Love!

Love!

For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:14 NIV

The Inspiration:

As you read the first few chapters of Paul's letter to the Romans, you get a very good view of the power of the law, as well as its limits. The law was the start point of the life of rules and regulations laid out by God for his people, as well as all who would seek the blessings promised by God for all who obeyed the law. God wanted to have a fair and balanced basis for judging men, and this was why the law was introduced. Unfortunately, the law only reminded me of all that God demanded of me and what it would punish, but in and by itself, it could not encourage compliance. I would not have known what sin is if the law did not lay it out as sin, but then, I would not have known what God loves or hates, if He had not made them all clear by His law. We can therefore say that the law is good; but it would also remind me of the fact that by its scope and operation, it was impossible for a man to please God by obeying the law, because breaking one meant breaking all. This is why Jesus had to come. His life has become the perfect example for the world to emulate, if it wants to see God's grace in all its fullness in action.

The Contention:

God is described as love in so many places in the Bible, which means that the true definition of the word 'love' can only be seen from the perspective of the One who personifies it. It is like trying to create Coca Cola's Coke without the ingredients that make up Coke. You may get a close alternative, or a similar taste, but as long as the contents don't match, it is not the same. The world has its own definitions and images of 'love'; even some acts that God clearly labels as sin are passed by the world as 'acts' of love. You cannot blame the world for its perspective, because it only knows what it can see, touch, taste or feel. It has no personal connection with the God who presents himself as love. For those of us who have experienced the love of God, made real and personal by the death and resurrection of Jesus, we know the power and impact of God's love for us. We stand where we are today because of that love. We can love, because we now know what the original looks like. We can love, because we ourselves are living witnesses to the power and influence of love. This is where my neighbour comes in; how else can I prove I know who and what live is if I cannot show it to other people?

The Conclusion:

What kind of fruit will my life bear if it cannot reflect the impact and presence of the One called Love? I think of the fruit of the Spirit, of which love is, and I realise that the verses make it clear that there can be no law against love. In fact, it is the opposite of love that has led to all the wars and conflicts the world has experienced. God does not save me and then take me home immediately, because He wants to use my life as a platform to reach the world for Him. What louder message can a life preach, other than one with a personal touch of God's favour and grace? If I love my neighbour with the love of God, I will constantly watch out for his/her interests. I will not seek to harm or hurt the person. After all, God intended to regulate my relationship with my fellow man, so that when there is peace amongst men, it will also lead to ease of access into God's presence. When there is no malice or hatred, why will God not be pleased to dwell among men? Love is of God, and anyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Nothing else can be taken away or added to this truth. Do I know this love? Is He real to me? God's time of favour is here. 

Cause and Effect!

Cause and Effect!

In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You, Lord, alone make me dwell in safety and confident trust. Psalm 4:8 AMPC

The Inspiration:

When you read words like those of the verse above, you have to ask about the origin and foundation of such confidence. These were the words of David, referred to as a man after God's heart. He had come to know God on a personal level, and even when he did wrong, and he did several times, he knew how to go back to God for forgiveness. He had several incidents in his life which taught him to depend solely and fully on God. If I want to come to the same conclusion David came to here, I have to also walk the same way David walked. Look at the contents of a few verses just before the one above: Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him. How can a man speak in this way, unless he has an unflinching assurance of the One he had come to trust? He would have proven this person over and over, until he comes to the complete assurance that God hears anytime he calls. 

The Contention:

The blessing is both to lie down and also to sleep. Do not take any of them for granted, or think you can buy any of them with a lot of money. It is a blessing to find time, the place and the grace to lie down. It is a promise of the good shepherd to make me lie down in green pastures. It takes a man who God has given rest to look forward to lying down. It shows that the man has also been blessed with a place of rest. Size is not the issue here, and a big house or a massive bed do not guarantee a place of rest. Being able to lie down and sleep is one part, and then to be able to sleep is the other. Men have invested huge sums of money and resources in order to guarantee a good sleep, yet it is clear that sleep is a blessing from God. I have seen men and women who have to be heavily medicated in order to fall asleep. Sleep is not the exclusive preserve of the rich or poor, but simply for the one who God chooses to give it to. Am I one of such people? Can God count on my total and absolute devotion? 

The Conclusion:

The verse above makes it clear how I can get both to lie down and sleep, and it is because the God who gives the peace I need for both is my God. Only because God allows it am I able to enjoy what is offered here. He is the One who is powerful enough to oversee the entire universe, and nothing catches Him by surprise, and no one is powerful enough to unsettle him or change his perfect will. Men can build walls or high fences, but nothing can stop danger from coming. Men can employ the best security devices or schemes, yet none of them can stop death from coming, if it is time. The Lord is the Master of the Universe, and all things answer to Him. If He commands, even the devil obeys. He is my Refuge and Strength, a very present help in trouble. He offers me all of Him, and he waits for my response. Would I trust Him, or do I want to continue in my own wisdom? Eternity is too long a time not to be sure of your response. God's time of favour is here. 

New Life!

New Life!

