Seek Right!

Seek Right!

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Isaiah 55:6‭ KJV

There is a deep mystery about time. With man, we count in seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years, but it seems to be from God's perspective. There are times God seems to keep the time we keep, but there are times it is obvious that God is doing what He alone can do, and at his own time. Man will struggle to understand God's unique sense of timing, but it has never been God's way to pander to man's whims. He has a purpose in mind and a plan to fulfil and he is obligated to bring about his plan. He is God who fills all things in all ways, is present everywhere, knows all things and can do all things. As I pursue that which life offers, I must be clear about who God is and what He wants for me, so I don't end up labouring in vain. 

God wants me to seek Him, but He will have me do it on His terms. There is a time to seek God. It is not really about a particular day or month, but it is about a heart set on seeking to know more about God. When a man is hungry for God, he is not bothered by the inconvenience of time. Due to the unpredictable nature of time, what is the guarantee that any of us will see tomorrow on this side of earth? What if the Lord returns this morning? There is a time to seek God out; when He promises to be found by all who seek Him. It means that if I will find Him, I must seek Him the right way. If I am looking for him, just for daily bread, like the crowd at the feeding of the 4,000, I am getting only a limited experience of who God is.

If I want all of God, I must seek Him with all my heart. It also means I cannot claim to seek God and be okay with sin. I have to love and hate the things He loves and hates. If I call on Him with unconfessed sin in my life, how would the Holy One be able to look at me or hear me, except if my call is to confess and reject sin? He is near to all who are of a broken heart, who are truly sorry for their sins. Does this describe me? Remember, the time I have is not viewed the same way by God. My 100 years on earth is just a drop in the ocean of eternity. I must use time on earth the right way, focused on the right priorities, so that I can have eternal sorted out. God's time of favour is here.

Knock, Knock!

Knock, Knock!

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20 KJV

Today's extract is usually quoted to people who are coming to Christ as Saviour for the first time. We quote this verse, telling them that Jesus knocks on the door of their hearts and wants to come in. This is very true; but it is also true that this verse was part of a letter actually sent to the church on Laodicea. It was not written to unbelievers, but to people who were once saved and at least knew the truth. Where do I stand: have I met this Christ, or have I become so familiar with Him that I do not know that I have locked him out of my life? Do I need to invite Him into my heart for the first time? Wherever position I am in now, I have either a decision to make or a position to maintain. It is to respond to the call of Jesus on my life. 

Jesus knocks. Pause and think of this: the Lord of all the earth, the Mighty God of Israel, the Creator of all that is seen and unseen, the One called the Lord God Almighty who can level mountains, stands at the door of the human heart, also created by Him, and knocks. He will not break down the door or force his way in; he wants me to respond to Him out of love and freewill. He is a benevolent dictator who brings me the power to reject or choose Him. That is great power, but with grave responsibility too. I get to choose the response but I have no power over the consequences. I cannot turn around and blame God for the consequences of my own decision, taken of my own freewill. 

The consequences for opening the door are laid out in today's extract. He will come in, sit with me, eat with me, and I with him. There is resource sharing with deep fellowship. There is access to all that Jesus is and gives. Eating with Jesus shows intimate fellowship, which is a foretaste of what is to come, at the marriage supper of the Lamb. Of course, the opposite is equally true. If I lock him out, he will stay out but I cannot blame him if things don't go according to plan. He can only protect that which is entrusted into His hands. Is my life in His hands? Is yours? God's time of favour is here. 

Guarantee!

Guarantee!

The fear of man bringeth a snare: But whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe. Proverbs 29:25 KJV

There are two statements in today's extract, and both of them are guaranteed truths. As it is with all of God's truths, He lays them down and invites me to come to him, believing that He speaks the truth. He is a God whose word can be trusted. With Him, time does not change his principles. What He called sin for Adam, is still a sin in our own days. The punishment and wages for sin then was death, and no amount of education, enlightenment, exposure or earning power can change those wages. He is a God with whom hypocrisy and pretence do not sell. Now that I know all of these things about God, what is my decision? How do I relate with this God, knowing all that He has revealed to me about Himself? 

What are these two statements? First, the fear of man is a snare. Why is this? That which you fear controls you. That which sits on the throne of your heart dictates your pursuits and priorities. Once it speaks, you leave all you do to attend to its dictates. Imagine if it is the fear of mortal man like myself that dictates my life's focus. Due to man's many inconsistencies, imagine how confused a man who fears another man will be. One day, you are asked to do this, the next, you are asked to do the opposite. Is this how best God would want me to live my life? The breath of God in me makes me unique; why would I sacrifice that for the applause or approval of men like myself? 

The second is that he who puts his trust in God is safe. This is the very opposite of the first. You cannot fear man and trust in God at the same time. I don't have the skill or expertise to combine both in the same heart. Trust in God is total, leaving no room for anything or anyone else. And like we have read, both of them have consequences. The fear of man is a trap, as you can never please everyone at the same time. With God, once I key into his will, I enjoy his peace, both down here and into eternity. What could be more precious than having both your earthly and eternal life sorted? That is the guarantee the fear of God gives. Which one rules your heart: trust in God or the fear of men? God's time of favour is here. 

Made!

Made!

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 1 Peter 5:10 KJV

The experiences of life on earth can make one wonder about the eternal. When I give my life to Christ and accept Him as Lord and Saviour, He does not take me away from the earth or shield me from the tough things of earth, but He plants eternity in my heart so I can focus on what is really important. He is called the 'God of grace', because it is only by His grace that we are even called in the first place. No man calls himself, and no sinful man is able to find his way to God without the help of God. He is the One who calls men to himself, planting eternity in their hearts while enabling them to make impact on the earth. The eternal God does not do temporary; everything about Him speaks of the eternal. Can that which is in my hands endure into eternity? Have I found and surrendered my life to that eternal God? 

Remember, only by Christ can I have the eternal sorted out. All that he allows to happen to me on earth only prepare me for the eternal. The tough times, tribulations and trials all work out that which is God's perfect plan for me. The suffering is always for a while, because the earthly phase is only for a while. I must not sacrifice the eternal because of the pressure of the earthly. God is the One who can pass a message with whatever mess is in my life. In his hands, 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish can feed thousands; in my own hands, that is just a regular meal for me and my family. In His hands, water can turn to wine or whatever needs to meet a need. If I can only surrender totally to God, there is no limit to the impact my life can make where it has been planted. 

This God can perfect whatever He starts. No man can complete that which he knows nothing of the origin or purpose. We can pursue a course of action and be successful, but visible success is not always a measure of divine approval. That which God ordains is that which He will sustain. He is the One who can make me perfect, stablish, strengthen and settle me. No matter the storms that rise, they cannot shift me from the position that God has planted me, because if He plants, no man can uproot. I check my life again today: am I where God's grace needs me to be? Can the supply from God reach me where I am presently planted? If not, it is not too late to change location. Let God do the settling; His message in and through me will speak loudly. God's time of favour is here. 

Come; Buy; Live!

Come; Buy; Live!

