Served!

Served!

Just as the Son of Man came not to be waited on but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many [the price paid to set them free]. Matthew 20:28 AMPC

Background:

Jesus gave a parable about the rules of His kingdom. All men are open to service, and the owner of the vineyard calls all men to come. There is enough work for all men, and there is no time that is too late, as long as you come in before it is too late. The terms of engagement are laid out by the owner of the vineyard, and He definitely pays fair wages as laid out by Him and agreed. For all who come to the vineyard and work as required, they will get the wages as advised. Of course, Jesus was speaking of his kingdom, not the type the world knew. His was a kingdom where God reigns supreme, with no challenge to His power and authority. I guess this was why the mother of James and John thought it best to act fast and secure prime positions for her sons in that kingdom. She wanted the posts of the left and right hands of Jesus in his kingdom. Like her, do we know what the rules of the kingdom are? 

Focus:

If indeed we are looking ahead to that kingdom, do we even know what the demands of that kingdom on our lives are? Let it not be that all I seek are the benefits of the kingdom, not its demands. I must not seek only the joys, but I must be ready to also submit to the pains of the kingdom. God is calling me to a life of service in His kingdom, and just like Jesus did, the path to the benefits of the kingdom lies in the midst of some very uncomfortable experiences. The mother of the 2 boys didn't know what she was asking for: she probably thought she was being smart by having access to Jesus, but then, it must be noted that knowing Jesus means knowing who He is, what He wants, where He wants me to be, and what He wants me to be doing. It isn't so much about what I get, but what He wants me to do. The life of Jesus is the perfect example of what God wants.

Conclusion:

Jesus knew who He was, so there was nothing to prove. He simply emptied Himself and just served. There was no one He would turn away, and from the rich, young ruler to the man at the pool of Bethsaida, to Nicodemus and even the old man Simeon and the old woman Anna, all of them had a personal encounter with Jesus. He gave Himself wholly to the world, holding nothing back and he impacted the lives of all who met with Him. Even his enemies could not fault his impact; they hated Him, but the lives He touched were constant testimonies to His virtue and grace. What more could a person give than His life? That was the ultimate price, and with His life, He has now secured life for all who come to believe in Him. I am set free from the power of sin, and I can look ahead to heaven, where I wil reign with Jesus. While I wait, no service is to small or too big to render. I know who I am working for, and He pays well. God's time of favour is here. 

Love!

Love!

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 KJV

Background:

Every culture has its interpretation and expression of what it calls love. One thing that can be seen from all these different interpretations is that it has to be seen for it to be real or believed. By the standards of the world, no one can claim to love another person if there is no tangible way to prove it. The world can only define what it wants by what it feels, sees or hears, and that is why the world is easily deceived. It is possible to claim to love someone, yet be plotting to kill the person the next moment. We seem to have mastered the art of deception, and unless God reveals the heart of someone to you, it is impossible to know what is in the heart of that person. The pretence, deceit and hypocrisy go on, and lives and destinies have been destroyed because of these. How do you then recognize the authentic? How do you know the difference between that which God is and that which the world peddles? 

Focus:

The world will emphasize the physical, but cannot define the spiritual. God presents himself first and foremost as the epitome and embodiment of love. You cannot define the word outside of God. The example that God laid down is in what He gave up. He is God, and nothing I do or fail to do can change who God is; however, he emptied Himself of all the glory and power, and made himself like us, so He could walk in our shoes, live our lives, so He could taste death once and for all for all of us. The amazing thing about this love was that He did it without expecting anything back from those He showed love to. There were no guarantees that those who He died for would even love Him back, but He still gave His life. Love does not wait for a favourable response before it reaches out; it is love, whether the target accepts it or not. The whole world is the recipient of this love, and no matter how bad you may think your past is, the love of God has an answer. 

Conclusion:

This is where things get interesting, and where I must pay attention. I may reject this love now, but it is a love I have to embrace before this earthly phase ends. God does not force Himself on anyone, but there are very terrible consequences for rejecting the love of God. If Love would draw up a plan for my eternal salvation, bring it down in human form of Jesus, and then God leaving His Spirit in and with me for the journey ahead, these would make it clear that there will be serious consequences if I then turn my back on all that Jesus has done. If I reject Him, who else can plead my case when eternity beckons? The end of gift is eternal life with God, and the key to access is belief in Jesus. That is all I am required to do. What's your response going to be? God waits; eternity beckons. God's time of favour is here. 

Truth!

Truth!

So any person who knows what is right to do but does not do it, to him it is sin. James 4:17 AMPC

Background:

James speaks on a lot of issues that the earthly church is confronting today. At the top of the chapter from where today's verse is taken is the word of caution for those who claim to be children of God to watch their desires, pursuits and priorities. At the heart of every evil action is an evil thought. The desire to be better than someone else, to have more than someone else, to be more popular than someone else, or to simply be more relevant than everyone else has led many down the path of eternal regrets. Let it be known that there is nothing wrong in having desires; it is part of my creation and equipping that I will always seek and pursue after excellence. It is however very important that I pursue the right things the right way, so that I can end up in the right place too. shows that you are human, but it also leaves a note of caution that I need not destroy lives in the pursuit of my own personal happiness or satisfaction. 

Focus:

It is very clear that in order to pursue the right things, I need the right information and context. Would God judge me for something He did not reveal to me, or condemn me for something He has not brought to my notice? God's nature does not allow Him to be false to whatever rules He has set up, so before He would judge, He will inform, warn and give the grace also to enable me comply. For all of the men and women God walked with in the old and new testaments, one thing God did was to establish the truth of His nature, as well as the demands of character from all who would follow. He will tell you quite categorically who He is, and what He demands from you, so that there is no doubt going forward. What He called sin for Adam is still sin today, and no amount of education, enlightenment, exposure, earnings or experience can change that. He is the only One who speaks and all others must remain silent. Who else would have an opinion once God has spoken?

Conclusion:

When a person now has all these pieces of nformation about God, and yet does not do what God desires or commands, what other excuse is there? What is the value of all the  information if I refuse to act on it? What makes it even more poignant is the fact that it all comes down to choices. I get to choose what my reaction and response will be to all that I now know about God, His ways, His Word and His plan and purpose for me. That  is power, and the danger is in the fact that actions have consequences. There is nothing I do down here that goes unnoticed, and there is nothing birthed down here on earth that does not have an eternal effect. It is also a personal thing, and nobody can go to hell or heaven on behalf of another person. We all get to receive the just receipts from all we did. Armed with this information, I must therefore seek to know as much of God as I can, so I do not sin against Him. I ask God for grace to know Him so well that the desire to always please Him will remain in me. God's time of favour is here. 

Kept!

Kept!

Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 AMPC 

Background:

Blessings are the natural outcomes of a healthy relationship with the giver. Can God release His full blessings to someone who does not recognize or submit to His authority and leadership? Yes, there are favours that all men on earth enjoy, but there are those extras that accrue to those who are fully committed to God; who walk with Him on a daily basis. They do not pretend to have it all figured out, but they are content relying on the supply of the grace of God upon their lives. They will make mistakes sometimes, but they know the shepherd well enough to know who He is, what He is, where He is and what he wants them to do and be, and they will be quick to respond and return. That is the context of the verse above. I cannot make such pronouncements as the one in the verse above if I do not know the One who can make it possible, and that is the Shepherd Himself. 

Focus:

The whole chapter starts with the introduction of the Shepherd, and He is the Lord. No other person can fill that role. The Shepherd knows his role, as well as all He is mandated to care for. He will not shirk his responsibilities, and He can handle whatever comes my way, as long as I remain dependent on Him. This is where it gets tough: being led by God does not mean that God will not lead me through dangerous waters, but His assurance is that His presence is my greatest blessing. If He is with me, no storm, wind, rain or calamity can be so strong that it will snatch me away from God's everlasting arms. Even when the natural end of my path is death, God knows how to keep me from evil and to preserve my life in line with His purpose and will. This is why knowing God personally is the best gift I could ever have. Do I know this Shepherd personally? Does He know me as His own?

Conclusion:

He has his tools to bring me into His perfect will, and to preserve me there. Two of them are called His rod and staff. For the shepherd of that time, these tools are critical for the protection and guidance of the sheep. The rod and staff would bring the sheep in line with the direction the shepherd wanted them to go, as well as correcting any sheep that was going astray. The rod and the staff would provide comfort to the sheep, letting the sheep know it was precious to the shepherd. If I am protected and guided, what more could I want? What better gifts are there apart from an assurance that no matter what comes, they have to go through the shepherd before they can get to me? No matter how old I am, He does not leave me to cater for myself. His provisions for life are limitless, and no demand on earth can exhaust the resources of heaven. That is a promise I can hold on to to the end of time. What could be greater? God's time of favour is here. 