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 NIV

The Inspiration:

The first time we hear of Saul, the writer of the words of today's verse, was at another death. A mob gathered to stone Stephen, one of the first deacons in the early church, to death. Saul was there, providing support and encouragement to those who cast the stones. He was a zealous Jew, who wanted to defend the motherland, and he got a mandate to go and arrest others who belonged to the Way. Little did he know that he also had a date with destiny, as he met Jesus on the way to Damascus. The one who pursued Christians had now became the pursued himself. Like Saul, all who seek to have and make impact need to start at the point Saul started, which is a personal encounter with Jesus. This is why it is important: it changes everything you think you know about yourself. It reveals who God is, who you are, what God expects of you and the direction He would have you take to get to the place He needs you to be. 

The Contention:

This personal encounter becomes the reference point for all the other experiences that may come your way. Until a man has it, you do not even know who God is, or what He demands from you. It was that encounter that turned Saul into a man who God could use in amazing ways to encourage the early church, and these teachings are still valid for us in this present generation. That encounter makes it clear that it is no longer what I want that counts, but what the owner of my life desires. The encounter makes the cross a personal statement, and all who would lay claim to the life of Christ must have first tasted of the pain of death. How would I claim the life of Christ, if I know nothing of the pain and suffering He went through to secure this life for me? I must die to the sin He died for, so that His life can flow in and through me. Sin cannot be my companion, and I will still lay claim to the life of God. Both cannot mix; they are parallel lines that can never meet. 

The Conclusion:

The life of God in me abhors sin. As I depend daily on the supply of God's grace, I have all I need to live right. As I have surrendered to Him, the life I live now is actually His, not mine. The day I gave my life to Him was the day I gave up control over my life. How can I be dead and still be in charge? How can I claim to be dead and still insist on my own way? I may not see or know the full extent of all that I have been promised by God, but I live by faith in the Son of God. I consider the sacrifice He paid for my full pardon, and I do not know anyone who would give His life so willingly for people who didn't care about him at the time. If He could love me with such depth, and go to the lengths He did for me, can I then imagine what it would mean if I reject Him? Who else can plead my case? May the death and life of Jesus not be in vain over my life. May I be a daily expression of the love of God. God's time of favour is here. 

One Thing!

One Thing!

One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. Psalm 27:4 KJV

The Inspiration:

These are the words of David, the man after God's heart. As you read the words above, you get the clear impression that a lot of things are important and all require attention, but there comes a time when a man must sit down, evaluate all that is before him, weigh all options and stick with that which is important and critical to life. Like Paul would say, all things may be lawful, but not all things are expedient or even edifying. Life will throw all sorts of things at you, demanding time and attention, but I have to consider what is really important and take action as appropriate. The reward system for the world is not tied to effort but to results, and this is why the men of the world will do anything, even illegal, in order to achieve results. The world will not lift a finger to help you with the burden, but it will demand recognition and praise when the results are made manifest, no matter what you did to achieve them. 

The Contention:

Fortunately, God works by different standards, providing all the help I need in order to achieve the results that glorify Him. He wants me to trust Him with my life, that is all of it, not a parr or most of it. There will  be many valid channels and different perspectives that will demand attention, but the critical thing is to know what is imperative and important from God's perspective, and to stick to it, to the exclusion of ALL other things. The devil will try and make other things seem important, and he will try and distract, but like David here, and Paul also, later in the New Testament, I must know what is proper and appropriate for the times I am in. David knew the value of a focused life, and he would not seek anything else, except that glorified Him. His presence is what we all need, no matter how much it is we already have. His presence is all that counts for value; without it, it does not really matter what else you have. Let the world perish with its possessions; everything will still burn with fire eventually. Like David, God's house must be my priority.

The Conclusion

It isn't so much about the physical structure, but about the lives He has placed around me. It is also not about hanging around church, but about having the God of the church as your Lord and Saviour. Don't settle just for being one of the number in church; make sure that God can count on you as one of His own. David understood that quite clearly, and he would seek God's face for anything and everything. He would rather stay in the temple with God, than dwell in the palaces of men. He would rather fall into the hands of God, even it it was for punishment, than fall into the hands of men. You won't find God where sin abounds, so I have to make sure I am not living in sin. I will only see His beauty when He takes the whole of me. I can only enquire of Him and get answers when I trust Him completely with my life. Today is another opportunity to take stock and know where I am with God. Do I have that one thing that is important to the heart of God? Nothing else counts. God's time of favour is here. 

Hear and Do!

Hear and Do!

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: Matthew 7:24 KJV

The Inspiration:

Jesus was speaking to His disciples, but of course, the crowd was all around him. The crowd is easily distracted by grammar and high-sounding words, but those who will make impact in the world they have been placed in are those who can move from hearing to doing. All through the bible, we see the effect of just hearing, and we also see the effect of doing. The foundation of a life of impact actually starts from hearing. How would you get relevant and updated information if you do not search for it? How would you know what God is saying per time, and for the season you are in, if you do not take the time to listen? The bible makes it clear that 'Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God'. Faith will not hang on the air, but it will attach itself to the foundation of the Truth as laid out by God. What is faith, if God is not involved? What is faith outside the principles of operation laid out by God?

