisdom and power, sure and certain about what I need for life and Godliness, and he is willing, ready and able to provide all these. The main part for me to play is to embrace what he has offered and take advantage of all that is available. 

How do I take advantage? Today's extract uses the word: 'abide'. That is both a command and a choice. It is a command because Jesus directs it, but it is a choice because Jesus would not compel me to come. His arms are open wide to receive me, but I have to come to him with arms open wide too. It is a symbiotic relationship, where both God and I get to enjoy the benefits and blessings of fellowship. Actually, I get to gain a lot because nothing I do changes who God is but when I get the terms of the relationship right, I am in for a lifetime of amazing abundance. 

It is not a temporary arrangement, where I come in and go out as and when I please. It is to be permanent residence, where I stick to it even when it hurts. The picture here is of a branch of a tree that wants to thrive and bear fruit. The branch knows that the only way it can remain relevant is to never lose connection with its source of nourishment. No matter how fat it grows or how much it bears, the secret is actually in its connection to the source of nourishing. You don't see the work of nourishing and sustaining, but you cannot doubt the evidence of the nourishment in the fruits. That is how it must be with me; people may not see the secret devotion and the daily relationship with God, but there will be no doubt when the fruit of the investment is made clear. Does my life bear any semblance to a life that is connected to God? Can men see the proof of a relationship with God? 

Just take Jesus at his word: if there is no connection, it means that there is no relationship. He owes me nothing if he is not my Lord and Master. He will do all he needs to do for all human beings, but there is a special place in his heart for all who have come to trust in him. Am I truly one of such people who have come to trust him as Lord and Saviour or am I still trying to sort out my identity? Does he know me as his own? Remember, knowledge about God is not enough; it is important that I trust him with my life and hand it over to him. Only then am I truly safe? God's time of favour is here. 

Mercy!

Mercy!

Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Luke 6:36 KJV

Once again, we read of verses which speak directly to people who have sorted out their allegiance, not people who are unsure of who they are, what they have been called out of and into and where they are headed. This Christian race is not for the unsure or the uncertain; I may not know when it will be over, but I must be aware that I have been called into a race, and I must run in line with the rules of the race set out by God. Today's words are for such people, who are sure and certain of who they are, and who know that the call of God upon their lives requires them to live differently. 

What does it mean to be merciful? Two definitions on the internet: 'showing or exercising mercy' and 'bringing someone relief from something unpleasant.'. These two above clearly show that a requirement for being able to show mercy is to have first received mercy. A fundamental rule of life is this: 'you cannot give what you don't have'. If I will show mercy, I must first have experienced it. How would I know if I have received mercy? The fact that I am alive today is the loudest testimony that I have received God's mercy. I stand where I am now simply because mercy found me. It was not really because I was smart and savvy, or that I knew my way around; it was God, from first to last, showing off his love, grace and favour. Very clearly, as is seen in a verse just before today's extract: '.... for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.' That is the standard I am asked to live up to and emulate. 

If God commands it, his grace can help a man to live it. He is not asking me to do the impossible by myself, but to depend on his grace to help me do the impossible. He will not place a burden on me that he will not supply grace and strength for me to bear. It then means that if he supplies the strength I need, I will not have an excuse for not living in line with the instruction. I read today's extract again, and it seems to me to be a command; an instruction and a directive. I could take it anyway I want, but whatever Jesus says must become my life's pursuit and priority. His own life is the perfect example of the standard that meets his approval and expectation. 

In light of what I know I have received, what decisions do I have to make? What steps do I need to take? What quarrels do I need to end? Is there any malice I need to resolve right away? Is there any hurt I need to let go? Is there any load of bitterness or heaviness of heart that I need lightened? Whatever the need, God's grace is equal to the task. He will not put on me more than I can bear, and he will not leave me alone to bear the burden alone. He is my help and strength, so he is all I need for all that life may throw at me. In that light, it helps me deal with other people with mercy. I can overlook insults, because I have been forgiven much. May I keep that grace always before me, so that I can be always conscious of where I have come from, and where God is taking me to, and how he wants me to live with other people. God's time of favour is here. 

 

Right Thoughts!

Right Thoughts!

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Philippians 4:8 KJV

Paul writes to the church in Philippi, charging them on various issues, ranging from the benefits of the new birth, to the power of the cross. Some of the great blessings that accrue to us as children of God are laid out in the entire letter and today's extract seeks to emphasis the power and place of thoughts in our walk with God. That is one part of our lives hidden from public view, so the only thing men can see and criticise is the product that flows out from those thoughts. Who am I, or better still, what are my thoughts? What are the things I have made up my mind to feed on, and what am I storing up over time? 