Saved!

Saved!

For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him. John 3:17 AMPC

Background:

Easter reminds us of the greatest gift ever given, when a mighty God gave the life of His only begotten son Jesus for the sins of the whole world. It was love that designed that plan, and it was love that brought it to fruition. No other person I know would have allowed the child to die for an offence the child knew nothing about, which is why the love of God described here is not like any other love known to or celebrated by man. Man sinned; death was the price and the natural consequence of sin, and of course, by God's righteous requirements, that price had to be paid in full by someone. That is why God sent His son to the world. It was not first a  reminder of man's sin, but a reminder of God's amazing love. He knew man would sin, yet He spent time creating, forming and equipping man for his life on earth. He knew what would become of every man, but that didn't stop Him from going all out to make a plan for the eternal salvation of all men.

Focus:

Jesus is the physical manifestation of that plan, and the One by whom we all come into a new walk, a new life, a new hope and a new eternal reality. Through the death and the resurrection of Jesus, the world is reminded of sin and the coming judgment for sin for the whole world, but that is not the end of the story. It may be end for all who reject the gift of God to the end of their physical, earthly lives, but for all who will come to the saving knowledge of this Jesus, they come into new life. The gift of Jesus to the world is not to condemn it, but to remind the world thst there is hope for all who come to God on the terms He has set, which is through Jesus. The consequence of sin is death, but that only applies to all who remain in sin. Faith in Jesus is the only way to avoid that terrible end, but if I reject the gift, which is free to all men, no matter what evil they may have done, I cannot turn around and blame God for the consequences He already warned me about. 

Conclusion:

Part of God's great wisdom is to make man and give him the power of choice. The gift of salvation has been given, but I have a choice to make. God does not go against the free exercise of that power. God also gave his son as the exercise of his own freewill, so He has shown the perfect example of that power. As I have also been made in God's likenes, it is not a surprise that I have that same power. This free gift is the key to all that God offers, because in Jesus is all that I need for life and Godliness. God will not do all He did, and give what He gave up so that I will only live for the earthly phase of life alone. This gift is for the whole world, not for any specific gender or group. There is no safety anywhere outside of God; high fences, guards or security measures may work for some time, but they cannot secure your eternity. That is what Jesus has come to secure. Would I surrender my life to Him, so I can secure eternal life? God's time of favour is here. 

Strength!

Strength!

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10 KJV

Background:

God is awesome. He is future-thinking, and all He does or allows would impact my earthly and eternal reality. For Paul here, he was given some amazing revelations about paradise that he was not allowed to share, but God in his mercy put a guard around Paul's life to keep him from pride and conceit. God showed his paradise, then kept him focused on the right priorities even in the face of pain. That is God for you: he has no issue with releasing His blessings on me, but His desire is to see me reign with Him in eternity. He will do all He can to ensure this happens, even if it means pain, discomfort and inconvenience sometimes. Well, I may call it pain or discomfort, but God calls this part of his plan for my impact, relevance and eternal life. Paul made it clear that God wanted to keep him from conceit, and so put a thorn in His flesh. I would wonder why God would do that, but then I also remember men like Solomon or Samson, who were blessed by God, but who through some careless decisions, almost wrecked their lives. 

Focus:

My knowledge is limited, as well as my understanding of the full purpose of God for my life. I can't know more than the God who calls me His own, fitted me with all I need for life and Godliness, and then planted me in His plan, purpose and place for me. Everything I need to make a success of the place I am in now has been provided, and only a daily dependence on God will guarantee constant supply of grace and help for the journey ahead. At no time can I take my eyes off the One whose help is required at all times. I will not survive on my own, and I will not make it to the end without Him holding my hand every step of the way. It is a life of dependence; at no time am I independent in any way. As I take stock of my life today, are there any achievements I would like to highlight? If I am to be honest, can I say I did them all on my own? Is there any matter in my life that could lead to pride in achievements or possession? I need to take them all to God now and leave them with Him; there is nothing I have or hold now that is mine.

Conclusion:

I am but the product of grace and mercy, and my life's focus, priorities and pursuits must reflect that understanding. Paul knew that quite clearly, and he had no issue with emphasizing his weaknesses and infirmities, as long as Christ was glorified in his life. For me, what is the focus in this age and times we live in? There are no more anchors, or anything that gives you confidence in anything the world has to offer. There are economic and financial crises everywhere, as well as wars and rumours of wars. Nothing is stable, except the man who has his anchor firmly rooted in Christ. Paul teaches me to depend solely on God for everything, and never to look on anything or anyone else. True strength comes from God, not man. True strength comes from who God is, not what man give you or take away from you at anytime. God's power is made manifest in seasons when I am at my own end. I ask the Lord to teach me how to depend on Him for everything, and not to rely on my own ideas or labour. He will, if I ask. God's time of favour is here. 

Influence!

Influence!

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

Background:

Again, we read from the words of Solomon, the king blessed by God with so much wisdom that God declared that there will not be a king like him, either before or after him. This was how unique he was. God has no problem blessing a man beyond limits; the issue is always about how man handles all that God gives. Solomon was also in a unique position, as he was king over Israel, and people came from the ends of the earth to hear him speak. He had influence, and he was also influenced. As we know now, he was so rich that he made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem, and he made Israel prosperous, yet he could not rein in the power and impact of men over his personal life. Bible records show that he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines. How can anyone concentrate on God with that number of distractions? How would a man with such wisdom from God become so careless?

Focus:

Before I point the finger at another, I must take careful audit of my life too; who are those people with power over my daily decisions? In my daily routine, who are those people or what are those principles that are able to guide my decision making? Nothing happens in a vacuum; I won't just wake up and decide to do anything. I would think and pray through it, maybe consult other people who may have walked that path before, and then decide what to do. This is the power of the people who have been placed on our path. No one exists on an island; we come from different families, we marry into other families and then as we relate in church, school, the community and other public groups, we meet and interact with other families too. This process was set up by God to build relationships, but I have a duty to make sure I cultivate the right ones, not just the loud and visible ones.

Conclusion:

The power of one man is massive, not to talk of an entire community of people. Only iron or a similar substance can sharpen iron. If I will remain sharp and impactful, I must keep myself informed, and also help other people attain the same standard. Whatever the other person has will impact me one way or another so I must stand guard. Not everyone should hold my heart; it is impossible to please everyone. If I try to, I am setting myself up for massive disappointment. That person I allow into my life will touch it with whatever s/he has; therefore, before it sticks, I must review and vet it. If an easily-angered person is my best friend, I must be careful to impact with the spirit of self-control in me. If I dont, how would I not pick the habit? I watch my life closely, so that it can lead to a cause that God can bless. What's your decision? God's time of favour is here. 

Faith

Faith!

NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. Hebrews 11:1 AMPC

Background:

Reading through the book of Hebrews reveals some truths about faith as the foundation of a healthy walk with and work for God. Of course, if we are to fully understand the impact and meaning of faith, we need to look no further than the view of God Himself, the One who calls us to walk with and work for Him. Today's verse defines faith, and one thing is clear from this definition: it is not subject to debate, and it leaves no room for contention or confusion. It states categorically what faith is, and then leaves me to review my life and see where I stand. Two of the key words in the first part of the verse are ASSURANCE and HOPE. How does a man become assured of something he is still hoping for? In a world that is easily distracted by the lust of the eyes and flesh, there is a focus on what can be seen, tasted, felt, heard or smelt. Our senses can sometimes deceive us, and this is why the senses alone cannot be the basis of our walk with and work for God. There has to be something deeper and bigger than what these senses can perceive. 

Focus:

You are assured of whatever you hope for because you have the Presence of the One who births and sustains hope. It is not human so nobody can give it. It is not something you can purchase with a lot of money, and it is not what influence or networth can secure for you. It is the product of a relationship with God; a walk that recognises the need for the help of One who knows the end from the beginning and can secure eternal life for anyone who trusts Him. Look at the words used: title deed. How can you claim title to a thing you cannot physically define, unless you have this calm assurance and confirmation that it is already yours? Look at the words in the other part of the verse: PROOF and CONVICTION. The law requires physical proof of whatever position you take, and you cannot come to argue faith. Hearsay is inadmissible in court, as you are allowed to speak on that which you have seen, heard, tasted or touched. When it comes to faith, there has to be this strong confidence in your position, because you know the One who has brought you to that point. 