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Isaiah 55:1‭-‬2 KJV

The first step to getting help is to admit that I need help. The extract above speaks to a specific set of people: those who thirst. If you are not thirsty, this message may not be for you. If you are already filled and not in need of anything, this message may not be for you. It could also be that your need is not thirst, but something else. As long as you do not admit the need, it is difficult for you to recognize and accept the offer. However, for all who know they are thirsty and need help, the invitation by God stands. He asks me to COME. I must take the step; I have to get up and come. The place of satisfaction is also mentioned: THE WATERS. If I seek out help from other places, they won't give me the satisfaction that God's provision can. Too many times, we have allowed the world to prescribe options for us; we have alternatives but as long as these alternatives are not of God, they will never give you the satisfaction that your thirst really needs. 

Please, how would someone without money come and buy food to eat, or wine and milk? It would mean then that the currency to be used to buy these things is not the type the world can fake, invent or use. The provisions God makes available here cannot be accessed by bank account balances, circle of influence, high-level connections or even theft. The price for these things is not currency, but surrender. Surrender tells God that I cannot help myself; that He is all that matters, and His help is all that matters. Simon the sorcerer thought he could buy the gift of the Holy Spirit with money; Peter made it clear that the Holy Spirit could not be bought for that kind of price. What my life needs can only be supplied  by the One who created me. That supply can only be nourished and sustained by the one who gave it in the first place. As I take stock of my life again, have I come to the place of surrender, or am I still struggling to 'pay' for that which my life needs?

Let it be clear: I will never be able to afford, on my own, that which my life really needs. The One who speaks here has all that my life needs. He wants me to listen to his offer, and take him up on the offer. That which he supplies is able to nourish and make me 'fat', because that which he gives will do my life good. When I take in that which he gives, my life reflects his imprint upon my life. There is no way I can hide his touch upon my life. He will not force me against my freewill, but He will do all He can to make me see that He has the best plans for me. After all, what can be better than an offer that does not require money? All men can get it, irrespective of status, position, race or history. It is a blank cheque to ANYONE: He that knows and recognizes his need. Are you that person in need? Come to Jesus today, and eat that which is good, both for this earth, and for eternity. Remember, the offer to man is not forever; a season comes when only those who have taken the offer will eat what is good forever. God's time of favour is here. 

Right Pursuit!

Right Pursuit!

He who earnestly seeks after and craves righteousness, mercy, and loving-kindness will find life in addition to righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God) and honor. Proverbs 21:21 AMPC

At creation, man was given the same nature as God - part of which is creative power. Man was given dominion over all that had been created, and all that man needed to exercise that dominion was given to him. Before sin, it was not really a choice; man by his nature, sought after God. God would come down in the cool of the day to talk with the man. There was unbroken and unhindered fellowship. Then, sin happened. Man was tempted to seek other things that was not God's perfect will for him to have. Since the fall of man, man has been pursuing all the wrong things. The world now seeks to change all of God's definitions into the perverted version. What the world calls success is not how God defines it. Man spends his entire life seeking after the perverted versions, and for the whole of his life, he wonders why there is no peace of mind. If it is not from God, it cannot confer you with peace. 

It is time to review my pursuits; what are those things that are taking my time, attention and resources? I have to know this one fact: the inner drives the outer. Whatever it is that takes my time and attention will be a reflection of my inner state. If all that drives me is how to better than my neighbour, that will define what I pursue. If what drives me is what pleases God, it will also show in the things I consider to be important. My heart is revealed by my pursuits and priorities. It must also be known that whatever the pursuits and priorities are, there are eternal consequences attached to them. It is not enough to just chase after anything; life is too complex to spend it in the pursuit of all that catches your fancy. God lays out the pursuits that line up with His will: righteousness, mercy and loving-kindness. These are the attributes of God, so I am simply charged to pursue after God. That is the life that God can bless.

For every pursuit, there is an end-game. God does not call me to pursue after him for nothing. There is an eternal gain at the end of the pursuit. There is a guarantee of life, not the kind that ends, but the one that goes on forever. Actually, life never ends; it continues in eternity, either with God, or away from God. There is no fence or middle ground here; you either running after God, or away from Him. Did you notice that what you get looks like what you pursued? If it is God you are chasing after, you will find Him; that is a guarantee. If it is the world that you pursue after, remember that the world cannot give you what it does not have, and it cannot also give you that which only God can give you. If I will end right, I must make sure that I am chasing after God. God's time of favour is here.

 

Faithful?

Faithful?

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. Luke 16:10 KJV

Is there any one who ever entrusted great riches and responsibility to someone without first testing and proving the person? Can we give sensitive posts to someone who is known not to have control over his/her tongue? It is both a spiritual and an earthly principle that a man must first be tested, and proven to be reliable, before s/he can be given resources to manage. When a man has not been able to rule his own house well, with his family honouring and fearing God, how would you expect such a man to be able to effectively manage the affairs of a community or society? 

It all starts from the little things. We must not despise the days of small and humble beginnings. We want the big stuff, but we have no clear idea what the big stuff will demand from us. We want the glory, but nothing of the gore that must come before. We crave the testimonies, but we want nothing of the test that must come before. How can I grow if I try to shortchange the process? How can I be all that God intends if I do not submit myself to His process? God cannot be mocked; I only get from God that which lines up with His principles. 

His principle is that I must be content with starting small. It does not also end there, but I must also keep my heart focused on the God who is able to turn the small into the massive. I cannot start in him, and then think I can continue on my own. That is why sometimes a man who is given a little is stuck with that little because he cannot be trusted with much. I need to ask: Does any of the above describe me? Only the Truth can show me to myself, so that I can take the right steps to correct what is wrong. Can God trust me with both the little and the much? God's time of favour is here. 

Abiding!

Abiding!

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. John 15:5 KJV

There is always a message for the crowd, and another one for the disciple. What is required from the crowd is not the same as what is required for the disciple. Jesus speaks here to his disciples, and not the crowd. What makes a disciple is the fact that s/he has been washed by the Word of God. The Word of God cleanses and purifies, and then commissions a man for effective service. At no time can that man lose connection with the Word; he must remain fixed to the Word if He is to remain effective and efficient. That is the message of today's extract. 

You cannot exchange the roles; the vine cannot serve as the branch, and the branch cannot serve as the vine. The vine is the supply, and the branches are the evidence of the supply. You call a tree fruitful when you can see the signs of supply. You cannot point to the physical supply, but you can never doubt the evidence. Is my life an evidence of the supply of God's grace, mercy, favour and wisdom? As men come in contact wit me, can they see the evidence of the supply of the vine in me? I note that the roles are laid out by Jesus, and no amount of education, elocution, enlightenment or expenditure can change the role.

I will never be Jesus, and I will never be self-sufficient and I will never be the supply. I can only take of that which I have been given by the vine, and then make use of that to bear fruit. And I note that the key word here is 'abide': "to remain stable or fixed in a state". A man who is abiding in the vine does not have room for divided opinions. Even if doubt comes, there is an assurance that the place where he is fixed to can provide all that is required for impact. Which one am I: a disciple, or just content being a part of the crowd? Remember, whatever position you take, there are eternal consequences. God's time of favour is here. 

Be Still!

Be Still!