The Contention:

When I hear, I need to act. All of God's word have instructions, doctrines, corrections, teachings or guidance that I have to consider and respond to. This is why the bible also says that 'All Scripture is given by the Inspiration of God'. I may not like what I read or how it is presented, but if I can go back to the Source and Inspiration behind the words, I will get clarity on what the expectations of God for me are, and I can depend on Him for strength to obey promptly. I have to seek all opportunities to hear God's Word. We make excuses for fellowship, claiming we are tired, but no matter how tired we are, we get up to go to work daily. We know there will be dire  consequences for not coming to work, but we do not take to heart the opportunities to hear God speak to us. What would I subject all the noise I hear to, if I do not have or know the Truth as laid out by God? God has given me His Word as the standard; everything rises or falls based on what He says.

The Conclusion:

This is why doing is critical. Knowledge is good, but it has to be followed up with understanding and appropriate action. If I know something is a sin, but I do it anyway, I have no excuse. The verse above calls all who do what is in line with God's word WISE. Wisdom is the right application of knowledge and information, whether in times of quality and timing of response, or the right measure for the right issue. There are times when running away, like Joseph did with Potiphar's wife, is wisdom, and there are times when standing for God, like the 3 Hebrew boys, is the wise thing to do. In both instances, men took action based on what they knew about God, and God came through for them. It could also happen that like Stephen, taking a stand for God could cost you something, but with God, no life is a waste if it is spent in obedience to God's Word. The house built on total obedience to God will stand, because it is founded on the immovable foundations of God's Word. God's time of favour is here. 

For Me!

For Me!

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14 KJV

The Inspiration:

John starts his letter here with a tribute to Jesus. He speaks about the One who is called the Word of God. The Word of God is the instrument and channel of creation; the One by and for whom the whole world was made. At His Word, all that we see today were made, and they answer to the One who is in charge. By the same Word, the whole earth exists and functions as it is now, and it will continue to function as its creator desires. There is no one who is powerful enough to hinder or stop the exercise of the authority of the Creator. Just like any other inventor or creator, that which is made is subject to the authority of the creator, since s/he is the one with clear k knowledge of the purpose of creation. Do I know the reason why the Creator formed, and then placed me where I am now? Do I even know, recognize and acknowledge the power and authority of the One who is responsible for my existence and reality?

The Contention:

Imagine this power being made like you and I, in human form. Imagine the Creator of the whole world being subject to the whims and caprices of mortal men, who then treated him very badly. At birth, people most people didn't even understand the times that were upon them. Those who owned inns had no room for the creator: even the king Herod and his entire court were troubled at the news of a new king, and Herod did his best to cause heartache and pain to mothers, as he killed all babies who were under 2 years at the time. He was constantly opposed by the scribes, Pharisees and Saducees of his time. There were times he would whip people out of the temple ad they turned it into a place of commerce, instead of a place of prayer, as intended by God. He sought to impact the lives of all who came in touch with him, and all who surrendered to Him received the life only God could give.

The Conclusion:

And then the cross happened. If Jesus had stayed in heaven, no one could touch him, but then, I would not be able to touch heaven. Jesus left his throne and then came to the earth to live among us. He was hungry and thirsty like us; he needed to rest and sleep like us, and He had desires to please his father, like any son should rightly do. By the sacrifice of His life, He has tasted death for all of us. By his life, He guarantees that we will one day see Him as He is, in all His glory. It may not look like it now, but God will not do all He has done for no reason. I have the opportunity to take full advantage of all that God has made available, and I cannot turn around and blame God for the consequences of my actions and decisions. God is the One full of grace and truth, and all who will end up with Him must make truth a personal commitment. God's time of favour is here.

Held Up!

Held Up!

But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; My glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

Psalm 3:3 KJV

The Inspiration:

As you read the verses that come before the one above, you would think that the enemies of David were from other nations, or strong men who wanted to kill him. This was a man who had been blessed by God, and had been given kingship over Israel. He had success all around, and maybe due to comfort and success, he made a play for another man's wife, slept with her, killed the husband and then married the woman. God was angry with David, and he was punished. One thing God said that is so deep is that though Daivd did this evil in secret, the repercussions will be in the open. His own son Absalom made a tent on the roof and slept with all his father's wives and concubines before the eyes of all Israel. That is public humiliation, not by an external enemy, but by a son. This is the proof that sin has terrible consequences. It does not matter how the world tries to explain it away, or to call it by "convenient" names; if God calls it sin, it will be best if I also see and treat it as sin. 

The Contention:

Read the verses before the one above: "LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God". He was in trouble, mainly of his own making, but as is the nature of God, He does not cast a man away. As long as that man knows he is a sinner, and cries to God for help, there is a standing assurance that God will hear. If we all were to be dealt with by God according to our own righteousness  we will not survive his punishment. Even when I may deserve the punishment, God's mercy will not allow me to be destroyed. Even in the punishment of David for his sin, God still showed mercy, restored him to the kingdom, and even made the son of the same woman whom he committed adultery with to be the king of Israel after David. How do you explain that? 