Conclusion:

That is what faith is all about: walking daily in the confidence that God is able to keep all his promises. I am not moved by what goes on around me, but I am more concerned about what work God is doing inside me. It is the fruit of God's work in me that men will see and then give glory to God for. He says it is yours, it is. If He says go forward, He has already gone ahead of you. If he says wait, it is because there is something amazing just ahead for you. With God, there are no errors, near-misses, accidents or mishaps. I am the product of careful planning, with earthly relevance and eternal life as the benefits of this relationship. Living by my physical senses only is very unhealthy and dangerous. I need to go beyond feelings into faith; the walk with God that is rewarding and satisfying, and with eternal benefits too. On a final note, it is ideal to note the audience: those who believe in God through Jesus Christ. Are you one? Am I? God's time of favour is here .

Influence 2!

Influence 2!

And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires. Galatians 5:24 AMPC

Background:

Of course, ownership is certainly critical to any discussion or demand on accountability. You cannot place a demand or seek to direct the life of someone or seek to control something you do not control. The maker or creator of a device would provide a manual for anything made; no matter how hard you try or pray, you cannot use a motor vehicle as a microwave. Both have different functions according to their parts and defined use, and the manuals would provide clarity on what is acceptable use or not. My desires would define what I buy, and what I want to achieve will influence where I go. As it is in the physical, so does it also impact the spiritual. God is the Creator of all people and things, and by His wisdom, He has defined usage, content, position and impact, among many other things. The only way that created person or thing would have impact and also matter at the end of the day is if the purpose behind creation is discovered and pursued. 

Focus:

It will not happen overnight; it is the result of a journey of a lifetime, with daily steps taken towards the fulfilment of God's purpose. The foundation of this journey is based on a clear  knowledge of ownership. If I know whose I am, it helps me clarify who I am and what is expected of me. When the purpose of a thing is not defined, abuse is inevitable. The verse above says it also, referring to people who know who they are. Do you belong to God, or better still, does God know you as His own? It is possible for a man to be deceived, thinking he is right, but if I would just go to God and settle my identity with Him, based on His Word, I will be fine. If I belong to Christ, the minimum is that I am dead to the world. It may sound odd, but dead to the world has no middle ground. I can't have one foot in God, and the other foot still distracted by the offerings of the world.

Conclusion:

I must die to the world and all its attractions. The word used in the verse is 'crucify', which is the image of final, irreversible death. It is a public show, not something settled in private. Yes, the decision may be personal, but the fruit will be public. I may be a closet Christian for a while, but at some point, the fruit of my decision must become known to all men. After all, Christ didn't die in secret; the entire Jewish world at the time knew what happened to him. If I am a follower of Christ, I cannot respond to the passions, appetites, desires and distractions of the world. My new ownership does not leave room for that. That which is dead to me must remain dead; I can't afford to go toy with it once in a while. The devil is smart; he will keep you interested, so that peradventure one day, you may seek it out again. May the Lord keep my heart and eye only on that which glorifies Him, so that my life, and all its offerings, may be accepted in God's eyes. God's time of favour is here. 

Greater!

Greater!

Little children, you are of God [you belong to Him] and have [already] defeated and overcome them [the agents of the antichrist], because He Who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world.

1 John 4:4 AMPC

Background:

Citizenship comes with rights, responsibilities and expectations. I can place a demand on the nation I am a citizen of, and the government of that nation also has its own duties it must carry out. It is impossible to declare a person stateless, whereby s/he is not a citizen of a particular country. Either by birth, marriage, naturalisation, immigration or even long residence, you become a citizen of a country in line with set laws. As it is in the physical, so is it in the spiritual. We become citizens of a nation by birth in most cases, and we also become citizens of heaven also by spiritual birth. Do I know where I come from, or where I am headed?  If I do not know God is, who I am, where I am, what is required of me and what has been made available for me, how would I make a demand on or be able to access these resources? I need this full knowledge of who God is, and who I am in Him. 

Focus:

This second birth is very critical to the verse above, and we will do well to consider what it requires and demands from us, so we can enjoy the benefits that come from this new citizenship. I am of God. God owns me in totality, because all that is of and in me comes from God. There is nothing I could have done by myself. He paid the price to own me completely, because sin had made a slave out of me. The devil owned me and would have totally destroyed me, if God did not intervene. His son Jesus paid the full price that death demanded from all that were under the bondage and influence of sin. By His death on the cross and resurrection to life, He has sealed eternal life for me too. In His life, I also have life. In His life, hope for the future has already been signed, sealed and also delivered. God doesn't do half-measures. If He will save, He will do so to the end. Have I taken full advantage of all that God offers here? 

Conclusion:

The above is the reason I can look ahead with hope. The One who owns me is powerful: He is the owner of all life, and He does as He pleases in all the earth, and He answers to no one. He is so great that the heavens cannot contain Him, yet he calls it his home, the earth as His footstool, and the entire universe as His creation. He then even comes to live inside my heart, making this earthen vessel a carrier of His power and presence. This is the bit that the world cannot understand or fully explain, but if I will open up my heart to Him, He will come in and turn my personal life into a public platform for the manifestation of His might. If the Great God who cannot be conquered is fighting for me, who can overcome me? Let all the men of the world gather together; God is more than enough to beat them. Who lives in my heart? Can I say of a truth that God dwells in me? Your residence status defines where you end. God's time of favour is here. 

Created Purposefully!

Created Purposefully!

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalms 139:13‭-‬14 NIV

Background:

This is one of the psalms of David, the man after God's heart. He had a personal relationship with God that impacted every area of his life. Of course, he made mistakes too but he would always retrace his steps and return to God in repentance. I must note that God is still looking for people who will walk with Him like David did. I must come with the full knowledge that God is the only wise God, who knows all about me.  He is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. His knowledge, understanding, experience and expertise can't be questioned or limited. He does as He pleases in the earth as well as in the heavens, yet in His power, he seeks to live in and work through me. That is an understanding I need to personalize and internalize: God is God, and man will always be man, in need of God. The question then for me is: 'Do I recognize my need for God?' Am I fully submitted or am I seeking control?

Focus:

David's words here are deep. Away from any human influence or interference, God created man in His own image. He didn't seek anyone's consent, and it is therefore not possible for any man to fully understand the purpose of God for a man using intellect or physical labour. It is impossible to determine the materials that God put together to form the parts known as the intestines, the heart ventricles, or the liver and kidneys. Yes, science has made it possible for man to use the earth's resources to form other parts of the body, but these new parts will always look like the original. Man takes from what God has already made, puts them together and forms something different. How each part works is a deep mystery, and the parts keep working for years until the Lord calls a man home. With this knowledge, what steps do I need to take? What do I need to do with this information?

Conclusion:

Foe David, the response was deep, sincere appreciation of all that God has done for him. For David, he had seen God at work in various areas of his life. From being a shepherd boy to being shepherd over God's people, to getting an eternal kingship, he had seen and experienced the amazing blessings and favour that only God could bring. For me, if I would sit down and consider where God has brought me from, and where I am at the moment, and the amazing potential still ahead, there will be no other response except thanksgiving, just like David. Do I consider myself the handiwork of an amazing God, or would I hold on to the deceit of the devil that I am ordinary and inconsequential? God does not waste resources; he is eternal, and all He does is also eternal. I know I am the product of amazing wisdom and indescribable excellence. I must not settle for less than all that God is. God's time of favour is here. 

Copy Right!

Copy Right!

Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God. 3 John 1:11 NIV

Background:

The apostle John was writing this letter to a dear friend called Gaius. We do not know too much about this friend except the fact that John held him in high regard. He was even compared with another in the same assembly who was doing what was wrong. John would not hesitate to call anyone out by name, who was doing either good or evil. Only if the church of God today would be like this: call out and expose sin, before it becomes a stumbling block to God's perfect will for his people.  Another lesson this would teach me is that God notices everything I do. The motive and heart behind all I do are laid bare before God, and it is foolishness to think that the God who created the heart can be fooled by the deceit of the heart. I still find that there is still nothing in all of creation, formed and placed by God, that God cannot control. That is power at its fullness, and my life will only have impact and effect if I fully understand and live by this truth.