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10 KJV

If I do not first have the inner assurance of God's presence, it is inevitable that the events happening around the world will shake or frighten me. My greatest blessing or possession is to have a personal encounter or relationship with the One who calls Himself God. The encounter will not happen automatically, with no effort on my part, but I must seek Him with all my heart. I must come to the conclusion that if I don't have Him, my life cannot be complete. That is the foundation to the search for God: He is all that I need, and He has to be sufficient for me. 

Just before today's extract, there is an invitation for all men to come and see the mighty works of the Lord. God is always at work in the earth, showing forth His power and wisdom. In this instance, He speaks of the end of wars on the earth, with the breaking of the bow and the cutting of the spear to pieces, as well as the burning of the chariots with fire. When you consider esht is going on in the world today, you have to wonder what these words mean. We have the track record of the One who speaks this way, that He has the power to do what He has promised.

When this God speaks, and tells me to be still, please what will my labour and efforts achieve? What can my striving change, if God has already spoken? Until He speaks, men have the power to speak as they please, and they can take steps to fulfil their own desires, but once God has spoken, all striving ceases. It won't matter what has gone before, or what is currently happening; God's word puts a stop to all of men's scheming or striving. The earth will know this God, either by choice or compulsion. His reign is coming over all the earth. 

He is the Creator of all that we see, as well as the parts that have not yet been revealed to man. When he says: 'Be Still', He is at work. He wants to make Himself known, and he does not really need me to be God, but if I surrender my life to Him, I become a platform for his glory to be made known to the heathen and to the world. Those who didn't know Him before must be attracted to Him by His display in me. Let the world take notice: God is at work. Would you also allow him work in you? God's time of favour is here. 

Live Right; End Well!

Live Right; End Well!

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Hebrews 12:14 KJV

The writer of the book of Hebrews is not known, but there is no doubt that the lessons in the book touch on all aspects of human life. Chapter 12 starts with lessons on discipleship and discipline, and the importance of these concepts to my life as a child of God. The same chapter then charges me to watch my life's pursuits and priorities, so that I can end well. First, there is the important directive to FOLLOW. To follow someone or something is to recognize that person or thing as an authority over my life. If I do not accept Jesus as Lord, Master and Saviour, I do not have any incentive to follow Him. If I do not have the Prince of Peace as my leader, there is no way I will follow peace. It also says follow, not lead. I do not know what is ahead; God does. The best use of my life is to follow after the One who knows the right way, and who can lead me to the right end. Do I really know this author of peace?

Am I following, or have I arrogated the power of leadership to myself? Am I my own master and guide, doing as I please, without any accountability to anyone else? It is very important to pause here and consider my life in the light of God's Word, as I cannot shortchange the process. I cannot pursue after my own theories and principles, and then imagine that by magic, everything will turn out the way God planned it. We seek to do our own things, and then claim that God knew it would happen after all. God's omniscience is His nature; it does not take away my own responsibility to find out and do what is right. I also note that this following must be of peace and with ALL men. This is where hard choices are made: God expects those who are His to follow peace with everyone, irrespective of the person's reaction to me. Can I genuinely love someone who is actively seeking my hurt?

These are the times that prove the quality and sincerity of my faith. It is easy to love those who have proven themselves to be lovable, but what of those who have not? When I consider my own journey, can I say that I have merited the love of God that I have also received? If I know the value of what I have received, I do not need to be compelled to show it to other people. That which has been birthed in me must flow out to touch other people. It is not about them deserving it; it is about what I have in me. Each gives what s/he has. It is also important to note the AND linking the pursuit of peace to holiness, which we also do not really talk about much these days. It seems that we have assumed that God has lowered His expectations for our generation, but let it be known today that no matter how much sin is popular, it can never lower or change the wages, which is death. 

We are called to live holy lives, and as today's extract says, without which no man shall see the Lord. It also appears to me that both peace AND holiness are joined together in the pursuit of that good end that the extract for today speaks about. This earthly life will not continue forever, at least, not in this form. At some point in time, either at physical death or the return of Jesus, eternal life starts. My preparation down here is my daily pursuit: what are the things that take my time and attention now? At the end of this earthly life, all men will stand before the Holy God for judgement. You cannot afford not to see God at the end of this life? Not seeing God means that while on earth, I had no regard for his instructions or directions. Not seeing God at the end of my earthly life means that I really wasted the earthly life I was given. What do I need to do to get it right? 

The first and most important step is to surrender the control of my life to the Prince of Peace- Jesus. No one else can give you the peace that makes sense. There is a limit to possessions, power, position and privilege; only the presence of God can give you that which lasts. When I have totally surrendered, I now have the supply of grace that enables me to live right here on earth. As I live right down here, I am working towards the right end. I note that this combination impacts both God and men. I cannot be so focused on eternity with God that I fail to impact men's lives, and I cannot also focus on pleasing men while displeasing God. The grace to do both well is only available in God. He has given it in abundance and to the end of my life on earth, I am guaranteed this fresh, daily supply of grace. I encourage you to seek the help of God to live right, and to end well. God's time of favour is here.

 

The Holy Spirit!

The Holy Spirit!

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John 14:26 KJV

There was a constant theme in all of Jesus' teachings, and this was a constant reference to His Father. He mentioned or made reference to His Father on several occasions in the course of His earthly ministry. It is therefore clear that the relationship between Jesus and His Father was so cordial that God could not but back up his Son as He walked and worked on earth. The ministry of Jesus bore fruit then, and is still bearing much fruit today, simply because of the influence, power and presence of God the Father. As it applied to Jesus, so does it apply to all who seek to follow Him. If I will see the same results as Jesus had, I must relate with God the same way He did. Jesus made this very clear when he spoke to His disciples, not the crowd that usually followed Him around. Relationships are key to access all that God is and gives.

I read the verses that come before today's extract: "All who love me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them. My Father and I will come to them and live with them. But anyone who does not love me does not obey my teaching. This teaching that you hear is not really mine. It is from my Father who sent me." When you read these, you know very clearly where Jesus stands. He is not one you can fool with hypocrisy and eye-service, or sheer zeal without a desire to know more of Him. Love is very key in relationships, and if I truly love God, I will seek after the things that please Him. I will seek to know and pursue more of what He loves. He is the Creator of all He has made, and He is the owner of all things, but He is the Father of all who have come to surrender their lives to Him. That distinction is very important. 

For all who are God's children by salvation, the Holy Spirit is a promise, sent in the name of Jesus. Can you then get Him if you do not recognize the Lordship and Sonship of Jesus? How would God give of Himself to someone who does not know or care that He exists? The way the Holy Spirit is described here makes it clear that He is God, and God does not author or sustain confusion. He will not give me of himself and then turn around and promote that which is not of Himself. The Holy Spirit is called the Comforter here, and God is also the God of all comfort. Part of his role in my life is to teach me all things, and as we know, Jesus is the Great Teacher. I also read that the Holy Spirit will also bring to remembrance the things Jesus had taught before. He will not seek to establish a new religion, but to promote that which is of God.