If I will be careful for nothing, the secret is in the things that hold my heart. If I will be able to lay out my fears and concerns to God in prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, my heart must be totally given over to God. I cannot flow out unhindered if there are issues that have taken over my heart. And it is not enough to settle for just anything just to keep my heart busy, but it has to be the right focus. Today's extract lays out very clearly what that right focus must be. 

It is my responsibility, under God's leading, to filter what my senses pick up, so that I can choose the right things to focus on. It means then that without God's help, I will struggle to follow what is right. The natural man is drawn to error; he flows naturally to the things the old nature loves. I need God to help me know what is right, and it is not a wonder that most of the things I am asked to focus on are things that line up with God's nature. Today's piece is even addressed to 'brethren', who share common allegiance to Christ and who daily depend on him for power and grace to live right. 

When my heart is right, my life and its offering and impact will be right. Check out the qualifications for the things that should hold my heart and my constant attention: true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, with virtue and praise. You see, before it gets a good report on the outside, or before it appeals to people, it has to first make a mark on the inside through honesty and purity. It is the inner impression that leads to outer impact. The picture is not complete without the harmony between the outside and the inside. It is my thought life that drives my life's pursuits and priorities.  If I will be all that God made, gifted, placed, planted and pointed me to be, the key lies in the things my heart holds on to. What are those things in your own heart? What of mine? God's time of favour is here. 

Forgiven!

Forgiven!

Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, Thou hast covered all their sin. Selah. Psalm 85:2 KJV

Again, we see the eternal truth of God's Word laid out here: God hates sin. All the bible stories that we read all establish and support this truth. Right from Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden to Lucifer who disobeyed God and were all punished, there is no one who can escape the consequences of sin, except you turn to God for forgiveness and cleansing. Even in the new dispensation, when grace is available in abundant measure, God's view of sin has not changed. In line with his own requirements, He paid the price for sin with the life of his son, so that we could walk away from the consequences of our sin and take hold of the life that is abundantly available in Christ. That is the offer from God through Christ, and the offer stands for as long as I have the breath of life in me. The writer of this psalm must have had a personal experience of this mercy, which is clear from the words of today's extract. 

When a man knows and appreciates what he has received from God, his life will show it. When a man knows what he has been saved from, he does not need to be compelled to serve and follow God. Indeed, if God did not forgive, none of us would be alive today. We would have had to offer daily sacrifices of blood of bulls and goats, which only provided a cover from God's judgment. It could not deal with the problem of sin. The blood of Jesus is the sole and permanent solution to the problem of sin. Only that which is eternal can relate with that which is spritual.

The writer here knew what he had received, and could appreciate God for it. Do I know what I have been saved from? Do I live daily in that consciousness, grateful to God every day for what he has done? Am I a living and breathing testimony to the power and might of God, who, in spite of my failings and weaknesses, offered me eternal life, even at a time when I did not even care who he was? When he hung on the cross, and pronounced those words: 'It is finished", he put a permanent end to the power and problem of sin, finished the work of redemption, and paved the way for me to access the Father directly, without the need of any middleman or prayer contractor.

When God looks at me now, he sees the blood of his son, shed on the cross, and speaking of mercy. The blood covers sin completely, so that its effect and power are totally nullified. Before I jump up and start to claim: "I receive", I must be sure that the blood works for me the way God intended for it to work. The blood is to offer redemption and salvation, not condemnation. For all who have come to trust in Jesus, the blood works the way it should. For all who reject the blood to the end of their natural lives, the blood will speak in judgment before the throne. 

The key is to sort out my reaction and response to the blood now, while I still have time. God has done his own part, offering life in full to all who come to believe in him. The devil will fight to deny this truth in my heart, but you should know that the devil's fate is already sealed, and he wants as many people to suffer with him. Don't listen to the father of lies; listen to the Father of Life and Truth, whose words can be trusted, no matter the generation and dispensation in which he speaks. Trust him; if he says you are forgiven, it does not matter what any man says. If he says you are safe, you truly are. God's time of favour is here. 

Filled Up!

Filled Up!

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

The only way I can truly know the value of the love of God is to compare it with the love of man and see what both man and God have done for me. Even today's extract goes in the same direction, trying to lay out all that God has done for man as the template for what love really is. At the heart of the love of God is his desire to leave the imprint of himself on earth. How would the world know of his love if there were not visible and audible expressions of that love? 