Focus:

The present earth is under the influence of sin and unfortunately, the power of sin is also seen in church. The devil also wants to copy all that God has made available, and the issue is that the devil's version is usually easy to follow. In this same chapter, John spoke about a man in church, who loved to be first. He must have been a leader, and he must have influenced people, but John, by the help of the Holy Spirit, had identified the man as a hypocrite. Beware of men and women with a form of Godliness but without the manifestation of the power of God. John warned Gaius to be careful about men like these, and to be careful of the things he would imitate. Human beings, by nature, are like sponges, and we soak up whatever it is that we see and hear regularly. The power of daily exposure and experience is that habits, lifestyle and character are formed from these. Which ones am I building on at the moment?

Conclusion:

What you do is a function of who you are and belong to. My citizenship defines my impact. I cannot be a lawful citizen of a country whose sovereignty and authority I do not recognize or submit to. My life is a public display of my private devotion. It is possible for a man to pretend for a while, but it cannot be sustained forever. As long as God is not sitting on the throne of my heart, in charge, in control and dictating terms, my life cannot produce anything that looks like what God can use. Being and doing good come from God; you cannot give what you don't have. You also can't fake what you can't produce. God is good and does good, because that is his nature. He will only produce after His kind, so if I find myself doing evil, it will be clear that I do not have God in me. Have you seen God? Does He know you as His own? God's time of favour is here. 

Love!

Love!

Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. 1 Corinthians 13:7 AMPC

Background:

Paul, writing to the church in Corinth, took time to teach the young Christians about different spiritual concepts, and one of them is love. It must be pointed out that all of the spiritual concepts in the bible have their earthly equivalents. The devil will try to replicate anything that God establishes, and he will so lower the standard so that just about anyone at all can come in. As we now know, there is a multi-billion currency industry around the concept of love, with movies, books and ideas built around the concept, yet not too many have been able to fully capture the idea of the original concept-owner to date. Of course, how would anyone without a very personal encounter with the original owner understand and be able to replicate the original concept? You cannot give what you don't have, and this is a relationship that you can't fake. You either have Him or you don't. 

Focus:

Did you read the reference to a person in the previous sentence? Yes, love is first a person, and it is the knowledge and experience of that person that helps one to understand and also express love. It is not the dramatic emptiness in movies and books, but the deep and lovely experience that the presence of God can birth and sustain in you. How would anyone be able to let go of hurt and pain if there is no greater experience which helps lessen the pain? You need that higher and greater experience to help you know what is really important. I cannot spend precious time worrying about how people treat me, because the focus is never on what other people do, but on who I am and what I can give. Each person gives what s/he has, and the presence of God in me helps keep me focused on God. As He lives in me, the proof of His presence becomes apparent. What flows out of me when the pressure comes?

Conclusion:

I am able to bear up under anything and everything that comes because of the One who lives in me. The One in me first believed in me even before I came to know and love Him, and it is the same way He wants me to relate with other people. It was what I first received, and the presence of God in me helps me flow out with the same mercy. I love this way because God first loved me the same way. The fake version wants to receive without giving, and that is why we have so many selfish, self-centered people everywhere. Love never gives up on anyone, no matter how dire the situation, just as God did not give up on me. Love will keep enduring to the end, in the hope that it can break down the barriers and obstacles and reach the heart of the target. That is love: selfless and committed to the end. What version do I have? God's time of favour is here. 

Dependent!

Dependent!

Be not wise in your own eyes; reverently fear and worship the Lord and turn [entirely] away from evil. Proverbs 3:7 AMPC

Background:

Solomon is documented as the wisest man that ever lived. He went to the source of wisdom and asked, and the One who gives freely gave him as he requested. In addition to the wisdom he asked for, God gave Solomon wealth and riches beyond His wildest dreams. People came from the ends of the earth to hear him speak, and they came away impressed. Some even brought gifts to add to the wealth the man already had. His life has at least two lessons that this space can only take: God can give you all you ask for if you are in faith and in line with His will, but his gifts place a demand on you, that you will have to account for all that He has given you. God does not waste resources or experiences and whatever He allows you to become or to receive will be part of your learning and growing. As I live the life I have been given, I must keep the consciousness of accounting and reward at the back of my mind at all times. 

The Focus:

Solomon was blessed by God, and from the words of today's verse, he would know what he was talking about. A man can be so blessed that he can forget his source and begin to think he had anything to do with his possessions. A man can fool himself into thinking that his influence, earnings, political connections or networth would have bought him some favours. Unfortunately, that is an error that has become quite common these days, as men are taught to look inwards and outwards, rather than upwards. We are now taught that we can use schemes and projects to get us to the place we want to go, and that God really has nothing to do with it. Men have believed this lie, and we hear an expression such as 'self-made' men? What would that mean exactly? Were you created by yourself or did you form the materials that helped create the things that were put together by you to produce anything? Are you the creator or the origin of anything the earth has now? 

The Conclusion:

These questions are critical to the conclusion of the verse above. To fear the Lord is to turn away from all that He hates. Fear is both a good word, as well as a bad one, depending on the target of the fear. At all times, there will always be someone or something that holds your heart. You can't embrace the things God calls sin, and expect His grace to flow to you unhindered. God's nature will not allow it. I can't also turn partially to God, whilst keeping an eye on the things that are of this world. That will be called being lukewarm, which God says He hates. Lot's was running, but her heart never left Sodom and Gomorrah. That indecision cost her her life. From Solomon's life we learn that lesson too. He started well, but at some point, something went wrong. He made choices that seem to negate the wisdom He had asked from God. What am I pursuing at the moment? Can it guarantee me eternal life with God? Am I fully dependent on God or do I have options? May God keep my heart on Him alone, so I can enjoy the fullness of all He is. God's time of favour is here. 

Call!

Call!

for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13 NIV 

Background:

Paul speaks from personal experience here. He was a man who had walked on both the dark side and the side of light. At a time, he was the chief persecutor of all Christians, hounding them off to prison. He believed in the course he was on, and he gave it his best shot, even if, as we know now, from God's perspective, he was very wrong. On a personal note, for me,  can I also say there is a project, assignment or purpose that I am fully committed to? Do I have principles and policies that guide my conduct, conversation and commitment, or do I have a laissez-faire attitude to the things that have both earthly and eternal consequences? Paul's life is a study of what is really important from God's perspective, and how my life can make sense and have the impact I was created, gifted and placed where I am right now. There is no other time to find out the WHY behind the WHO I am and the WHAT I have been mandated by God to do. 

The Focus:

God has made clear the way for me to discover His plans for me. The way to God is to call on Him. It is that simple, yet so complicated at the same time. One great definition for 'call' is: 'a cry made as a summons or to attract someone's attention.' This would mean that the person who is calling will have to cry out, make a sound, say something. There is nothing passive or inactive about crying. Your need will define how you cry. If it hurts, you will need to call the attention of the person who can help. If it is hard, you will call out to the One who has the solutions you need. In crying out, not one part of your body is involved. The heart, mind, eye, ears and others are all involved in the process. Of course, the person calling knows what kind of response is expected, and s/he will listen attentively to the One you have called out to. Do you even know the One you are expected to call out to, and are you listening to the One you have called out to? 

The Conclusion:

The verse tells me who to call on. It has to be the Lord. God is called by so many names, but as Lord, He is all in all. There is no one who can be compared with Him, and no one is on record as being able to do all He can do. He will not ask me to call on Him if He is not able to help or save me. Would He waste my life and time if He could not save me? The name of the Lord is a strong tower, and the righteous run unto it and are safe. It is a promise that has been true since the beginning of time, and will continue to be true till time as we know it now ends. All who call on His Name will be saved. That is the end result of the call on the Lord: salvation. What  could be greater than having the hope of eternal life with God? When eternal life is sealed, every other thing pales. May I not take hold of this world alone and have nothing to show for it in eternity. God's time of favour is here. 

Focus!

Focus!

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 1 Peter 5:10 NIV

The Inspiration:

Peter was speaking to fellow elders like him, with a mandate to take care of God's flock. This is a responsibility that must not be taken lightly, as there are rewards and punishments for the right or wrong actions in carrying out these assignments. Peter charges the elders to remember that God does not owe anyone, and as many as will serve Him faithfully will be rewarded with eternal life, which only God can give. My earnings, connections, influence, network and networth can't achieve anything of eternal value to me, unless I make use of them the right way. There is a call of God upon every life He has formed, and the only way my life will make sense is for me to depend on God to discover, pursue and fulfil His purpose for my life. By His Word, He has supplied grace in abundance, but He does not compel a man to come to Him. I have to recognize that grace and respond the right way.