The Holy Spirit is the key to this dispensation and generation. The confusion in the world today makes it clear that we need the Holy Spirit more than ever before. There is nothing that the Holy Spirit does not know, as God is omniscient. There is nothing He cannot do, because He is omnipotent, and there is nowhere that is hidden before the omnipresent God. I must therefore seek after the help that the Holy Spirit is and gives, so that my life can be all it was created to be. I must cry to God for the fullness of His Spirit, so that He can work in me so that my walk and work can be pleasing to God. If I will make earthly and eternal impact, bringing God to my generation, I need the help of the eternal God. The Father wants to give Him freely to all His children; would you surrender to Jesus and accept this gift? God's time of favour is here.   

Kept!

Kept!

But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 KJV

Paul writes to the church in Thessalonica, covering many topics ranging from earthly impact to eternal realities. One thing is quite clear from all of Paul's teachings, and it is this: being on assignment for God does not stop trials and tough times from coming; the one assurance that matters is that God promises that He will never leave me alone or forsake me. He is with me, but He will test me. He is with me yet life will happen. He is with me, and at the end of it all, the purpose behind the pain will be made plain. 

When you read a BUT, it is good to look at the position that has been taken prior to the BUT. Mortal men will be men, and because of the sinful nature, will naturally oppose all that is of God. The devil knows that the eternal plan of God for man is good, and he will do all he can to frustrate it. All over the world, men seek to oppose the work of God. Men are persecuted, being put to death or prison simply because of their faith in God. Then the BUT - the Lord is faithful. That is the hope; the silver lining for life. 

The faithfulness of God is the reason why any of us can look forward with hope to whatever comes. The statement: 'The Lord is faithful' is not really subject to my consent or approval. It is a fact that has held true through several generations of men and dispensations, times and seasons. It is this nature of God that enables me look forward to trials, tough times and challenges; otherwise, I won't be able to cope. The mortal life is tough, and without the help of the divine, the mortal will always struggle.

That is why the help of the divine is required for stability and safety from evil. God has no problem with keeping me safe, and he has no problem providing me with stability, focus and direction, but the problem is whether I can trust him enough through the entire process. I cannot start in Him and seek to continue by power, wisdom or connections. It has to be a daily walk with the source of power. He does not fail, will not fail and has eternal supply of strength. Would you depend on Him? God's time of favour is here. 

Obey!

Obey!

But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth]. For if anyone only listens to the Word without obeying it and being a doer of it, he is like a man who looks carefully at his [own] natural face in a mirror; For he thoughtfully observes himself, and then goes off and promptly forgets what he was like.

James 1:22‭-‬24 AMPC

A fairly long passage, but with relevant lessons for our lives today. There is s lot of hearing, but not much of listening and doing. We love the high-sounding words of the bible; we love the stories and envy the lives and testimonies of these men and women, yet we do not want to commit to doing what they did to get what they did. God is not a magician, but He is a miracle worker. He can do the most mighty with the most weak, but the most weak must recognize its limitations and depend totally on the one who can do the most mighty. This is where today's extract has relevant messages for us: what is God's demand of me, and how do I fit my life's pursuits, priorities and purposes into the divine plan of God?

The first thing is to have unfettered access to the Word of God. There is nothing else that has the backing and power of God more than His Word. The Word of God is His person; Jesus is called the Word of God. In essence, when I really read and study the Word of God, I am telling God that He is very important to me. Would I then take all that time to read and meditate, and then simply ignore its warnings, instructions or directives? Would I pick and choose only the parts of the Word of God that align with what I desire, and ignore the rest? Or would I just simply take it all as one long interesting story, not even bothering with the lessons it seeks to teach or the change it can bring if I allow Him work?

Whatever the response, God cannot be caught by surprise; after all, His Word has been existing before time as we know it now began, and will continue to exist long after time, as we know it now, ceases to exist. His Word remains that template by which true change can occur, only if I allow Him work. This is the progression from reading and hearing to obeying. I cannot remain at the level of hearing alone, which is the entry point, but I must move on to obedience. No plan ever produces fruit without going through all the processes that aid growth: preparation, plowing, planting, processing, preparing, protecting, weeding, watering and nurturing. If these processes are not done, how can I expect a rich harvest?

The person who only reads and hears, without any desire to obey, is described as one who looks in a mirror, sees what s/he looks like, and as soon as s/he turns around, forgets all that was seen. Pray, how would that person be able to correct whatever anomaly or oddity was identified in the mirror? I note that there is no third party influence here; I cannot get someone else to do what you alone are required to do, because whatever was shown to me is personal to me. Even if I described it in detail, the person will never get it like I did. That is the limitation of trusting a man to fix that which only God can. That is the deception of this present age that raises intellect, influence and income over the power of the Word of God.

No matter the value, nothing can replace the Word of God in a man's life. That which only God can do will be done by Him alone. His Word is powerful, generational and personal. My lessons are first my own, before they become a charge to someone else. I must first seek to allow the Word of God to work in me, before I seek it to work through me. I must focus on the silent, hidden work of the Word of God; work done away from the eyes of men, so that when the season of manifestation comes, the power of the Word of God can flow unhindered and unfettered. God can do what He says in His Word that he can do; would I let Him? Remember, He does not force Himself on anyone; it is surrender. God's time of favour is here.

Prove it!

Prove it!

Bring forth fruit that is consistent with repentance [let your lives prove your change of heart]; Matthew 3:8 AMPC

A few things happened just before the words of today's extract. First, we see the man called John the Baptist introduced into the mainstream of Israel's society. The society knew his father and mother, but I do not think they were prepared for the lifestyle and message choices of this young man. He did not conform to the usual standard of his society, but made a home in the wilderness. And in the event that you thought his location was a fluke, his dress sense and nutrition choices were also pretty unusual. 

How does a man who dresses in camel's hair and eats locusts and wild honey attract anyone? Therein is the second lesson: a man with God's message will always command an audience. We know not much about the season of preparation for John the Baptist but when God announced him, the world sat up and took notice. Therein lies the third lesson: don't force yourself on people; let God announce you. When he does, you won't have to shout to be heard; men will take the beaten path to your door to hear what you have been given by God. 

It is not a wonder then that many of the Pharisees and Sadducees came to hear him. These were men who resisted truth at all times, but when the clear message of God comes, it comes with conviction. This is the fourth lesson: you can't remain the same when the Word of God comes. It will demand a response from you: either acceptance or rejection. You cannot sit on the fence; even the decision to sit on the fence is itself a decision not to fully commit to God. Have I truly repented? Has that basic work of faith being concluded in me? Until there is repentance, the fruit cannot look like the seed. How can there be fruit if there is no seed?

John knew who was backing him up. He had spent time in private with God, and was not afraid of men anymore. This is the fifth lesson: until you have bowed, knelt or laid before God in private, you will not be able to stand before men. John spoke directly to leaders of men, charging them to stop being hypocrites and start being living proof of what they professed. This is the sixth lesson: it is of no value to only keep speaking about your faith; you have to move to the level where the proof of your faith is seen in your daily living. How would men be attracted to the 'light' if there is really no light? 

It is time for some honest stocktaking. There is no room for self-deceit. At least, I must be honest with myself. Is my public life a honest reflection of my private faith life? Am I living out in public what I have confessed in private? Repentance is first an inward work, and then an outward walk, where my new life choices reflect that inner work. True repentance has matching fruit, which means that it is easy to identify a man who has truly repented. Can men look at me and clearly see that I am a child of God? Am I bearing fruit that reflect that truth? May I respond to the grace of God that has brought salvation to all men. There will no excuse if I reject that which had been provided. God's time of favour is here. 