The Conclusion:

God will always come through for all who call on Him. Don't wait until you are in trouble before you learn to call on Him. Make it a daily and regular habit to speak with God. Make a commitment to holy and righteous living, so that you can attract God's best to you. He cannot look on sin, but His love for the sinner is unparalleled and unbreakable. If I can make the approach, come to Him for help, He is more than able to take care of me. The verse above refers to him as a shield. He is able to keep safe for all eternity whatever is committed to Him. He is also called my glory and the lifter of my head. His presence in me cannot be hidden; even when everything around me is messed up, and everyone has abandoned me, God will never leave me. He is all I need for the journey before me. He will hold me up to the end, so I can arrive safely. God's time of favour is here. 

Sow!

Sow!

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

2 Corinthians 9:6 NIV

The Inspiration:

We all know the value of sowing. Before sowing, there is a lot of work to be done. The land is cultivated to receive the seed to be planted, and the weather conditions have to be perfect and suitable for planting. Long before the seed is put into the ground, there would have been a prior sowing, harvest and storing of seed, or the purchase of the right seed for the right kind of harvest. There is also the understanding that when the seed gets into the ground, it has to be kept free from weeds, pests and other factors that could hinder its full development and growth. A good harvest does not happen by accident; it is the result of careful and deliberate planning. I am yet to see a serious farmer who plants precious seed and then goes to sleep, never checking how the seed is doing, and if conditions remain conducive for the seed to lead to fruit. 

The Contention:

The desired end result is what defines the effort you put in. If you want a good harvest, you put in the work. If you have not much expectation for a rich harvest, you do not have to do much. If this is true in the physical, just imagine the effect of this in the spiritual. If you are seeking a rich harvest, it means you need a lot of seed. Every seed bears in itself the capacity to lead to fruit. God has so done it that no matter how small the seed, it has the power and capacity to lead to amazing and abundant fruit. As I take these precious seeds to sow, I must be deliberate and careful about where and how I plant the seed. Today's verse makes it clear that a bountiful harvest is based on bountiful sowing. You never get the same quantity of seed you plant; you get a geometric increase of what you put in. What plans and efforts am I making to receive a rich harvest? Do I even have seed to sow?

The Conclusion:

God wants me to have a rich harvest, so He has supplied many avenues for me to get good seed. My giftings and talents are seeds, planted into the family, community and church where he has planted me. The people He has allowed me to meet on this life's journey are also seeds, sown into my life. All the experiences He has allowed me to pass through are also seeds on my journey of impact and relevance. God does not waste anything; he provides food for the eater, as well as seed for the sower. He has done all that is required to guarantee a life of relevance and abundance, but I have to show up to take hold of all He has made available. If I desire it, I have to pay for it. He will back me up, as I stay faithful and committed to His command. May my whole life itself be a seed God can depend on to increase and bless the earth I have been planted in. God's time of favour is here. 

Power!

Power!

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. Romans 1:16 NIV

The Inspiration:

Paul would know what he is talking about here. He was relatively unknown, at least by bible records, until he burst into the scene while Stephen was being stoned to death. He had this raw, maybe misplaced, zeal for the Jewish customs and traditions, and he went to obtain permission to arrest all who belonged to the new 'sect' that was threatening all they knew. There is always fear of the unknown and the unpredictable, and like Paul at the time, Jewish customs were all he knew. Like all experiences that wil stay with you forever, it has to be something very personal, not the reported speech of other people. Paul was there when Stephen was being stoned, and he must have seen the peace in the life of the martyr as he lay dying. He would not have understood the basis of the peace, until he had his own personal encounter with Jesus. 

The Contention:

Like Paul, we all need our 'road to Damascus' experience. It cannot just be the stories of other people, or the accounts read about on the internet. It has to be an experience of a lifetime, whose lessons and impact wil stay with you for the rest of your life. Men must see the results of that experience in your own life. How would I testify of an inner change if there is no outer evidence? How would I convince anyone of the power of Jesus to save, if I do not have any personal encounter to speak about?  Paul would go on and arrest those who belonged to the Way, and I am sure he would have wondered what they saw in Jesus that made them surrender to whatever punishment was coming, even if it was death. You don't make such sacrifices for something that you are not convinced of its eternal value or the fact that it will outlive this earthly phase. 

The Conclusion:

Now, Paul had his own personal encounter, and he could not stop talking about it. At a time, he was the one pursuing; now he was the one being pursued and punished for belonging to the Way. The power of God can save a man, no matter how filthy his past or present is. The power of God is able to offer salvation to ALL men, irrespective of colour or creed. He had seen men and women come to the saving knowledge of Jesus, and he knew that no one was ever so sinful that s/he was beyond the grace and mercy of God. As the verse says, it may be for the Jew first, but thank God it didn't stop there. The Gentile is also included in the plan of salvation. All of us have received the free offer of life in Christ Jesus. What would you do, or what have you done, with this offer? Have I truly experienced this salvation? If I have, it will be hard to stop speaking about it. God's time of favour is here. 