That love goes to the very heart of man, seeking to change its perspectives, pursuits and priorities. Before the love of God came into a man's heart, there was a fearful expectation of death and judgment. Due to sin, man had no hope of eternal life with God, and no matter what man did, he could not live up to God's righteous expectations by himself. That was the basis of fear. Imagine being born into fear and living in fear all your life, due to ignorance about what Christ has done. 

Man tried his best, but his best was still like filthy rags before God, the one whose eyes are too pure to behold iniquity. It was this helplessness that makes us appreciate the love of God that we have received. It goes to the root of sin in our lives and deals with it, so that all the righteous requirements of God's law are satisfied through Christ. He deals with fear and death by dealing with the root cause, which is sin. If by the expression of the love of Christ, who died on the cross and rose again, the root of fear has now been permanently uprooted and a new seed of faith planted in my heart, what then is the basis of fear? What else is left to fear when eternity has now been planted in my heart? How can the devil still hold a part of my heart if God now dwells in that heart by faith? 

There can indeed be no fear in love; the two can't co-exist in the same heart and at the same time. God does not share his space with anything or anyone else. You either let his love take complete control of your heart or you expose yourself to the bitterness of fear, which leads to death. As powerful as that love is, it does not go against the exercise of my freewill. I must sit down with God and examine my heart today: who lives in it? Does God have total control? Are there other concerns that threaten the peace and love of God in my heart? If there are, I must give them all to God to deal with, so that his love can take over my life. 

In that love is real life; in that love is the fullness of all that God is and gives. Have I experienced that love of God, or am I still trying to secure life by own effort and labour? Am I seeking perfection by striving and pushing and shoving, forgetting that it is not by reason of strength or labour that a man prevails; it is simply by the grace of God. God's time of favour is here. 

One and Only!

One and Only!

And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one. Zechariah 14:9 KJV

There is a conclusion that is common to all dispensations that the bible covers, and it is this: God hates and punishes sin. It does not matter in whom it is found, or how special that person is to God. David had a heart God himself approved, but when he sinned, God punished him, even if his love and mercy still kept David away from eternal death. All through the bible days, we see that common thread, and it is something we must be careful about in our days too. God's punishment of sin is again laid out in the verses before today's extract. 

God hates sin, but loves the sinner, and the sinner will do well to repent and return to God before that great, terrible and dreadful day of the Lord comes. That day of the Lord is coming, whether I like it or not. It is a day that has been spoken about by God all through the bible days too. It is a day of both darkness and light, when there will neither be sunlight or cold. Everywhere you read about the day of the Lord, what is clear is that it is a day that only those who are in the Lord will survive. 

It is a day known only to the Lord who is coming, so no scientific evidence or information can provide details of the exact day, but God, in his mercy, has given us signs of that day. As we examine the word of God, we see very clearly the signs that we should watch out for as we prepare for that day. I cannot prepare for a day that I have ignored its signs and warnings. I cannot claim to be prepared for a day that my life is not aligning with its requirements. I must do an audit with the help and guidance of the Lord himself, so that I do not deceive myself. Am I really ready for that great and terrible day of the Lord? If that day is today, right now, would God find me ready for him?

The Lord who speaks here is the One and Only Lord, that is why he is referred to as The Lord. The one who created all that our eyes can see is the one whose view must be sought and respected. He is the sole authority, at whose command all that we see and hear were created. If he created them, he can destroy them if and when he desires. For now, it seems as if the devil is in charge, but the devil is only reacting in fury because he knows his time is short and he will be defeated when The Lord returns in all his glory. 

The Lord shall be king over all the earth, and all who have been eagerly waiting for his return will reign with him. No part of the earth will be able to resist his authority and power, as there will be none who can stand the one who is called the Lord. The devil tries to convince people he is also a force to be reckoned with, but the truth is that he is a fallen angel, who has been destined for destruction. There is only one true Lord, the sole authority in heaven and on earth, and the one who returns soon. His name is the Lord, and the only name that will matter at the end of it all. Names are powerful; the name of the Lord is called a strong tower. No other authority or power is called by that name. No other name, no matter how popular, can do the things the name of the Lord can do. The Lord has made it clear to me what I stand to gain if I know his name. My response is the key to unlocking all these benefits. Would I allow the Lord be the Lord of my life? Is there any part of my life that I am keeping away from him? Is there any other name on my lips other than the name of the Lord? The day of the Lord is coming; may his grace help me be ready. God's time of favour is here. 

Equal Measure!

Equal Measure! 