The Contention:

God is referred to here as the God of ALL grace; there is no demand on earth that His power cannot meet. There can be no challenge that can surprise God, so no matter what comes my way, I have the assurance that God will not leave me alone. That is the greatest promise I can rely on, even as I face the challenges of this modern world. This is what also clarifies for me that the assurance of God's presence does not keep me away from these challenges. I am bound to face them and I have all that I need to overcome. Suffering and pain have been built into the fabric of this earthly phase as a result of sin, but the grace of God is stronger, deeper and higher than the reach of sin. The grace of God makes it possible for me to keep my heart on eternity, even as I am going through my daily routine down here on earth. I make impact down here, even as I prepare for the real life with God in eternity. 

The Conclusion:

The way there may be rough. There may be pain and discomfort, but it is always for a set time. Suffering is a part of human existence, and God seems to always find a way to use these experiences to bring out the best in us and to bring Himself praise and glory. God's greatest lessons seem to be learnt in those seasons of pain and discomfort, and through them, God brings me to the place of strength and comfort. God does not waste experiences He allows; if He brings them, be sure they are for your good. God's end-game is that I am fit for service down here, as well as with Him in heaven. He will do all that is required to make me complete. He will not leave me to my own devices or allow me scrape through by my labour alone. It is His joy that my life is a platform for the exhibition of His power, mercy and wisdom. He wants to do a work in and through me; would I let Him? Would you? God's time of favour is here. 

Seek Him!

Seek Him!

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

The Inspiration:

The warning or admonition in today's verse is quite critical in this season we are in. The world has always been in opposition to God, and there is nothing happening now that God did not forsee and warn about in His Word. As you read the pages of the Bible and learn about the experiences of men and women of old, how they walked with God, and how God dealt with them, you get to see both the predictable nature of God as well as the indescribable experience of hid dealings with man. There are no similar stories; even for the father-son combination of Abraham and Isaac, we see that their journeys were different and even the end of their lives were also different. The same God called each one, and each had to respond to the call of God, and then walk with God in light of the personal understanding of God's expectations. 

The Contention:

For me who is reading these stories today, the message is still the same: it is the same God who calls me to Himself. His standards have not changed, and all who come to Him on his terms will find Him. That is the promise He made to Abraham then, as well as to generations after him like Isaiah, as well as to us who are on earth today. God is not like man who needs to be bribed to give access, but as long as I come with the right heart, seeking Him for the right reasons, and committing to walking with and working for Him whenever and wherever He may direct, He will make Hmself available to me. One thing today's verse seems to make clear is that while God is eternal, access to him down here is not endless. The earth is in place for a season, and when the time comes for the change that God has already promised, all we see down here will be destroyed by fire. Is this earth then what I would want to kill for?

The Conclusion:

I must call out to Him now, while this earth remains in place, and I have life in me. A time comes soon when the owner of life will place a demand on the soul and an account must be rendered of all that I have done with the life He gave. On that day, would I have an excuse why I didn't call out to Him for help? Would I be able to stand before the God who I had no time for while on earth? The best use of this life is to use it for a purpose that will outlive it, and that will be the pursuit of all that is God. God is the Almighty, and I can call on Him anytime and anywhere,, but I must also remember that this earth is limited. I will not always have time to do what I want to do when I want to do them. Esau sought the blessing of the firstborn with tears, but it was too late for him. I have today to seek God; nothing else is promised. God's time of favour is here.

ALL!

ALL!

and thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. Deuteronomy 6:5 KJV

The Inspiration:

Just as Moses stood in those days to remind Israel about the promises and expectations of God for the new phase He was bringing them to, so does God seek to remind us in this generation of His promises and expectations for us. He is the same God; time, systems and cultures have done nothing to change, alter or lower His standards for anyone. What He called sin in the days of Adam and Noah is still sin in our day, and if I will be all He wants me to be, I have to listen to His instructions and obey them promptly. He is the same God who led Israel to a land that was not theirs in the first place, but because He is the Lord over all, He blesses whoever He chooses and shows mercy as He desires. However, one thing is clear: there is a role for me to play in the disperlnsation and generation God has placed me in. He does not make mistakes, and His plans are eternal. It will be a privilege for me to be counted as a vessel that God sees fit to use in these times, and I must therefore submit myself to Him, so I can be all He needs me to be. How can I do this the right way? Today's verse tells me how.

The Contention:

The matter of love is very simple, yet very complex. Today's verse asks me to love the Lord my God. The first step is to submit. How can I love a God I do not recognize as God? How would I obey a God with whom I have no knowledge of or relationship with? God has made an abundant provision of information about Himself in the Bible, and I will do well to read, study, meditate on, and personalize the messages therein. Love is the person of God Himself, and if it will be real, it has to be based on Him. My natural self can't produce God's kind of love because sin had tampered with the original template, but as I submit my life to God, He births new desires in me. I am able to flow out with His nature, power and mercy, and the world is impacted by His presence in me. I note the word ALL is repeated three times in that one verse above, to show the importance of the totality of my life being involved in this process. It would appear that God does not do partial commitment, because it means He cannot trust my heart when things get tough.

The Conclusion:

The danger of half-hearted devotion to God can be fatal. The church in Laodicea was warned about being lukewarm. James also warned about the danger of being double-minded. Even for king Amaziah, men would have seen the right things he did, but God's verdict was that he did not serve God with a perfect heart. Will God accept sacrifices that come from a distracted and divided heart? God accepted Abel first, and then His offering was accepted. My life is the focus; I must spend time making sure it is focused on God, to the exclusion of all other people or things. No other person or thing should be able to hold my heart. It will seek a full commitment of both my inner and outer content, and it will demand allegiance. It will not allow me to sit on the fence, because there is no fence. I am either all in or all out. Of course, the inner controls the outer. If my heart and mind are right, my strength and labour can be applied the right way. Can God trust that He holds ALL my heart, soul and might? Can He entrust his great treasures into my hand? God's time of favour is here. 

Truth!

Truth!

It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. 1 Corinthians 13:6 AMPC

The Inspiration:

The entire chapter from where the verse above is taken is on love. It is important to note that love is probably one of the most used and abused word in the world today. It is even used to explain acts that God has declared as sin by His own standard, but because there are no immediate or apparent consequences, men feel they can get away with such wrongdoing. This generation even has a concept of 'making love', as if it is a thing that can be manufactured or made. The original idea of love was God's, and it is His idea that we must seek, enforce and uphold if we are to live the life that pleases Him. I can't fill in any blanks with my own ideas, but I must keep going back to the original owner and idea to refine my understanding and to help me impact my world the right way. What is that right way? How would I know it, and how would I enforce and uphold it? 

The Contention:

Love, from God's perspective, is first and foremost a person and then the product of relationship. This would mean that love cannot be anything God is not. Yes, there are many definitions, but there can only be one reality. God is not the author of confusion, and He will not air or promote falsehood. If He says something is from Him, you can trust His Word. One of such falsehoods that men have pushed is the idea that the end justifies the means. Men would go into sin and error, claiming in the end that if God is glorified, or men even come to know God, then it must be worth it. Let it be known that God will never be false to His Name and Word. His power is such that can use any situation to achieve His purpose, but would I want to be at the receiving end of His wrath when Hs punishes sin? If I have come to know that something is wrong, is there any ground on which I can be excused if I then do it?

The Conclusion:

This is the power behind the conclusion here: God will not condone iniquity simply because I want to bring glory to His Name. I can't hold on to what is wrong, and at the same time rejoice when truth prevails. These are two irreconcilable positions. Righteousness and truth are the foundations of God's throne, and therefore, anyone who claims to know God must live by His standards and enforce His principles. I cannot be happy even if someone meets his/her just punishment for doing wrong, but I must constantly seek to make God known to man through the principles I live by. What are my pursuits and priorities? Do they reflect a knowledge of God or an encounter with God? Do my daily actions and decisions reflect someone who has a personal encounter with the God of love? Love also includes discipline, because God wants to make me into a vessel that He can use. Would I let Him work in and through me? God's time of favour is here. 

Be Still!

Be Atill!

Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 46:10 AMPC

The Inspiration:

The sons of Korah are credited with the words of this psalm, and the message in the verse above was potent then, and even more so in the present age where haste is seen as the most viable channel for success. The world today teaches us that you need to hustle hard in order to move ahead. In a world that tries to categorize men based on their networth, network and earning power, you find men chasing after that illusion called success, not sure if and when they get it, because the definition is not set. The world has no set standards, so it will keep changing the goals as far as it can, and men who have no focus will keep striving to attain that which is not even defined. However, for a category of people, there is a need to re-define terms. What would success mean for those with a living, thriving relationship with God? How would you define your hustle? 