Focus!

Focus!

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

1 Peter 5:8‭-‬9 NIV

The Inspiration:

Peter would know what he was speaking of in the verses above. Here was a man whose name was actually Simon, which means reed. He was quick-tempered; quick to speak and also seemingly getting into trouble. He was the one who made that great confession that Jesus is the son of the living God, yet in the same breath, also wanted to prevent Jesus from going to the cross. He would cut off the ear of one of the servants of the chief priest, and then deny Jesus thrice. By human standards, he had done a lot of wrong, but there is a verse that relates to Peter, and by extension, to all of us today. Jesus told Peter that Satan had asked to sift him like wheat, but Jesus had prayed for him. If not for the grace and help of God, is there anyone of us that would survive the onslaught of the devil? The devil has but one assignment: to steal, kill and destroy. That is all he can offer, because that is all he has. 

The Contention:

Thank God for Jesus who prayed for Peter then, and who still prays for us today. The devil will keep doing what he knows how best to do, and Jesus will also do what He knows how best to do, which is to provide the help needed to defeat the devil. Let it be clear today that on our own, we can't defeat the devil. He is skilled in warfare, and has been fighting dirty since the account of creation. He would disguise as a messenger of light, but he is full of deadly poison. There is nowhere he cannot operate, as long as God does not restrict him. When angels, also called the sons of God, gathered together in the heavenlies, the devil was there, trying to get at the righteous man Job. He goes round the earth like a lion, seeking whom to devour. If God did not place a limit on his power, he would have taken Job's life. He is not a friend, no matter how hard he tries to present himself as such. 

The Conclusion:

God will not leave me without guidance on how to defeat the devil. God knows that He needs to provide the tools required to defeat the enemy. It is the quality of weapons or strategy of the enemy that will determine what I need to do to win. What God does is to provide strength, wisdom, faith, knowledge and grace to know what God wants me to do, as well as where he wants me to be, so I can be all He wants me to be. Resistance to the schemes of the devil will only happen if I have the right information about what is ahead. Another good thing also is that whatever happens to me may be peculiar to me, but it is not strange. All over the world, declaring for Jesus comes with its pain, but with God, there is always a good end in view. As I stand firm in faith, I am affirming that I know who I have believed, and I am certain that eternal life with Him lies at the end of all the struggles. That makes it worth the pain. God's time of favour is here. 

Grateful!

Grateful!

O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever! 1 Chronicles 16:34 AMPC

The Inspiration:

David was called a man after God's heart, and as you read the words of the entire chapter from which today's verse is taken. He recalled the story of the people of Israell, and how God had taken them from captivity in Egypt into a land flowing with milk and honey. If I will also enjoy the same dispensation of grace and favour that David enjoyed, I have to have the same heart that David had. Even when mistakes were made about how to handle the ark of the Lord, David would not stop praising God. Even when God punished David for carrying out a census, just to glory in ordinary numbers, David would still prefer to fall into the hands of the merciful God. David lived in a lovely palace, but he also wanted to build a befitting place for the ark of the covenant to rest. Even though God would not allow David build a temple, He allowed him to make provisions for the temple, and then God blessed David abundantly. He got a pernament dynasty from God, simply because he knew God's heart. 

The Contention:

Can the same thing be said of me? Do I love God with the same passion and commitment of David? I must always remember that this is a God who cannot be mocked or deceived, and He knows all about my heart. He knew when I am being sincere and when I am being a hypocrite. I could not pay him enough for all He has done for or given me. I could never offer Him enough to full pay for the life that He gave so I could have eternal life. What else could anyone give, after giving His life? What else could convince me about the love of a God whose best is free for me, without cost and without price? It is not a wonder that David is known for songs of praise. It was his constant expression of gratitude for all he had received. As I read these words, I have to also answer the question: "How would I show appreciation to God for all He has given me?" This is a question that is valid for all time. How do you plead? 

The Conclusion:

David asks us to give thanks to the Lord, and he lays out the reasons why. Time and space wil not permit us to consider all, but the simple fact that God is good is enough. It does not matter what the world deals you; it does not change the fact that God is good. All of us stand today simply because of His mercy and loving-kindness. Sin changed the landscape for man, but it does not change who God is. In fact, the more sin, the more grace abounded. Nothing in all of life can hinder the grace and mercy of God, unless I consciously and deliberately reject them all the way to the end of my earthly life. The past does not matter; grace has an answer for the mess. The present is just but preparation for the future. No wonder God is described as eternal; everyone who comes to Him enjoys the dispensation of life. All I need to do is trust and depend on Him. He will sort out my earthly impact and eternal relevance. God's time of favour is here. 

Value!

Value!