Defining Love!

Defining Love!

Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. 1 Corinthians 13:4 AMPC

The season of love requires clarity of thought, process and application. If I am to aplly my life to a particular concept or theory, I have to fully understand what it is, where it is from, what it is supposed to achieve in me and the end game. I cannot afford to start or pursue something simply because it is popular or well-spoken of; it has to mean more than just a buzz word. What is this love, really? Paul, writing to the church in Corinth, starts with what love is not. As I read the first 3 verses before today's extract, I get the distinct impression that what he covers in those first 3 verses is what the world celebrates as the real thing. We love the dramatic, the visible and the audible; we forget that pretence and hypocrisy are easy to engage in due to our fallen human nature. It has to mean more than just tongues, giftings of prophecy or knowledge or even a surrender of my body, simply to boast. 

What is this love then, if it is not all of the above? How else do I prove love without something I can really hold on to? This is where it gets interesting: love is first internal, before it flows out. It is the process and fullness of what has been built up in me that flows out in what is the real deal. Men call it making love, because they think it is only all about what can be seen. A woman can ask a man: " Do you really love me" and most times, the reason is because she needs the visible evidence of the love. Unfortunately, real love is only of one kind, and it is the kind that God births and sustains in those who are His own. All other variants that we see: the one between husband and wife, or siblings, are offshoots of the original version. The devil too is amart, and he has his own definitions, as we also see lust and infatuation being defined as love. For every original, the devil tries to duplicate.

Check out the verse above again: Love is defined as enduring long, as patient and as kind. See the mix between the invisible and the visible. You cannot point to patience or endurance but you cannot deny its evidence in the life of a person who has them. Kindness is seen from the physical things that a person does, but as you know, you cannot give what you do not have. As I live daily and relate to people around me, the one who sits in my control centre is revealed by my life's fruits. If I am unable to rejoice at other people's successes, I need to check again the one who sits on the throne of my heart. If I am always jealous of another person's life, unable to see the great things that God is doing in mine, I need to ask God for help to see right. If I am someone who defines life by the value of my bank account balance, or my circle of influence, and if that is the basis of determining who I can relate with, I still have a lot to learn about what love truly is. 

As I read the verse above, it is clear to me what God's expectations for me are. He has clearly defined for me what He wants for and from me, and what He also does not expect to see in me anymore, if I have truly surrendered my life to Him. Pride has no place in love. A desire to always be in the public eye, with a view to proving you are better than everyone else, has no place in God's definition of love. As long as I seek that which is God's, I must pursue it God's way, and follow His standard. If what I hold is not God's version, no matter how hard I pull, force or manipulate it, it will never achieve that which God desires. If what I hold is God's version of love, even if it is not popular, just hold on to it and keep at it. The one who you promote with the life of love will promote Himself in and through you. The world awaits the manifestation of the sons of God, and the loudest way we can promote it is by love. God's time of favour is here.

 

Inside Out!

Inside Out!

rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Romans 12:12 KJV

Paul, writing to the church in Rome, speaks of different attitudes and practices that line up with the Christian life. The day I gave my life to Christ was the day I chose a different lifestyle. All that relates to that new life must be my pursuits and priorities now. I will quickly admit that this new life will demand a lot from you; what it is asking you to do is against the natural inclination of man, but because of the new nature in me, I am able to depend on God to help me live the right way. A lot of instructors are given in the entire chapter 12, but we will focus on the verse before us today.

Rejoicing in hope: I note the key words here are not things you can quantify but you cannot doubt their presence or absence in the life of any man. Joy and hope are birthed in a man by the help of the Holy Spirit. You cannot get them by peddling influence, or flaunting wealth or by human connection, but simply by divine connection. You cannot have the Holy Spirit and not have joy; joy is one of the dimensions of the fruit of the Spirit. 

You can't have the Holy Spirit and not look forward to the amazing things that God will and is doing in your life. You know very clearly that your life is much more than what people can see. There is a depth to me that only God can fill, and as He fills it, my life becomes a visible and audible expression of His grace, power and mercy. Do you have the Holy Spirit? Do I? 

Patient in Tribulation: this is the part of the package we don't like to talk about. You cannot have triumphs without tests, and you can't have a testimony without a test. I also note that patience is one of the dimensions of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. I need the Holy Spirit to help me face all that is coming; at no time did God ever promise that life will be all smooth and trial-free. 

The only way I can prepare for that which is coming is to have the help of the One who had seen it all and also overcame. His victory becomes my daily support and encouragement. The other thing that gives me hope is that nothing of this earth has the capacity to last forever. Only that which is eternal can help keep me focused on the right things. Can that which lives in me help me through the tough times that are coming? 

Continuing instant in prayer: the third dimension in today's verse is prayer. The secret to a life of impact is the invisible power source of prayer. The words used to describe the power of prayer are: continuing instant. Two words you don't usually use together. If it is instant, you use it once and for all, and you are done. Yet there is a continuing part, which means that prayer is both useful for the times when there is a sudden need and even when all seems well around you. 

You are not praying to avoid trouble, but you pray because you have found the source of power. You do not want to lose that source, so you keep plugging in, even on the days you are tempted to use other means. You have come to the point where it is God and no one else. You don't do it only when it is convenient, but at all times. You don't do it as a long-term project to be planned and budgeted for, but what you do on a regular basis. That is how you access power. 

I note that the focus is first on that which is internal, before the evidence can be celebrated on the external. The secret to the power they changes lives is that which is not obvious to the naked eye. We can celebrate and make noise about the visible and the audible but it will only remain noise and empty of real power unless they are subject to the control, influence and direction of the Wisdom and the Power of God. If I want it, I must be ready to pay the price for it. God's time of favour is here. 

Directed!

Directed! 

Within your heart you can make plans for your future, but the Lord chooses the steps you take to get there.

Proverbs 16:9 TPT

It is good to make plans. The world knows the place of making plans, and it has coined several adages about plans, one of which is: 'to fail to plan is to plan to fail'. Even the bible also has many pointers to the place of proper planning, with one example being: 'For who would construct a house before first sitting down to estimate the cost to complete it?' Whatever it is you want to do, you can't just start it without a clear idea of what you want to achieve. Doing so will definitely lead to a waste of resources, time and lives too. 

As it is in the physical, so is it in the spiritual. Just as we make plans for physical achievements, so must we make plans for the spiritual. The human heart is such a fundamental part of this process. It is in the heart that all the good or evil plans are considered before the hands or feet start to implement. It is in the heart that all the best laid plans are formed. I must therefore work on my heart and be sure that it is totally under the control of the Holy Spirit, if what it will produce will line up with the will of God. Too many times, we see the physical evidence of a life without spiritual depth, and we see what that life produces. If I will turn out right, my heart must be right.

For a life that has been given up to God, you have extra divine help. As you plan, you have the help of the Holy Spirit to make sure your plans and steps are directed by God. All human beings can plan; we have been given the power to do so by God, as we have been made in the image and likeness of God. His nature in us is creative, but due to man's sin, that nature has been corrupted by a false sense of independence and liberty. We think we can make it on our own, and don't need God, but life evidence has consistently shown that outside of God, man will not thrive. 