The Contention:

Please note that there is no crime in a good hustle. The bible defines assignments and projects which require haste. The king's business demands haste. For a generation that is more hooked on speed than direction or impact, there is a need to take a step back and evaluate what is really important. Am I seeking to be recognized as first among equals, so as to take personal glory, or am I seeking to bring glory to God by dedicated and focused service? In both situations, I am giving my best, but the motive and endgame are different. God seeks to take glory in and through all I do, and my presentation is the platform for His presence to be made perfect. God wants to be known and celebrated all over the world, and as His representative, He counts on me to be His hand, heart, eyes and lips. Is my life a good reflection of God? Can God point to me as a good ambassador of His? 

The Conclusion:

As I hurry, I remember who I work for. I am not seeking glory for myself, but by labour and sacrifice, I point men in God's direction. If God needs me to take a break, I do so. If He needs intensity, He supplies the grace. My life becomes the platform for the manifestation of God's grace in its full effect. He actually does not need my hustle to be God; it is a privilege to work for Him. He needs me to move, speak or act at His command; it means to be still until He directs, and once He directs, I act accordingly. He is the Creator of all things, and He is exalted above all. I realise I am always in His presence, so there is no need for pretence. I come before Him as I should: quiet and calm. I surrender my life to Him and ask Him to do as He pleases, so that in and through me, He will be glorified in the earth. He has said it; He has the capacity and capability to bring it to pass. God's time of favour is here.

Set!

Set!

And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth. Colossians 3:2 AMPC

The Inspiration:

The issue of focus is a big deal. Many have begun a project very well, but fell apart at a stage where things became difficult. Many also had a poor start but found some very interesting motivation to push through to achieve whatever they set out to achieve. At the heart of everything worth mentioning today is someone or a group of people who shut out the noise, the comments, the looks and the attitude and simply focused on the job at hand. It is also noteworthy that anything that is of value and long-lasting impact must face opposition or resistance. Would it be a good reason to give up simply because someone or something is standing in my way? If this is true of everything we see and celebrate today, imagine the power of its equivalent in the spiritual. If men who do not even acknowledge God can achieve great things, how much more we who understand the power of the eternal.

The Contention:

Paul writes to the church in Colosse, specifically speaking to men who have been raised with Christ. It is about the evidence of my standing; something that proves who I am and therefore underpins what I do and how I do it. If all I am concerned with is how to rule the earth, I may achieve it, but at the end of it all, what else is the gain? If men down here on earth applaud and celebrate my achievements and Heaven has no record of my citizenship, have I really gained much? The world may remember all I have done, and it may reward me immensely, and that is quite fine; afterall, God has made an undertaking to provide ALL that I need for life and Godliness. This tells me that God's plan for impact does not affect only this earthly phase, but all of life, which includes the spiritual. That is the balance I need to have, as I seek to impact the earth that God has placed me in. Can I say that I am fulfilling God's plan for me?

The Conclusion:

Forget other people's views for a moment and make it personal. The decision to set your mind on what is above is personal. Nobody can do it on your behalf; it flows from an understanding of what is at stake. If my mind is on things above, I will prepare for eternity in a different way from someone who has no idea of eternity. Make the best use of all that the earth provides; in fact, it is my earthly responsibility to take care of all that is on earth. I do that with utmost care and caution, so that I do not lose my eternal reward. There is nothing this earth can give one that can be an effective substitute for eternal life with God. Jesus asked his disciples then, and he asks all of us now: "What would it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul?" I must set my mind right, and then keep it there, to the exclusion of any other thing or person. God does not share his praise with anything else, but He will abundantly reward all who focus on Him to the end. Would you? God's time of favour is here. 

Pillars!

Pillars!

constantly rejoicing in hope [because of our confidence in Christ], steadfast and patient in distress, devoted to prayer [continually seeking wisdom, guidance, and strength],

Romans 12:12 AMP

The Inspiration:

Paul writes to the church in Rome, and this was a church that had its fair share of trials and tough times. One thing God makes clear to all who will follow Him is the assurance of His presence. One other thing He also makes clear is that we wil have to go through trials and tough times for His best to be revealed in and through us. It would appear that God does not commit great treasures into a vessel He has not first tested and has found to be pliable and moldable in His hands. Too many times, we have strong opinions about what we think we should be, where we think our skills and gifts are best suited, or we want to decide the platforms and opportunities that wil best showcase our talents. As great as all of these may be, nothing is more important to God than finding a vessel He can trust and use as He sees fit. The quality of the vessel isn't about its worth by itself, but by the value of the One who is molding it, and then applying it as best as He sees fit. 

The Contention:

That is why today's verse is critical: it is a window into the plan of God for me. If I know whose I am, it helps me clarify the WHAT and the HOW behind my actions. I cannot speak or act carelessly, because I understand what is at stake, as well as the One I represent. As I live on a daily basis, the pillars laid out in today's verse must be my focus. First, hope is that fire that keeps me focused, even when all is going to pieces around me. If there was no eternal future for me, why would I deny myself the pleasures of this world? I keep my focus on God because I believe His Word thar there is life after this earthly life. This eternal life was secured by faith in Jesus. The second one is patience; I have come to know that the value of patience is only determined by the experiences God brings my way. How can I claim to have patience if I have not been tested? Can I claim patience if I have never had to wait for a promise to be fulfilled?

The Conclusion:

The third pillar is prayer. It is a sign of total dependence that I ask God for help on a daily basis. He is the Almighty God, yet He does not force Himself on anyone. He is the God who changes people, circumstances and situations, and nothing is impossible for Him to do, yet He waits for me to make the approach. His standing promise is that He will never turn His back on me. Wisdom, guidance and support are all available for me as I ask. God knows all I need, but I must make it a habit to speak with Him regularly. All these three pillars are inter-related. No matter what my today looks like, I know there is a great tomorrow ahead. That clarity keeps me going even when I do not fully understand what God is doing now. I go to Him often in prayer, getting guidance and leading for every step of the way. God is at work, and His help is always available. God's time of favour is here. 

Timing and Opportunity!

Timing and Opportunity!

For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14 NIV

The Inspiration:

There is a divine mix of oppourtunity and timing that today's verse lays emphasis on. Here was a young orphan lady, now under the care of her uncle. To make matters worse, she and her uncle were taken as captives of war and relocated to a strange country. It became interesting that a queen, who understood she reigned as queen only as long as the king wanted, decided to rebel, and she was deposed. A competition was held to appoint a new queen, and the king chose this orphan, called Esther. Talk about divine arrangements. Just like Joseph, adversity is a good platform for God to rearrange things to favour His own children who have come to trust Him completely with their lives. As I strive to make impact on the earth where I have been placed, do I know the purpose behind my placement? Am I content to just take each day as it comes with no preparation or planning for all the opportunities God will bring my way?

The Contention:

Together with her entire race, this new queen was targeted by a man called Haman, who used his influence with the king to order the total annihilation of the Jews. The queen could have stayed silent; after all, she was the queen and would be protected by the king's guards. The last people who tried to kill the king were hanged. However, her uncle had a different view, as laid out in today's verse. There is a time to be silent, but there is also a time when silence is criminal. It is important to understand the times and seasons that God has brought me to. There is a particular action that suits the particular time, and if I miss the right action, there may never be an opportunity to make it right or to have the right outcomes. There is a need to understand what God is doing per time, so I can key into it and be relevant for whatever He wants to achieve at the time. Am I striving to understand the demands of the times and seasons that God has brought me to?

The Conclusion:

The last part of the verse above is instructive: God places men and women in different positions at different times and under different circumstances because He needs something to be done. Mordecai and Esther were slaves, but by hard work and dedication, Esther became queen and her uncle became the king's employee, while also saving the king from death. When God is bringing me through the pit, or maybe a period of pain and discomfort like Potiphar's house, or maybe even the inconvenience of prison, He has an end in view. There is nothing accidental about the way God works; if He allows it, He will use it to bring Himself glory. However, there is a part for me to play, which is to understand where I fit and just stay faithful. If action is required, do the right thing, at the right time, and in the right way. May God grant me grace to know the right action that binds timing and opportunity, so that my life can bring God glory. God's time of favour is here. 

One Body!