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Matthew 7:12 KJV

Following on from our focus yesterday, today's extract is also taken from the sermon on the Mount, where Jesus spoke to his disciples. The crowd, as always, was there, listening to his words, but the bible was careful to mention that he called his disciples to him, and when they had sat down, he taught them. The life instructions that Jesus gives are for those who have surrendered their lives to him. As much as God desires that the whole world should know and seek him, he will not force himself on anyone or compel anyone to seek and serve him. The decision to follow and obey Christ must flow out of a heart that appreciates what is on offer and knows that s/he is better off with Christ. 

In placing today's extract in context, Jesus warns those who follow him to be careful about judging others or making assumptions about another person's servant. If I am a servant of God, bound to God to serve and follow him, how is another person's life and pattern of service my business, as long as there is no error in his way? I note that judgment and correction are not the same thing, and I must be careful about the state of my heart when I am asked to correct. I cannot come with a heart of pride about my victories or achievements; I can't plead self-righteousness or esteem; I am a product of grace and whatever it is I think I have achieved is a reflection of God's mercy and favour. When I approach a fellow man, I must keep in mind what I have been saved from, where I have come from, and where God has taken me from. 

That is where today's extract makes sense. I cannot demand from other servants what I am not ready to serve to other people. I demand respect from another servant, forgetting that I am also a servant. Titles deceive us; make us think we are bigger and better than others who do not have the same titles as us. We remind them, in the event that they forget, that the grace of God upon our lives is bigger than that in their own lives. Unfortunately, God's grace is given to ALL men without favouritism. It is possible that my personal response to that grace and the way God chooses to dispense it may differ from person to person, but it is not a proof that one person's grace is better than the other. I must keep at the back of my mind that there is an account to be rendered of all that God has placed in my hand and heart. 

He places servants like myself to supply that which I lack, and for me to also supply that which they lack. We are all servants of the same Most High God, who demands commitment, devotion and dedication to duty from all of us. Irrespective of dispensation, whether under the old or the new testament, that rule about service remains the same: I can only demand from people that which I am willing and ready to give to other people. Check out the lives of any one person in the bible, whether old or new testament, who got away with hypocrisy and eye-service. Even if men did not see, the One who called them to service knew what was going on and dealt with them on those terms. Why would I think I can fool the One who created the heart and knows all its secret motives and pretences? 

I must therefore be ready to dispense that which I seek to demand from other people. My life must be a visible and audible expression of the grace of God, so that men know what to expect when they come in contact with me. You cannot give what you do not have, and you cannot demand from other people what what you have not yet defined and personalised. There is grace from God to birth in me that which will bless lives, but I must also place myself where the grace of God can find expression in and through me. That is how God is made known. May my life be such a vessel that the life of God can flow through. God's time of favour is here. 

Comfort!

Comfort!

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4 KJV

There are priorities for people who are disciples, and of course, there are priorities also for those who are not. The list of 'blessed' statements by Jesus, during his sermon on the mount, referred to as 'The Beatitudes' contain references to disciples. Jesus was speaking to people who had made a decision to follow him, not the crowd content to follow from a distance, and which would stop at the foot of the mountain. If I will be blessed by God, as made clear in Jesus' sermon, I must make that decision to follow Jesus. I cannot settle for the ordinary and the mundane. 

This particular beatitude refers to those who mourn. Now, mourning could refer to several things; could mean sorrow for sin, or sorrow for the hearts of men, but for all who are disciples, mourning here would always be on something close to God's heart. If I truly have the heart of God, I will love what he loves and hate what he hates. The things that bother his heart will bother me also, and the things that gladden his heart will also give me joy. I cannot hold on to sin and expect God to be happy; I cannot pursue only after this world's goods, and expect to have joy. I just must have God's heart if I must have God's best. 

Why would mourning this way lead to blessing? It is because this heart is the template for God's move. If he knows I have his priorities, he can commit great things into my hands. If he knows I will pursue after the things he loves, he knows he owns and holds my heart, and nothing can take his place in my heart. If I hate sin the way he does, hate hypocrisy, eye-service and lukewarmness the way he does, he knows he has a focused child who he can work in and through to establish his kingdom on earth. 

And the reward from God for this attitude is comfort. Even comfort here has to be rightly defined; the world has comforts, but God has comfort. The world's comforts may secure you for a while, but they can't guarantee you eternity. The world can only give you that which it has, which means that it can only provide you with resources good for the earth. It has nothing of eternity to offer you. God is the eternal God, and all he is and gives are good for this earth and the life to come. His comfort cannot be hoarded or kept secret; when I have experienced it, the world cannot but take notice. 