Yes, he may have what the world calls success, but as we know, the world's view is not always the best view. God wants to be a part of our lives; He wants to be involved in our daily lives and this can only be possible if we surrender to Him and allow Him lead. He can direct our steps so that we walk in line with his will. When we do so, we can't go wrong. The amazing thing about God is that for all of us in the world, He can lead each one on the path to the fulfillment of His purpose. He is not limited by time, space or circumstances. If I am His, I have His help. If I have His help, I can't go wrong. He does not force himself on me, but my life will make impact if it is directed by its owner where He wants. Am I His? Do I belong to Him? Does He control my heart? God's time of favour is here. 

Knowing!

Knowing!

O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.

Isaiah 25:1 KJV

It takes personal encounter to speak in the way the prophet Isaiah speaks here. You do not call God the Lord if He is not first so in your life. It is quite easy to speak the language of church, make the right noises in the public place and generally give off good vibes; the truth of your convictions are laid bare when no one else is looking at you or holding you directly to account for your private choices. This is the same Isaiah who had seen the glory of God in the temple, had experienced a deep cleansing that ordinary water and soap could never achieve, and who had received a commission to declare God's counsel to people. For a man like this, who else could be more important to him than this God? 

As it was for Isaiah, so it has to be for me. Is this Lord my own God, or is He one of the many options I consider when there is trouble? Say what you want; the truth of your convictions are made obvious in the face of tough times. For Isaiah, it was a settled matter: no matter what comes, this Lord is my God. I note that being God means authority and total surrender. There is no negotiation with the person you claim to be God over your life. You don't accept some parts of his authority and reject the rest; He is either your Lord or someone over whom you have control. You can't have it both ways. 

This surrender always demands a reaction; for Isaiah, it was to exalt and praise the name of this Lord. What is it for me? When I consider who this God is, have I met him? Do I really know Him? Have I sat down to consider all his mighty acts, wonders and miracles? What is the decision: praise or pout? Lift him up or reject his authority? It bears repeating again that a very personal encounter is the best way to get it right. If you have met God, you will know how best to relate with him. Maybe the reason why we are lackadaisical about our commitment to this God is because we have not really known or met Him. All the men and women of old who did know Him personally held on to that experience for the rest of their lives. It kept them focused, no matter what was going on in and around them. 

Read Isaiah's personal testimony here: for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. God can be trusted to be true to his nature and word. He can never lie, because it is not in his nature to. What he called sin to Adam is still a sin today, no matter the sophistication of the world. I must seek to know this God and not settle for another man's view of Him. He wants me to know Him; my life's purpose, direction and impact are all tied to my personal knowledge and experience of Him. He wants to show Himself strong and mighty in me. Would I let Him have his way? Would I surrender my life to be the altar from which He can reach out and change the world? God's time of favour is here. 

Fixed!

Fixed!

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16 KJV

There are some statements we will make in the course of our lives that are from the place of personal conviction, not what someone forces us to say. The statement in today's extract is one of such. You don't hold on to the truth of God's word if you have not first tested it and found it to be true. I must be able to clearly define the role, function, effect and impact of God's Word in my life, because there will be life questions to which I have to provide answers. What would be my response if I have never experienced the power of God's Word or never allowed it do His work in me? It is therefore clear that before I am able to declare as Paul has done in today's extract, I must first test and prove the worth of the gospel of Jesus. 

My life has to be the platform for that test. We see Paul, a one-time contractor for the Jewish establishment, helping to arrest those who belonged to Jesus. He was found as the curator of the personal belongings of those who stoned Stephen, and then also the letters that allowed the arrest and imprisonment of those who claimed to belong to the Way. We know his encounter with the Light, and how his life turned out. I may have the same dramatic conversion, but there has to be a confrontation with the past, a conversion from that past and a conversation with the Holy Spirit leading into a new life. I cannot break that process, because that is the power of the gospel:, it does not leave a man the same way he is met.

The gospel of Jesus does not seek to conform to what is comfortable for man, but seeks to transform men to the standard of God, by the power of the Holy Spirit. The gospel does not bend to the will or applause of man, but seeks to glorify God by taking the mess that is man and turning his life into a message, a ministry and a masterpiece. I also note the part that I must play to bring that power to reality: I must make room for it by believing. As powerful as God's Word is, it can only be seen in me if I allow it work. It does not reduce its efficacy or impact; it is only limited by how much room I give it. If I do not limit it, then there is no limit to what it can achieve in me.

It is for ALL who believe, no matter the tribe, race, colour or affliation. The past is the best start for showing off the power of the gospel. The gospel takes me as I am, cleans me up and then places me where I can best reflect the glory, power and mercy of the gospel. Don't forget: the gospel is about Jesus, not any man. Jesus came from the Jews, and in his earthly ministry, he made his people the first priority, but they were not the only recipients of this power. We all have now being brought into the kingdom of Jesus, by faith and confession. We are now partakers of the divine, made available and accessible in and through Jesus. Now that you know of this power, what is your response: accept or reject it? Remember, your response has eternal consequences. God's time of favour is here. 

For His Sake!

For His Sake!

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for their's is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10 KJV

It is not a popular message these days, but you can't deny its truth. We may not speak of it often, but trials and tough times are part of the package of faith that Jesus laid down. If He only said it and didn't live it out, we could have called him a hypocrite, but as we know, his own life is also a study in tough times. The message in today's extract was part of his teachins as He sat down with his disciples. The crowd was all there, but he spoke to those who had made the decision to follow Him. As it was then, so is it now: he speaks to those who have left the world and are now following His Word. 

The Word and the world are on opposite sides of the spectrum of faith. Both follow parallel priorities that can never align, no matter how far you draw them or try to bring them together. The world hates inconvenience, and that is why success and wealth are popular themes in the world. On the opposite side of the Word, success and wealth are also relevant, but the mode of pursuit, as well as the order of priority is quite different. In the plan of God, having all that He desires for us is important, but He does not stop there; He also tells me to prepare for times that will test my heart to see if He or what I hold is more important. 

It is this test that is the defining point for those who follow Christ. With all that God blesses us with, He also says that I am blessed when I am persecuted for the sake of righteousness. If I dare stand for God, I must know that the world will fight me. I stand on the opposite side of all that the world holds dear, and it is a must that the world will test to see if I am sincere or not. If I claim to stand on the Word, and at no time am I really tested, I must be careful that I have not learnt compromise or found it easy to be silent, when I am expected to stand for the Word of God. 

Persecution must come; it is part of the journey, but it must be based on the nature of God in me, which is His righteousness. If I am punished for sin I have committed, that is not the same as this. If my stand on the Word of God is known, then I must prepare for opposition. God promises me an eternal reward: the kingdom of heaven. I know that whatever it is that God allows down here, is a preparation for the eternal. Nothing I hold or lose down here is more important than the eventual destination of my soul. 

Enjoy the world and its promises and provisions, but make sure you also have the Word and its promises and provisions. The latter is the guarantee that all the pain will be worth it eventually. Our troubles in this present world are defined by God as light and momentary; they were not built to last forever. The work that God will do in me by the things He permits is what will work eternal life in me. That must be my daily pursuit and focus. When I stand before God at the end, none of the world's promises or provisions will matter; only that which God wrought in me, by the things He allowed to come my way. God's time of favour is here. 