One Body!

that there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 1 Corinthians 12:25‭ KJV

The Inspiration:

Picture the human body: a complex mixture of parts, which include cells, bones, flesh, liquids and solid parts. Science says the adult body has about 206 bones, and that is not counting other parts. There are parts that we cannot reasonably expose to the watching world, and there are parts that cannot even be covered, if they are to function properly. There are parts we pay close attention to on a regular basis, and there are parts that may not require such great attention to detail on a regular basis. No matter what part you refer to, God has so put the body together in a way that all of these parts then form the human body. No part is more important than the other; all of them must find a way to work together to ensure that the body functions properly. Imagine the impact if a part of the body then fights itself. How would that body be able to function properly? Can such a body at war with itself achieve anything?

The Contention:

If this is true of the physical, imagine the impact it has on the spiritual. It appears that the way God has arranged the body parts is one of co-dependency and inter-dependency. No single part on its own can claim to be the body, and no single part can function on its own without the contribution of other parts. Unless there is an accident which requires amputation, no part can walk away from the body on its own, and still claim unity with the body. These facts are replicated across the spiritual body too; no part of the body of Christ can function on its own and still be a part of the body of Christ. God has so arranged it that no human part can do the work of another part effectively or efficiently without issues. That is why God has designed each part specially, giving it its peculiar shape and impact, so that the body can function properly. Anything else wil lead to chaos.

The Conclusion:

Would it not be a sign of ingratitude if a part left its own role, and tries to copy the role of another part? By playing my role well, I am allowing other parts to function within their God-ordained roles. By staying in my defined space, and focusing on my God-ordained role, I am allowing the body grow properly and in line with God's purpose for the body. Whether hidden or obvious, a healthy body is the sum of all its parts pulling or pushing in the same direction. Am I a part that believes in promoting myself at the expense of the family I have been called to be a part of? The same care for all parts is the acceptable standard. I cannot pick and choose the beautiful parts to take care of; all parts need care and attention. The body of Christ is the same way; it needs the regular contribution of all its parts to make its impact undeniable. Am I taking care of the body of which I am a part? God's time of favour is here. 

Patience!

Patience!

Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. James 5:7‭-‬8 KJV

The Inspiration:

God would have me learn all the attributes that will enable me enjoy life down here on earth and also be worthy of eternal life with Him at the end of my life on earth. God is not so clueless that He will spend so much time creating, forming and equipping me for this earthly life, and then have no plan for me after this phase is over. He is an eternal God; one without beginning or end, and anyone or anything He creates will have a purpose. As we know, purpose also takes time to find, refine, develop, pursue and fulfil. This is best described using the example in today's verse, which is about sowing and reaping. The farmer has a clear idea of what he wants to achieve, and he prepares resources to attain that desire. The ground is prepared; the right kind of seed is also prepared, and the conditions that will make the seed produce the right kind of fruit is also provided. 

The Contention:

As the verse above indicates, the farmer would do all he can as best as he knows, but the one thing he really cannot control is the rain. He will plant the seed, weed out unwanted plants, apply fertiliser too, but then, he must pray and wait for rain. Without rain, the efforts will most likely be wasted. This is just one of the many ways God shows his power and wisdom. As this is for the physical, there is the equivalent in the spiritual also. God has given us all we need for life and Godliness, but there is a part for us to play, and it is to depend and focus exclusively on Him as we enjoy all that He has provided. God has an end in view for creating me, but I have to hold His hand and depend on Him every step of the way. The rain is what the seed needs to fully mature and produce after its kind, in line with its power, purpose and potential. Do I know my purpose? 

The Conclusion:

The end for all of us is eternal life with God. As I wait for that reality, there is something in me that needs to come out, to impact the world I have been placed in. God's purpose cannot be thwarted, no matter how hard the devil tries, but I must submit my life to God if He is to perfect His work in and through me. God will send the rain often, but would it meet the prepared seed? Would the rain find the seed in the prepared ground, so it can fully maximise and manifest its potential? God does not promise us eternal life on this present earth, but we wait for the full assurance of His promise that He will return for us. I cannot believe his promise of healing and then not believe his promise of eternity. It is the same God: faithful as ever and devoted to bringing me safely to the place He has promised. My heart has to be at rest as I wait, because I know no force in heaven or on earth can thwart God's perfect will. God's time of favour is here. 

Follow 2!

Follow 2!

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16:25‭-‬26 KJV

The Inspiration:

Today's extract contains both statements and questions. Both are very definite, and make clear what God's mind on our earthly and eternal lives is. The world and its systems want us to focus on what we can get; the value of the things that we can see, touch, taste and hold. The Word of God would have me focus on the One who actually already owns and holds all these things, and can give them to whoever He pleases at whatever time He chooses. In my pursuit of impact and relevance down here, i must focus on the things that really matter, and that would be whatever God says is important. In the verses above, God makes it clear that I do not have control over my life the way the world wants me to think I have. I can strive to make healthy choices, eating and exercising the right way, yet by themselves alone, these cannot guarantee eternal life with God. I can make a song and a dance about commitment to church, yet not be known or recognized bythe owner of the church as one of His. What, then, is important and critical in these times?

The Contention:

The focus must be on the soul, that hidden part of man but the most important. All we do in the body flow from the mind and the heart. Decisions on what to do and how to do it flow from the heart. It is not a wonder then that the Word of God warns me to guard my heart with all diligence, because from it flow all the issues of life. The same God also charges me to love Him with all I am, including my soul. The power of the invisible drives the visible. I can take all the steps required to give myself a good life but is that all there is to this life? Was I not made for more than just eating, drinking and then dying? Would God be so clueless that He will take time to create complex beings like myself, and then not have a plan for me? Definitely, God is not that kind of creator. He is interested in the content, character, composition, and continuity of the vessel He has made. That is why I must go to Him at all times for help and guidance every day. I cannot get it right by myself.

The Conclusion:

The world will promote its attractions; the Word of God does the same too. The end of all we see today is a fire that will not be quenched. Make good use of all the world's provisions, but don't be ruled by them. Enjoy all that life provides, but keep an eye on your journey to eternity. There is no price too high to pay to secure eternal life with God. If I deny myself worldly pleasures today, I have indeed lost nothing because there is nothing this world gives you that it will not find a way to take back from you eventually. The world itself is temporary, so there is nothing it can give you that can be permanent, because you can't give what you don't have. God is the One who is eternal, and His provisions are good for all of life and Godliness. Make sure that together with all that you attain on earth, you also retain that healthy, thriving relationship with God. That is what guarantees eternal life with God. Nothing in my hands right now can pay for missing eternal life. God's time of favour is here.

For Me!

For Me!

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31 KJV

The Inspiration:

In order to fully understand the words of today's verse, it is important to take a look at the verses just before this one. The power, wisdom and mercy of God is laid bare for all of us to see. Two of those verses say: "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Think about this: I am not an afterthought or an erro of judgment; I am a product of deliberate planning and decisive action. God always has a plan, and it pleased him to form me as part of that plan to establish, promote and fulfil that perfect plan of His. Long before even my parents came together, I was already a part of His plan, because He knew I was coming. No child is a mistake from God's perspective. If He gives, it is because that gift is His plan. 

The Contention:

In light of the above, it is therefore important to lay out the value of today's verse. Pray, tell, if God has this great plan for me, where I not only thrive down here on earth, but He also has a plan for my eternal reality, what else can't he give? If He gave the life of His son Jesus for my sin, even at the time that I was not even born, with no awareness of who I was or what I would become, what else can't He give up for me? If Love could be this wide, deep and high, providing grace and strength for the journey ahead, what excuse do I have not to give God my best and my all? God has not prepared anyone for destruction, except the devil and all the demons who fell into disobedience with Him. I am a child of God; saved and washed clean by the blood. I am no ordinary creature; I am formed by an extraordinary God to do extraordinary things for Him; my life cannot go to waste.

The Conclusion:

Let anyone speak as s/he pleases; as long as God has not spoken, men's words are just mere words. Even when God has spoken, men's words are still mere words. When the Bible says God has given us all that we need for life and Godliness, it is really ALL. It means God is rooting for me to succeed. He wants me to use all He has provided to achieve all He has commanded. Let all the earth gather together to fight me; as long as the battle meets me inside Christ, I will be alright. God is on the side of all who fear Him, and if indeed He is for me, who else is there to fear? What hold can anyone have on me, if I am held in God's hand? One with God is in the majority; without God, I am nothing. So, what else is there to add? What else is there to contest? As long as God has said it, He will do it. That is enough for me. Is that enough for you too? God's time of favour is here. 

In His Name!

In His Name!