And like it has been pointed out above, I can't deceive God with external piety that is empty of inner devotion. It is only those who truly mourn who will receive the comfort that is promised. I must know that I am dealing with the God of the whole universe, who has everything under his control. He knows my heart and will deal with me in line with my heart's pursuits and priorities. I must therefore watch it now, so that my life and its offerings are the types that God can bless. Am I looking for the comfort God gives, the type that is good both for this present earthly phase and all of eternity? I will only find this at the Secret Place of the Most High, the one who calls me to himself and asks me to trust him with my all. If I trust him, I will not regret it. God's time of favour is here. 

Call!

Call!

The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, To all that call upon him in truth. Psalm 145:18 KJV

Of course, the personal life of the person who speaks matters. Today's extract is a psalm of praise by David, a man after God's heart. When you read the words of David, you know very clearly that he knew God personally. He was not always perfect, but his heart was always seeking after God. Even when he sinned, committing adultery, then murder, as soon as he was confronted with the sins, he quickly repented, even though he paid a huge public price for what he did in secret. It is his personal life story that now holds lessons for all of us today, and we will do well to consider all that He has written, so we can learn from his life and take appropriate steps. 

First, there has to be a personal knowledge of God for me to learn how to call on him. How can a man call on someone he has no personal information about? Being in church and hearing messages about God is just the foundation to that personal knowledge; I have to take the further step of taking that information, drilling down and applying it to my life. It is not enough to be able to quote the scripture by heart, though it is very important to know them, but I must also be ready to apply what I hear and know about this God to my daily life.

Secondly, the Lord referred to here is presented as one who can be approached. I do not know which God was introduced to us when we heard of him, but he is a God whose love we will spend all of eternity trying to fully understand. He makes it clear that he is approachable, and anyone, no matter what the past or present looks like, can draw near to this God and take advantage of all He is and has. He does not have classes, cliques or categories; when he says ALL, he really means all. As long as I have life and breath, I qualify. 

That is the basis of the fourth and final point: my heart. Why do I seek him: for fame or fortune; for ease or worldly pleasure; for power, connection and influence? Why do you seek him? Is it only about what you can get from him without any correspondent devotion or service from you? We seek to turn God into an automated teller machine, dispensing blessings to us, but we only come in to take, and we leave without even batting an eyelid. We do not care about our own responsibilities; all we are concerned about is our own entitlements.

Am I calling out a heart of truth, or a heart that only wants what it can see, touch, taste, hear or feel? God is never far away from any of us, but he is unable to work in and through a heart that is burdened by insincerity and hypocrisy. How can God trust a heart he does not control? How can he entrust such a heart with his true riches? In essence, my calling on God is for my own good, so that I can access all that God has prepared for me. He will not force himself on me, but he will also not leave me alone, until the end comes. Then, it will be too late. Before that time, I am encouraged to call on this God. His love is such that he will not let go, unless I let go to the end. Call; God's time of favour has come. 

Labour!

Labour!

Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. Matthew 9:37‭-‬38 KJV

In just this chapter 9 of Matthew, the read of the miracle of healing for the man with the palsy, the daughter of a certain ruler, the woman with the issue of blood, the dumb man, and 2 blind men. This was the purpose behind his coming into the world. This was his own labour, in his own words: I must do the works of him that sent me, while it is yet day. Even for Jesus, he fully understood the place of time, resources and effort in fulfilling purpose. That same chapter 9 has these words: And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. Jesus had it all figured out, yet there was a burden for the people of the earth that he had made.

Even though Jesus clearly knew what he was sent to the world to do, he needs the support of others who have also come to share in his burden for creation. He saw the crowd, and was moved with compassion for them, because they seemed without divine direction or purpose. That is how a life without Jesus looks like; you can have all your ducks in a row, and every plan of yours is succeeding, but if all you have in your hands are only the things the world gives you, then you hold nothing of real value then. It is only those who have given their lives to Christ who know the limits of this earth and what lies close to God's heart: he wants the whole earth to know him. 

There is a rich harvest of souls waiting for the right kind of knowledge. I see the word harvest, and it seems that God already sees the end from the now. The harvest is already waiting to be brought in, which means that the seed had been planted a long time ago. You do not prepare for a harvest without first putting in the work of ploughing, tilling, planting, watering and weeding. As I audit my own life right now, what part of the preparation for harvest am I involved in? Am I content with the regular daily grind of ordinary life, or am I seeking to establish God's kingdom even as I go on with my daily life? 

God is the Lord of the harvest; the owner of the harvest; the word Lord refers to total authority and unquestionable power. That is why he is the One who is qualified to send labourers into that which he already owns and controls. The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof. 