Power in the Word!

Power in the Word!

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 KJV

There are words, and there is the Word of God. Men are permitted to speak as they want or please, but only the Word of God is described this way. I note that for men, words are in plural, but for God, the sum total of what He said in the past, what He is saying now, and what He will still say, form the essence of His being and nature. You cannot divorce God from his nature, and His Word reveals His heart and nature. It is God's word, not the words of mortal men, who can boast about tomorrow but cannot guarantee it. 

The Word of God is presented here with words that describe animate objects, not non-living things. It means that the Word of God is alive, has life and gives life; after all, you can only give that which you have. If God created the heavens and the earth by His Word, imagine the power that is in His Word. The fact that God continues to sustain the world shows that the power in the Word is still active. That is why the Word is described with words such as quick, powerful and sharp. You don't use such words without personal experience. 

Look at the effects of the words used: God's word is sharp enough to divide soul and spirit, even making a fine distinction between bone and marrow. It is that sharp, yet so precise that it cannot miss its mark. It can penetrate deep enough to reveal my secret thoughts and motives to me, so I can make adjustments as required. It is able to discern the true reason for my exertion and not what I seek to force people to believe. With the Word of God, pretence and hypocrisy are worthless, except that they lead a man down the path of doom. 

With God, it does not matter what I convince myself about, but what God's Word has to say on a matter. To discern is to know. With this knowledge comes power, and power is only real when it can make a change. The change my life needs is only available for supply in and by the Word of God. The Word of God is the key to unlocking all that God is and wants for me. As long as God has spoken it to me, it will surely come to pass. Men of old who moved their generation did so on the strength of the Word of God which had become personal to them. It is the same for me today: I need to hear and get a Word from God for my life. With the Word, impact is non-negotiable. God's time of favour is here. 

Divine Thoughts!

Divine Thoughts!

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11 KJV

It is easy to trust that God is in charge of everything when all falls into place and there are no surprises. It is easy to trust God when there are no worries, or stuff to keep your mind distracted. There may not be any need to pray about what you already have in abundance, but there is a God who wants me to go to Him for everything and at all times, no matter what is going on in and around me. In days of abundance or lack, God wants to be involved in all areas of my life. Indeed, it is his heart that is laid bare in today's extract. 

For the people of Israel, sin had put them in trouble. They were in exile in Babylon away from the land God had promised them. Sin has such a high price, yet the love of God is greater. These people were in exile because of sin, yet God was promising them a certain time when he would visit and bring them back to the land. I consistently rebel against God, thinking I can sort it out by myself, yet He does not let go or leave me alone. If this is not love, how else can you define it? How do I get to have this love? 

By the simple fact that I am made by God, I am a candidate for this love. As we see from Israel, it wasn't because they were the best of people, but because God is the best of fathers. He gives us an insight into his heart here: 'I know the thoughts I think toward you.' That is confidence, from a place of power. It is one thing to have good thoughts toward a person, and it is a different thing to be able to translate these thoughts into actual action that aligns with the thoughts. This is the mercy, power and wisdom of God at work. 

His words are backed up by His nature, which means that by the simple fact that He is God, he can do all that He promises. Sin does not and cannot stop his plan or his love; it can only delay it in the life of the one who refuses to forsake sin. God knows the end from the beginning, and He is always at work to bring that end to reality, if I will let Him. I have to trust Him totally, not rely on my own human schemes and machinations. I must avoid sin, as it is the cause of exile in the first place. I ask God for daily grace to trust His heart and plans for me, so that I can be all He wants and I can end up where He wants for me. That is the best use of my life. God's time of favour is here. 

Sow Right!

Sow Right!

The liberal soul shall be made fat: And he that watereth shall be watered also himself. Proverbs 11:25 KJV

Right from the days of Noah, God had instituted times and seasons. God put it this way: 'as long as the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, will not cease'. Part of that statement by God is the assurance that whatever I put in the ground will come back to me in multiple folds. Unless God decides to do as he pleases, you have to first put the seed in the ground, provide all the nutrients it needs, and ensure it has all it needs, before you can make a demand for its fruits. You have to first give something out, before you can stretch out your hand to get something back. This is the law of sowing and reaping, which is both a spiritual and a physical law as well. How much of this law do I apply to my personal life?

What does it mean to be liberal? The dictionary says: 'given, used or occurring in generous amounts'. You give, yet you are made fat. You give out, which means that when you give, you have less, yet you are actually have more. How does this work? With God, we have the perfect example of a God who gave and then got so many other things in return. God gave his one and only son, and in return, he has billions of followers all over the world. What am I willing to give up so that God can give me what I truly need? What do I have to let go in my hand, so that I can lay hold on that which God intends for me? It cannot be done stingily; it has to be done in abundance, showing that I am not defined by what I have acquired or hoarded, but by what I give. 

The one who waters also is seen in the same light. The one who waters must have himself been watered by God; you cannot give what you don't have. When a man has had an encounter with God, his life cannot remain the same. There must be something amazing about water, for it to be used here. It can clean, and it can cook. It can also drown you, as well as clean you up. If my live will serve the right purpose, it must first have an encounter with the one who can make it count. If my life will have the proper application leading to eternal life, it must first have met the One who is the Life. It is not enough to just pray that my life should water another; what kind of watering will my life have if it is poured out into another person's life? 

It is therefore clear here that whatever it is I am asked to do has consequences. I do not get to walk away from whatever I do with no consequences. If I am liberal and openhanded, God will send fatness and fullness into my life. If I can pour out of what God has placed in me into other people, God will also raise other people that will pour into my own life too. I also note that there is no negotiation about the consequences; the word SHALL is used for both instances. This word: SHALL is backed up by the power of the Most High God and means that nothing can stop what has been promised. This is the basis of my confidence; the reason why I can look forward to whatever it is that is ahead. God's time of favour is here.  

Walking Right!

Walking Right!

He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: But a companion of fools shall be destroyed. Proverbs 13:20 KJV

In his wisdom, God has created man in his own image. The first man was formed from the dust of the earth as the template for humanity, the first woman from that which was already formed, and all other human beings from there were the result of the union of the man and the woman. God's plan is that man will be fruitful and multiply after his kind, so that all of us, no matter our race, creed or origin, will be connected to another man, by virtue of the family we were born into, the family we marry into, or the family we relocate into. No natural man is born outside of that human connection, and no man can survive for long outside of that human connection. It is therefore foolishness for anyone to think s/he can survive on his/her own without. God, in his infinite wisdom, has made that impossible.

Now, this is the flipside: even with God's plan for human interaction, God's intention is that in the process of time, all the people he intends I meet will cross my path in His own time, not mine. Some of the people that I will meet on this journey of life will cross my path for a reason; others for a season; still others for a lifetime. In essence, wisdom dictates that I know the function of every life that God brings my way, and be able to live with purpose for as long as that reason or season exist, and be able to walk away when the reason or season expires. I cannot fulfil God's purpose all my myself, with no help from anyone; God knows that part of the supply I need for the journey must come from someone else. This is why it really matters who I walk with on this journey.