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, The moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him? Psalm 8:3‭-‬4 KJV

The Inspiration:

Take a look around you and consider the parts of creation that your eyes and ears can see, hear and perceive. Consider the size of the oceans; see how the heavens are stretched out as far as your eyes can see. Hear the loud harmony of birds as they break out in song every morning. Recall the cycle of growth and hibernation for the flowers of the field: bright and beautiful in spring, and then seemingly inactive in winter, only to break out in all beauty and grace the next cycle. The birds don't have a bank account, yet they are fed on a regular basis by the Creator of the heavens and the earth. The flowers of the field don't have an investment plan, but they are kept beautiful by the One who clothes them in beauty. These are the same flowers we would just pluck out and hand over to another, or we simply cut them all up to make space for another to come. You just have to recognize and applaud the wisdom of the One who put these all together.

The Contention:

You may ask: "If they are destined for such short lifespans, why does God invest so much time, effort and resources to make them as beautiful as they are? You may even ask, just like the writer of this psalm, why does it seem that man is the centrepiece of God's creation? Why does it seem that man is at the heart of all that is going on in the world today? I believe the answes lie in the story of creation. All we see today were formed and placed by the wisdom of God. Shape, size and strength were all determined by God. However, for man, it was as if God wanted the whole heaven to witness His power at work. Man was going to be and look like Him, carrying His power, authority and identity. This was why God breathed into man, and man became a living soul. No other part of creation has this unique experience. No other part of creation can look ahead to judgment or eternal life with God. This is the exclusive experience for man. 

The Conclusion:

Is this not the reason why the devil will fight as hard as he does to distract, destabilise and destroy man? Right at the beginning of creation, the devil was there, seeking to pollute God's ideal for man. He thought he succeeded, but God always has a plan for all of the devil's machinations. Even when man fell into sin, God was there, providing a way of escape and sealing eternal life for man. Man is the only part of creation that the bible records God has given of His Spirit, and thar He has adopted us as His sons, giving us hope that we will reign with Him. That is glorious, but it also reminds us of the great responsibility that has been placed in our hands. If God can do all these for me, what would I do for him in return? Would I live to please Him on a daily basis? Would my life be a regular expression of His grace and mercy? 

He's done all He can to guarantee eternal life for me; what would I do to appreciate Him? God's time of favour is here. 

Kept!

Kept!

Yet the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen [you] and set you on a firm foundation and guard you from the evil [one]. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 AMPC

The Inspiration:

It is a lifelong lesson on dependence and total surrender. It is a daily walk with God, with no certainty beyond a particular phase in life or a particular course of action. God tells you to do something or He places you in a particular situation for a reason or a season, because He has a specific assignment He wants to complete in and through you. He does not always reveal the full picture, otherwise we could become cocky, careless or afraid of what is coming. He births and sustains faith in me, so that I can walk with Him on a daily basis, confident in the assurance that God knows what He is doing, where He is leading and what He is making me become. Now, this is God's perspective. Would you think the devil will just fold and watch it all happen without a fight or some resistance? Do I really think that the devil will not strive to sow doubt and fear in me about the possibility of all of God's plan coming to fulfilment in me? 

The Contention:

The devil has been in the business of disruption, discomfort and discouragement for all of time, and he will not stop until he has been judged. This is why the verse above refers to him as the 'evil one'. That is all he has the capacity and ability to produce, and he will stop at nothing to carry out his mandate, which the bible clarifies as 'to kill, to steal and to destroy'. He knows the he has no eternal future with God, and he will seek to drag as many as he can along with him into eternal domination. Yet, in the same verse that lays out the devil's plans, we also see the mandate of God too, which is to give us life in all its abundance. Of course, life is the very essence and nature of God, so God is only being true to his nature when He offers me eternal life with Him. This is why He will do all He can to secure me for all of eternity,  and in fact, He already did, when He allowed His one and only Son to die for my sin on the cross. 

The Conclusion:

By His death and resurrection, He has broken the power of sin and death. By this sacrifice, He has provided all I require to walk in total victory over the devil and his schemes. By His nature, nothing can touch what is under His care without first touching Him, so nothing happens to me without His permission. He is not promising a life free from trials and tough times, but He is promising me His presence, His peace, His provision and His power. Paul knew what this meant to Him as a person, as he testified to Timothy that he knew God was able to keep whatever is committed into His hand. He will give me a platform to show off His power and presence, and He will secure my foot to keep me from falling. He is the Refuge and Strength that time, circumstances or events can do nothing to weaken. He is able, capable and sufficient for whatever life throws at me. Nothing csn snatch me from my father's hand. God's time of favour is here.

The Good Shepherd!

The Good Shepherd!

 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. John 10:11 KJV

 The Inspiration:

As always, Jesus had a crowd following Him everywhere He went. Just before today's verse, He had healed a man born blind, and had used that incident to teach the crowd, the Pharisees and his disciples lessons about His life, mission and eternal plan for all mankind. This incident holds several lessons for us in this present generation, and it is important for me, just like the audience in those days, to define who I am, where I fit and what God expects from me. For every opportunity God gives me to hear His Word, He demands a response or reaction from me. Like all times, Jesus seeks to reach out to everyone with the message of hope and life. It doesn't matter what the past or present looks like; Jesus seeks to give me a new, clean and fresh start if I will just come to Him and accept the free gift of life that has been provided for me in Christ. Jesus seems to use sheep a lot in His parables to identify those who are under His command and authority. He does not force Himself on anyone, but as many as would come will be accepted by Him.