I can't send myself, or determine by myself where I think I can be effective; that is God's prerogative. He is seeking to send labourers, not bosses. He is looking for workers, not supervisors who would not do the work but will find someone else to blame for the work not being done. The work could be supervision, but it will require applying myself to the task I have been given, no matter what name the work is called. 

Labourers are few; those who will do the work required are few. We love labels, but label is not labour; you have to do the work. There are a lot of people who claim allegiance to Christ, but how many of these people can God commit the labour of harvest into their hands? If God sends me, I must do the work the way He wants it done; after all, it is his harvest, and the terms of employment are defined by him. 

Jesus asked the disciples to pray that the Lord will send labourers into his harvest. Souls of men are waiting to be harvested. Lives are waiting to be impacted by the Word of God. Men are hungry for that which will satisfy the deep cravings of their hearts, which no activity, person or society can fill. Can God count me as a worthy labourer that he can use? Forget the name it is called; it is first about surrender, then service. May the Lord find me a worthy labourer. God's time of favour is here. 

Give!

Give!

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

2 Corinthians 9:7 KJV

The art of giving is slowly dying. We seem to set more store by the image of us giving than on the heart with which we give. We make a song and dance about charity, which itself is good, but how much of our hearts is in what we do? We do it to satisfy a guilty conscience sometimes, while at other times, we do it to be popular. Today's extract seeks to lay out the right heart with which I must give, so that both my life and its offering will be acceptable before God and bring blessings back to me in return. 

There is a place for preparation before giving. It is not something I do simply because I am told to do it, but because I have examined my heart and I am sure and certain of what I need to do. Too many times, we seek human applause and we miss all that God wants us to have. We settle for the mediocre when we can have the miraculous. The heart is that very important place, where all of God's dealings must happen, before my life then lives out all that my heart has processed. How is my heart then? 

Why is giving so important to God? Could it be it is because giving is a sign that I know nothing I hold actually belongs to me. All that I see and touch are given to me in trust, on a temporary basis for use while on earth. There is nothing the earth gives you that it will not take back when it is time to leave. You can exercise some bit of control over some things only while you are alive. As soon as the owner of your life makes the demand, all that you hold becomes another person's. In that understanding, I must be careful to view possessions in the right way. They are tools to be used to glorify God, not to replace him. I must know and understand the place and limits of all the earth gives, so that my heart is free of unnecessary attachments.

When I understand the place and limits of things, then my heart is in the right place. If I give out of a sense of necessity, or out of a heart that holds grudges, there is no blessing attached to whatever that heart gives. The unfortunate thing is that the earth will receive what is given and maybe applaud, but heaven has no record of what has been given. Once again, the earth will only give you what it has; it cannot guarantee that which it does not have or what it did not originate or inspire. God loves the person who gives from the correct heart, because that heart is under his control. That heart knows the correct place and position of all things, holds nothing above God and brings all things to the feet of the real owner - God. How would God not love and bless such a person? 

I do not see where the exact nature of the reward for giving in this way is clearly spelt out, but as I read the verse after today's extract, what can beat the all-sufficient grace of God? God's grace is released in all its fullness, and all that I need is provided, so that I can in turn do every good work as ordained by God. I see very clearly that God needs a heart that he can control to carry out his work. Is my heart the type that God can call on at any time? Does he own and hold my heart? Does he control its offerings and services? It is very important that I sort this out now, so that I can be a vessel of honour in the hands of God, and he can use me to impact the earth as he sees fit. God's time of favour is here. 

Stand!

Stand!

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1 KJV

A quick look at the chapter 4 helps us fully understand the import of today's extract, which is the first verse of chapter 5. Chapter 4 looks at the power of the law and the power of the Spirit, the dispensations they both represent, and the eternal effects of both. One thing is clear: no dispensation can give you that which it did not birth. The law could only operate for a while, but as soon as the dispensation of the Spirit came in, all that the law represents had to give way. That is why in Romans 10:4, Christ is referred to as 'the end of the law' but only to them that believe. That distinction is important, so that no one thinks he qualifies by virtue of ability, connection, strength, knowledge, influence or bank account balances. 

Christ fulfilled all the righteous requirements of the law when he died according to the demands of the law. All that the law required for the remission of sin was fulfilled by Christ, and by his sacrifice, he has opened the door of true freedom to all who come to him. It is not an offer to the world, but to those who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour. We have been set free from the curse of the law, and we have now come into the liberty that God always had in mind when he formed man. 