Today's extract makes the above very clear: I cannot be careless about the people behind my pursuit of God's purpose. The company I keep is important: if I walk with the wise, their wisdom will rub off on me. How does this happen: walking with people means being close enough to observe their private and public lives. Even if other people only observe them from afar, walking with the wise means I am able match their words with their actions. I get to see if there is any deceit or hypocrisy, and if they are indeed wise, it will show in their daily pursuits and priorities. If all I see are worthy examples, both in word and deed, I know the right examples to follow and emulate, and if I do, I also become wise. I do not get wise simply by observation, but by assimilation and practice. Does this describe me?

The opposite is also true: those who walk with fools end up destroyed. How and why does this happen? It is because from God's perspective, fools are defined by one thing: they do not acknowledge God. How can a man who does not care who God is bother with what God wants? If God is not my utmost priority, how can he come to my aid when I am in trouble? If I claim to be independent of God, can I turn around and lay claim to him when I am in trouble? Yes, he may come to my aid, but if I persist in the foolish course of rejecting God, and walking with those who do so, the end is destruction. The consequences of either choice have already been laid out very clearly, and as always, the choice is mine to make. God's time of favour is here. 

 

Comforted!

Comforted! 

Blessed and enviably happy [with a happiness produced by the experience of God's favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His matchless grace] are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted! Matthew 5:4 AMPC

What does it mean to mourn? The Merriam-Webster dictionary provides some insights: to feel or express grief or sorrow; OR to show the customary signs of grief for a death; OR to murmur mournfully. It seems then that to mourn involves a bit of a mixture of inner feelings, outer impressions, as well as verbal or audible expressions. It means then that there must have been a drastic event, or maybe events, that will lead to the situation where mourning this way is acceptable. At least, we know that a wedding ceremony, where both parties are willingly and joyfully entering into a covenant, is not the place for mourning. It then means that there is a place, time or situation where mourning will be inevitable, and will be the appropriate response. How would I know? 

There are many things that can lead to mourning, but if all that God has said in His Word is anything to go by, the first time we ever hear that God's heart was grieved was because of man's sin. God said he regretted ever making man. God is not happy with sin, and can never condone it. His love is such that cannot condone sin, yet He will do all he can to draw the sinner to sorrow about sin and repentance from it. For me, I must also learn the lesson here, and address sin in the same manner that God does. I must hate sin the same way, and constantly depend on the love of God to keep me away from it. Yes, there may be other things that can make a man mourn, but the root cause of all such sorrow is sin. 

Nehemiah, Ezra, David, all in the old testament, and Paul, John the Baptist and Jesus in the new testament, all showed the impact of sin. The power of sin, and its eternal consequence, must scare me enough to push me to run to the strength, mercy and grace of the One who can help me overcome sin. I must hate sin so much that it will fill me with sadness when I fall, and it must push me to go back to God quickly for forgiveness and restoration. It must be repeated here again that at the heart of all that makes a man mourn, whether sickness, disease, famine or death, the enabling factor is sin. Deal with the roots, and you can sort out the fruit. Ignore the root of sin, and you will only be opening yourself up to the devastating eternal consequences of sin. 

Today's extract says all who mourn are blessed. If I am able to keep away from sin, hating it and also showing a worthy example to others around me, Jesus calls me blessed. He promises me comfort as a reward for this mourning, and as we saw from yesterday's extract, God's comfort does not leave us high and dry. There is always an eternal benefit to be gained from that comfort that God gives; He will strengthen my heart, supply the wisdom and grace required and keep my feet from error. What I get from God becomes tools that can also help other people who are struggling too. I do not ever get weaned from that dependence on God; He is there for the rest of my life, shaping and helping me on my life's journey to live right, so I can end right. Would you also tap into this grace? God's time of favour is here.  

Comforted, to be a comfort!

Comforted, to be a comfort!

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

2 Corinthians 1:3‭-‬4 KJV

God is introduced in many ways to many people; it seems that no two people's experiences are the same. Paul, who writes here, had an interesting conversion experience, which, as far as bible records go, has not been repeated. Whether by personal experience or by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he speaks here again about an experience of God, as the father of mercies and the God of ALL comfort. What would these definitions mean to me as an individual? 

First, I stand by God's mercy, the same mercy that drove Jesus to the cross, so I could enjoy all that God is and has. This same mercy keeps the throne of God's grace accessible to me, no matter what I have done. I can walk in and access mercy when I need it. Secondly, part of the package is the supply of strength to enable me stand in the face of whatever comes my way as a result of the decision I made to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour. 

You may then wonder why God does all of these. This is not the full story, but for today's extract, God supplies the mercy and comfort so that I can know Him, and then be able to impact other people with that knowledge. How would God be made known to the world if those who claim to be His own do not proclaim him with their lives? As men see the hand of God on my life, they may wonder how I have made it, and that is an opportunity to make known the comfort and mercy that only God can supply. 

This is the focus: never about me but about God. My life is the platform upon which God is made known. Nothing God gives me is to be hoarded for personal use only, but it must be a message of encouragement to other people who may be going through their own rough patch. When men read my story, can they see the hand of God's grace and mercy, or do they just see my labour and efforts only? I am comforted, so that what I have received can flow out and bless other people. God's time of favour is here. 

Help!

Help! 

My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

Psalms 121:2 KJV

This psalm is not directly attributed to anyone, but its message is timeless and pointed. For all of mortal men, we need help. Since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, when we exchanged God's glory for the lie of the devil, man has always been in need of help. All the things he could do without any struggle now became quite difficult, sometimes impossible. Yet God, in his infinite wisdom, made a way of restoration and renewal so that man could find his way back to God. Man's greatest need therefore isn't the provisions of the world, but the provision of the Word of God. 

It is not about the abundance of the world's possessions, but the accessibility to the presence of God. With His presence comes undeniable help. You have got to know who the right source is, so you can get the right kind of help. The world offers its own variant, most times, with a high price. Sometimes, the world will take a man's life is taken in order to secure another man's life, ignorant of this fact: what can be killed or is limited can never secure eternal life. God is the eternal, limitless One, who was, is and is to come. All other masters are of the earth, belong to the limited realm, and cannot supply that which my soul really needs. Only God can do that. 

The fact that I acknowledge God as my help will also not prevent tough situations from knocking on my door. As long as I am on this earth, trials will be a part of my daily life. But before the tough times start, I must settle in my heart that God remains the only one whose help is key to my survival and progress. As long as I have options, it will be difficult to wholeheartedly trust God. The devil thrives on keeping me distracted, focused on so many things, but not the most important, which is that God is the answer to all of life's questions. That is an eternal truth, no matter the age. 

I have the backing of the only power that counts. I have the backing of the One who made heaven and earth, and so can dictate what they supply to me. God is saying here: I have it all under my control. The writer had tested it, and found God to be worthy of the honour. We all need help, and it matters where we go for it. Do I want to seek temporary help, the type that cannot last forever, or would I seek out the One who calls himself the Help of Israel? He is all I need, who has all I need. He is sufficient, no matter the demand of this present age or the one to come. Is He your help or do you have options? God's time of favour is here.