 

The Contention:

He calls Himself the door of the sheep. Anyone who seeks to identify with Jesus must come to Him; anyone who will approach the Father must come in through Jesus. No other key of access has been provided. For every door that God wants to open, there is a key that gives access. For every life that needs to be saved, there is a particular step expected. Think of the fact that God does not waste words or make empty promises. He is faithful and committed to his word. Once he makes a promise or pronouncement, He is bound by what He says. He may change his mind on approach or direction, but He will never change or dilute his principles. When he declares that He is the Good shepherd, I must sit down and consider His antecedents: can He speak in this way? Does He have the capacity and the capability to speak in this manner? Does He have any testimonial to the fact that He has done this before? He does not just call Himself a shepherd, but a good one. It means that in this world, you will find all sorts of shepherds. There are some who are there only for what they can get out of the sheep.

 

The Conclusion:

People can steal sheep, fleece it, milk it, kill it for the skin, even the bones; all have uses and profit. Think of it in the spiritual: I am profitable. All parts of me are profitable.  Why would you think the devil is interested in destroying God's plan for you? Why is God so invested in me, so that I can be all He has created, gifted and placed me to be? No wonder even Jesus uses the sheep to teach most of his parables about the kingdom of heaven. Recall the story of the sheep and the goats, and you will see that places both earthly and eternal value on his sheep. Am I one? Do I belong to his fold? Does He know me as His own? What is the right reaction here then? I just need to sort out who I am, if I will live in line with the principles of God here. I can't be a goat and still want to claim the benefits and blessings reserved for the sheep. I can pretend for a while but if I think about eternity, I would not want to stand before the judgement seat of God, and then discover then that it is too late to become one of God's sheep? I must sort this out while I can. God’s time of favour is here.

Grace!

Grace!

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Titus 2:11‭-‬12 KJV

The Inspiration:

What is grace? God's grace is usually defined as undeserved favor. It cannot be earned; it is something that is freely given. It is also a part of God's character. It is no wonder then that Titus pens down the words of today's verse. Grace is from God; no man can extend grace the way only God can. In the first place, what does man have that He can give me? What can anyone give me if God does not first give grace to enable the man give it? It is only from the abundance of grace received that a man can ever hope to be a blessing to the world he has been placed in. Now, this grace is quite peculiar because of what it seeks to achieve and where it seeks to lead us. At the top of God's priorities is the salvation of all mankind. There is nothing more important to God than the safety of my soul. It was the reason why a glorious God would allow His Son to die an inglorious death. I believe this is the loudest expression of grace a man can hope for. 

The Contention:

This grace has been freely given to all men. The reason why this fills me with both a good fear and a great hope is because I didn't have to pay for it. Long before I was born, the price for my eternal redemption was already paid; I couldn't add anything to what was already done. I also note that in Christ, all that I need for life and Godliness have been freely given. He owns all things, and He has freely given all things, but the greatest gift has to be my eternal security. Possessions, position, power and privilege are all temporary, and are only relevant for this earthly phase, but salvation is the key to eternal life. Why would I seek to enjoy all that this life has to offer, and then have no heaven to go to at the end of my life on earth? God has done all that is required to secure this life, and He waits for my response and reaction to Him. What would it be?  There is no fence to sit on on this matter. One way or another, I have to set down the marker on whose side I am on: God's or the devil's. There is no middle course.

The Conclusion:

It is this grace that reminds me of God's daily expectations from me. The extract above lays it all out. Grace 'teaches me that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, I must live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. Grace won't leave me to fend for myself, but through God's Word, provide daily guidance. It won't leave me to the schemes and devices of the devil, but it will provide ways of escape so I can avoid sin. It will keep me focused on what is really important and eternal, even whilst I enjoy all that life offers. That is the balance grace is able to birth and sustain in me. The devil is quite enterprising and has been in the business of distracting and confusing since he was expelled from heaven. He will try and remind me of my past, or even present struggles, but all I can do is focus on the bright and secure future Jesus already secured for me by His grace. God has  done all He can; how do you plead? God's time of favour is here. 

Owned!

Owned!

The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; The world, and they that dwell therein.

Psalm 24:1 KJV

The Inspiration:

Relationship is always a good place to start. When you listen to anyone speak, or you read the written or printed words of anyone, you look out for the fruits of relationship. Does this person know what s/he is talking about? David is credited with the words of this psalm and this is a man God Himself testified to as a man after His heart. You don't get there by accident, but by deliberate and decisive action. You don't make assumptions about your connection with God; you have to work at it, and also work on it on a daily basis. Long before David led men, he kept sheep. He learnt to protect them from predators as well as the elements. As he waited in the wilderness, he found solace and comfort in God. He wrote songs that we still sing today, and his experiences have become lessons for us today. For me, I must also sort out my person and identity in God. Do I know God, or even more importantly, does God know me as His own? Am I doing all He requires me to do? Am I where He wants me to be, so that His grace and power can be evident in me? 