If indeed I have been set free, I must know that the devil will keep working to bring me back under bondage. For the church in Galatia here, the devil tried to bring in rules, laws and principles that seemed to negate the freedom that Christ had won for his children. There is no harm in rules; they just must align with God's purpose, and must not negate the grace of God released in Christ. There are rules in my relationship with Christ, but they are rules that promote grace, favour, mercy and love, all which are of God.

As I audit my life again, can I say that my life is producing in line with my freedom in Christ? Am I truly free? Am I standing in the grace that is made available in Christ or am I seeking my own thing? I am asked to stand fast, because the devil will try and shake me up. I must resist every yoke of bondage, which seeks to take me back to where I was before Christ met me. 

As I take a stand, I declare my allegiance and ownership. The world knows who I am, and who I belong to. I was once under the control of sin, just as the entire world is without Christ. Christ MADE me free; I must not MAKE myself a slave again. Grace has been made available in abundant measure to provide strength and courage to stand; my best response of appreciation is to draw on that strength and live to please God. His time of favour is here. 

Nourished!

Nourished!

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

John 6:35 KJV

Jesus had just fed 5,000 men, beside women and children, with just 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes. The men who ate recognised his power and sought to make him king. I am sure they reckoned that with Jesus as king, they were sure of daily supply of food. As much as God is the provider of that which nourishes the physical body, he is also equally interested in providing that which nourishes the spiritual body. This was the basis of his response to the people at the time. 

The natural man is caught up in that which satisfies its nature. It is the way of man to seek to meet his needs: food, clothing and shelter, as well as other basic needs of life. He will do anything to feed that nature, as we see all around us today. The spiritual man is also focused on that which the spiritual man needs, and that is the nourishment only the Word of God can supply. It is therefore important to ask: which nature am I feeding? Which nature am I going out of my way to satisfy? 

The crowd went looking for Jesus; anyone who saw their zeal would be tempted to think they were really seeking him for a noble cause. Do not be deceived by outer zeal; be sure that your heart is seeking God for the right reasons. Jesus made it clear that he knew the reason why they were seeking him, and just as the men of those days could not deceive God, so also can the men of these days also not deceive God. He sees, knows and understands all. Our motives and intentions are well known to him. Whether we come for good or for food, we can't fool God. 

Jesus introduced them to the bread that does not need topping up. As Jesus said, once you eat of it, you will never go hungry. Of course, the men asked again for this bread, so they would not have to go hungry again. Until I truly know Jesus for who he is, I will struggle to understand my place in his plan. His kind of bread is not the type put together by human hands, requiring manual labour and stress but one that only demands faith. It is not the kind of bread that you need to always buy or bake with money, but one that costs you nothing, even if it cost God his son. He is bread that sustains life, because He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. 

Taking on this bread and eating it is the secret to being fed and nourished and never going hungry or thirsty again. My role is to take it up. It won't happen by accident, as God does not go against the exercise of my freewill. He will provide grace in abundance and constantly speak, offering help and support, but the decision is mine. That is the bit about coming to and believing on him. I must get out of my comfort zone and seek him out. I must come to him on his terms, not mine. It can't be all lip confession alone; my heart must be fully committed to him. It can't be all about what I can put in my mouth, but about who I have come to know, and who has all that I need for both life and Godliness. 

Just as Jesus spoke then, so does he speak now. The message has always been the same: I am all you need. I have all you need. I have introduced myself to you and made clear what you stand to gain in and from me. Now you have all the information you require to take a decision. Eternity is what is at stake here, not just physical nourishment. Hunger and thirst are human attributes but they also have spiritual implications. God is the answer to both, and he invites me to come to him for all that I need. That decision is to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour. It is not enough to just take of what he gives, but it is very important to also take him for who he is. That is the complete package, and the seal of eternal life with God. God's time of favour is here. 

God at Work!

God at Work!

Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. Psalm 127:1 KJV

You really cannot and must not underestimate the importance of planning right. There is nothing you want to achieve on earth that will not demand some information and structured action, in order to ensure that you have success. God also had a plan when he made the world, and the account of creation reveals the amazing structure around his plan. Light was made first, then all the heavenly host and then the animals and birds, then man, to cater for all that had been made before him. If God would plan, and I am made in his likeness, I must also make a plan for all that God has made me to accomplish. It would therefore amount to foolishness if I think I can get away with coasting through life, with no idea of what God demands of me or an idea of how to fulfil all that God demands.