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Matthew 18:20 KJV

The Inspiration:

It is easy to focus on the power of two or three and in fact, the bible has so many stories about the achievements of two or three people. A verse says: "can two walk together unless they agree". Another verse says that "a three-piece cord is not easily broken". The story of the tower of Babel is a good example of the strength behind numbers, and even God was careful to highlight the force behind such numerical commitment. God said quite clearly that if as a people, this number had begun to do anything, then nothing will be impossible for them. God knows the power behind the unity of two or more people, but we can easily gloss over or ignore the fact that the secret behind the force and power of two or more people is actually the commitment, focus and dedication of one person. It is the power of one that leads to the impact of two or three.

The Contention:

When two or more people gather together as the verse above states, it is not first about the number, but the foundation of the individuals coming together. Is there any of them who knows God? All you need is one; one person with a living, breathing and thriving relationship with God. That relationship is the fire that will ignite the fellowship of two or more people. How can God be present in a place where he is not recognised or given His due? How would God be pleased to dwell in a place where sin thrives, or where confusion is the order of the day? God is not the author or promoter of confusion, and as He has made very clear in the Bible, his eyes are too pure to behold iniquity,  but for all who will truly seek Him, He promises to reveal Himself to them. In that light, just picture the power behind the coming together of two people who are sincere in their search for God. 

The Conclusion:

Imagine the power available when two or more people with a healthy relationship with God gather together. Even if it is one person that God is pleased with, imagine the miracles that are available for that gathering. Don't just settle for numbers; make sure that God is pleased to associate with your number. Don't be content to just join a popular movement, but make sure that God is in the midst. The purpose of the gathering then comes to play: gathering in His Name. This is not to promote self, or to drive likes or applause, but to glorify the name of the Lord. His name is called a strong tower that the righteous run into and are safe. It is not a place to push personal, selfish agendas, but to draw men's attention to the name and all it offers. In that name is life eternal, as well as all that this earthly life requires. Why will God not bless the gathering of people that draw attention to His Name and give Him glory? Make sure of your relationship with God today. His presence is assured if you get the foundation right. God's time of favour is here. 

Follow!

Follow!

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. Luke 9:23‭-‬24 KJV

The Inspiration:

For all true disciples of Jesus, today's verse is for us. Everywhere Jesus went, there was always a crowd following. Just before today's verse, Jesus had just fed 5,000 men, beside wonen and children. I am sure in that crowd were people who were following Him for various reasons. Some would have loved the idea of constant supply of food, or some may just have loved following the latest trend, as Jesus was quite popular at the time. Whatever was the reason for following Jesus was, at some point, the crowd left and only the disciples were left. This is a clear message not to be distracted by numbers or popularity or even applause, but to seek that which pleases God. Jesus left the crowd behind and withdrew to a quiet place to pray. That is the divine response to the pressure of the crowd. Step away from its attraction and seek that which God would have you know. 

The Contention:

I cannot afford to follow the crowd; its daily principles and policies are not in line with God's will, and living to please the crowd will only end in disgrace. The solution is as laid out in today's verse. First, there is a decision to be made: do I want to remain part of the crowd, or do I want to step up to becoming a disciple? That decision can only be made by me, and cannot be done by proxy. Nobody can become saved on your behalf; I have to work out my own salvation with fear and trembling. If any man will come after Jesus, it is first and foremost a personal decision. I can't take that decision on your behalf, and you can't take it on my own behalf too. The call requires me to first deny myself and all that the natural man will desire from me, and then seek that which God desires. I can't please God by seeking to please flesh at the same time.  I follow self-denial with a taking up of the cross. At no time am I expected to be without a commitment. 

The Conclusion:

The taking up of the cross, as well as the denying of self, is a daily exercise. I don't get to pick and choose the days to be true to the cross, and the days to pursue my own thing.  It has to be a daily commitment to the things God demands. I note the word AND is present in the verse above; it is a complete package of demands, not options. If I truly seek to follow Jesus, it has to be on His own terms, not mine. Following Jesus will demand a lot from you; you will not be loved by the world, because you are now pursuing the things that the world hates. The world will even attack you if it can, because you are no longer under its influence and control. Following Jesus is not a weekly, monthly or yearly affair; it is a daily life of commitment and devotion to God and to what He commands. It may seem hard to those who are outside, but God's grace makes the journey worth it. Are you following Jesus? Does He direct your daily pursuits? God's time of favour is here. 

At Work!

At Work!

And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you. Philippians 1:6 AMPC

The Inspiration:

Paul, together with one of his proteges called Timothy, again writes here to the church in Phiippi. The audience for the letter as stated in the letter would be the saints in Christ Jesus, together with the bishops and deacons of the church. This would mean that as far as Paul was concerned, the message is this verse is for all who are part of the body of Christ. Positions and roles are a part of the process of building up, but they must not be more important than the work God is doing in His church. All who are a part of the church must be conscious of this fact: God is always at work. His church is the platform as well as the tools He uses to bring about His perfect will on earth. If indeed I am part of His church on earth, I have to know what He expects of and from me, so that my life can indeed be the visible and audible example it is created to be. 

The Contention:

God is the One who calls, and when He does, it will do well to listen and heed what He is saying. God does not make long-term use of a man He has nor prepared for the work that is ahead. One thing today's verse makes clear is that God always wants to work in and through me. He needs me to be a vessel He can trust and deploy where and when He pleases. His work is ALWAYS good, because He is a good God. That work is first and mainly IN me, before it can ever be about what flows OUT of me. Too many times, we can be concerned about how to impress other people, but if I can only let God do what He alone can do, I cannot fail to make impact God's way. It must have been personal conviction and experience that made Paul speak with so much confidence in what God can do with a life that is submitted totally in Him. Can I speak with the same level of confidence?

The Conclusion:

It won't just be a good start, but even more important, a great end. Between birth and death, a lot of things will happen to a person, but as I live on a daily basis, I must remind myself that all of earthly life is but a phase that will soon pass away. God does not do abandoned vessels; He will not pick up a man, use and then dump him. He is able and capable to bring a man to the discovery and fulfilment of His purpose for that life. A day is coming when there will be a reward for all I have done on earth. We serve a God who cannot be deceived by outer labour. The day of the Lord is coming, and it is a day in which all of us must give an account to God for how we lived our lives. As God works, I must let Him. He does not force Himself on anyone, but He will start, develop, perfect and complete that which is His perfect plan for me. He is God; He is the Almighty. There is nothing He cannot do. God's time of favour is here. 

Dwell!

Dwell!

HE WHO dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand]. Psalm 91:1‭ AMPC

The Inspiration:

Isn't it interesting that the first two words of the verses before us today are in uppercase? There is first the issue of identity, and then the decision. The start point of anything that will have impact must be personal conviction. You won't do anything if you have not been convinced beyond all doubt that this is the best course of action. The action required here is to define your residence status in the best place on earth, which is the secret place of the Most High. The word used here is also important: DWELL means it is a place of permanent residence, where a man has deep roots in and has made a home. The dictionary defines it as 'to sit down, to abide, inhabit or remain. Where you dwell is a place people have come to know you at, and when they need to find you, they know where to go. For me, it is therefore important to work this out: if men come looking for me, where would they find me? Where would they find you? 

The Contention:

That question is important. In these days of uncertainty and compromise, men must know the depth and quality of my convictions. I can't claim to dwell in God's secret place and my life will not reflect that position. As much as God is God over all the earth, and He has made all men, there is still the need for man to search for God. It is a secret place because only those who search diligently have access granted. There is no automatic entry. It is a secret place because God is Spirit and those who must come to Him must know how and where to seek Him. The power of this decision is further strengthened by the fact that God does not compel anyone to dwell; it is a decision that must come from my heart. I must weigh the options before me and then decide: do I want to dwell where God is, or would I prefer the place of self -promotion? What steps do I need to take to get to where God intends for me?

The Conclusion:

The end of the process is quite revealing. The man who has sorted out his dwelling place is stable and fixed. Nothing moves him from that position. Oh, storms will come; the winds of adversity will blow and beat against the house of your heart, but as long as I am in the secret place, I need not fear anything. What gives you that stability and confidence isn't about what you contribute, but about the One who you have come to meet. I cannot keep myself safe, no matter how high the fence or deep the trench. The One offering a safe place is both able and capable to keep me safe; however, I must be IN Him to enjoy what He provides. I cannot be comfortable living in sin and expect that the grace of God will abound. God's power is limitless, but I can prise myself out of His cover by the way I live. I must find God and stay IN Him. Nowhere else is safe. God's time of favour is here.