Building a house takes time and resources. It requires a plan, because you cannot build a house by dreaming, or by accident. If it will look like what you planned, you really do need a plan. So, do I know the kind of house God is making me into? Do I have an idea of all the resources I need to build the house? Have I sought the right kind of people and help that will aid in building according to plan? Today's extract makes it clear that when I have assembled all the materials, resources and information required for the work, the most important part has to be getting God's approval for the work to be done. What is the use of good materials, the best hands and the best ground, if God is not a part of it? 

This is the bit that the human part of us struggles with. We have amassed degrees; made the right kind of friends, developed the right circle of influence, yet we don't get what we want. We lie, scheme and cheat, yet we are no nearer to where God wants us to be. It has never been about the strongest, fastest or the smartest; it is first about he who God helps. Once God is involved in the project, all that you have provided supports the vision God has birthed. If God is not involved, it does not matter what the value of your provisions are. 

We build high fences and employ men and devices as guards or protection, yet we recall how the angel of death went through the land of Egypt and killed all the firstborn in the land, including those of animals. It did not matter what the security layout of the land was; once God was fighting against Egypt, they were doomed. If God watches over you, it does not matter what the quantity or quality of the opposition against you is. However, if God is not the one watching you, you have only employed an alert system, able to tell you when trouble comes, but unable to help you in anyway in that trouble that you have. 

With God, numbers are not important. He can keep one, and he can keep a city. He can keep a child safe, as he did with Jesus when Herod sought to kill him, and he can preserve a whole country, as he did when he caused Israel's enemies to hear the sound of an army and they fled. God does not need numbers to do what he can do, as he can save by one or by thousands. He has thousands upon thousands of angels at his command; how can a mortal man ever think that he can fight against this God and win? 

Please plan, but plan light. Make plans, but make them with God as the master planner. Lay out the strategy, but make sure you have the Man of war on your side as you plan. Seek out options and alternative measures if need be, but never settle for a compromise when it comes to the Help of Israel. He is the one always at work, never tired, always there to help. He needs me to work with him, as he works out his plan for all of life. May I cooperate with God and bring his plan and purpose for my life to pass. May his grace be sufficient to enable me trust him completely. God's time of favour is here. 

Just Pray!

Just Pray!

Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. James 5:13‭ KJV

The context in which today's extract is laid out must be emphasised. James was speaking to the right attitude in waiting for the day of the Lord. It is clear that the day is coming; whether I am ready for it or not becomes a different story altogether. Men think they can save up for the day by cheating others out of lawful income. Some think they can get away with mistreating other people for personal gain, forgetting that the standard required to be fit for the day of the Lord is as laid down by God and involves total submission to the Lordship and authority of Jesus. There are no room for grudges, but room for plenty of endurance and patience, so that one can receive the promise of God for the last days. 

It is on this premise that the charge for today hangs. For those who have surrendered their lives to God, and are daily living in his strength, there is a deep well of resources available for them to draw out of. Taking on the Lord Jesus as Saviour means being able to access all that he is and gives. So when the world comes with its burdens and loads, I simply call on the grace that is available in Christ. It does not matter what the nature or gravity of the situation is; the answer to all that ails me lies in my approach to the throne of grace. 

When there is any trouble, what is recommended is that I simply pray. It does not ask me to come before God and complain about my lot, or ask why my case is different from the other person. It does not pay in any way to moan about the journey God has called me to, but to simply depend on the grace that He has made available in abundant measure. It does not ask me to consult others before I pray; I am asked to simply come before the Lord in prayer and tell him exactly what is going on. Affliction is a part of the human experience, made possible due to the fall of man into sin in the Garden of Eden, but that same Garden was the place of the greatest promise made by God: the salvation of all mankind, as long as man makes the approach the right way. 

Even in merry times when God has answered prayer or granted relief, a right response is also prescribed: sing psalms. David was a man who had this totally figured out. He was not perfect by the way we view things, but he was a man after God's heart, based on God's view, and it did not matter what or how anyone else felt. David wrote several songs, some of which have formed the inspiration behind some of the hymns we sing these days. I believe the lesson is this: no matter what life throws at me, it is very important to define what my response will be. I cannot wait until the problem comes; I have to store up the lessons God teaches me daily, so that when challenges come as they did for Joseph in Egypt or Daniel in Babylon, I have the right experiences, encounters and information stored up that I can draw on.

No matter what comes, my heart must be right so it can produce the right results. As I prepare for the day of the Lord, so many terrible things will happen, and even the faith of many will be shaken, but God speaks still, seeking to show himself strong in the lives of all who are fully committed to him. When he is in charge, my life will produce fruit that will look like what God is. If he is not in, I can't fake it, no matter how hard I try. He wants me to be ready for all that is coming; would I? God's time of favour is here.