The Contention:

The words of the verse above flow from the personal experience and encounter David had with God. Science will teach you many things, but it cannot explain the presence and power of God. It can create things to make man's life easier, but it finds it hard to process the concept of a Supreme Being who is responsible for all of creation. There are many versions of the account of creation, but we know by faith that God created the heavens and the earth. The wonders and mysteries of creation are too complex for science to fully explain or comprehend. How do I know that God created the earth? What is clear is that no matter how hard man tries, there are some parts of the earth that he cannot conquer. Man has made ships and liners that can traverse the oceans, yet when the waves and storms rise on the oceans, man can only look on the wonder and power of God, and pray that he is not destroyed. Who else can lay claim to ownership of the earth, except God?

The Conclusion:

Everything my eyes see were made by God. The fullness and riches of the earth also belong to God. The world, and all who dwell in it also belong to God. These are statements that are not subject to debate or contention. One may then ask: "If God owns the world, why is the world seemingly in turmoil? If the earth indeed belongs to God, why does it seem that the earth is no longer listening to its owner? This is where each man's choice of response comes in; I get to choose if I will surrender to the authority of the owner of the earth. No matter what I do, it does not change the fact of ownership; God has not and will never leave His throne. If I will also exercise the same dominion of God over His creation,  I must be found in God. Like David, God needs me to live His life, so the world can know Him. If God owns the world, He also owns me. Am I truly representing God? Am I making the right kind of mark on the earth? God's time of favour is here. 

Life!

Life!

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? John 11:25‭-‬26 KJV

The Inspiration:

This is another declaration by Jesus, just before he had to go to the cross. A brother who was much loved, and in whose home Jesus always spent time, was ill. The sisters sent for Jesus to come and heal him, yet Jesus 'delayed' until the man died. Of course, the natural reaction would be: "if Jesus really loved him, why didn't he come and heal him?" Or "if Jesus really loved him, why did He allow him die?". These are just a few of the many questions we ask when things don't go according to plan or when terrible things happen. Fortunately, we serve a God of total and absolute knowledge, and nothing happens in this world without his permission. It may not always be palatable or convenient, but for those who know and love God, the standing assurance is that ALL things, even death in this case, work together for the good of all them that love God, and who are called according to His purpose. It is therefore important that I sort out my person and identity, so that I know what is available for me, and I can believe and act accordingly. 

The Contention:

The man died, and Jesus came four days later. The purpose of His coming seemed to be defeated. The man had even been buried, as a final nail in the coffin. For Jesus, the author of Life, death is but a phase and an event that He had defeated. His death on the cross was the final confirmation of His victory over death. His declaration in the verse above is from a place of power and authority, not negotiation or consultation. He was not asking for the consent of the sister; He just needed her to believe. For all that Jesus is or tells us that He is, He is not actually asking for my approval, but for me to have faith in Him and His ability to save. Nothing I do or say can change who He is. For Jesus, death was an enemy He defeated on our behalf, because death had no power over Him. His life is now our own life, and His victory is now our own reality. Death is now just a passage into the life that Jesus promises to all who believe in Him. The key word here is "believe".

The Conclusion:

It is not enough to read, hear, speak or just know about this offer of life. Just as Jesus asked Martha the sister of Lazarus, so does He ask us all as we read this verse today: "Do you believe this?". Faith in Jesus is the key to access all that Jesus is. If He says I have life in Him, I can't stay outside of Him and want to make claims on His life. If He says He is the resurrection, I have to lay hold of His life If I am to be raised up to life when He returns. It is not a surprise that Hebrews makes it clear that 'without faith it is impossible to please God'. If I believe, death no longer has any hold over me. If I believe, I am telling God that even if I do not fully understand the physical realities around me, I trust Him with my life, and I know that He can take care of me and lead me into life eternal with Him. Whether physical death comes first, or He returns in the clouds to take me home, I have received life by faith in Jesus, and I know my life will never end in hell. Do you believe? Does my life show unshakeable faith in the power of Jesus to save, deliver and lead to eternal life? God's time of favour is here.

The Door!

The Door!

Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. John 10:7‭-‬9 KJV

The Inspiration:

Jesus was speaking to the crowd who usually followed Him everywhere He went. The crowd included the scribes and Pharisees, as well as his disciples, and he had lessons for everyone in the crowd after healing a man that had been born blind. Like all times, Jesus seeks to reach out to everyone with the message of hope and life. It doesn't matter what the past or present looks like; Jesus seeks to give me a new, clean and fresh start if I will just come to Him, and accept the free gift of life that has been provided for me in Christ. It is this free gift that is the focus of the verses before us today. Jesus seems to use sheep a lot in His parables to identify those who are under His command and authority. He does not force Himself on anyone, but as many as would come will be accepted by Him. He calls Himself the door of the sheep. Anyone who seeks to identify with Jesus must come to Him; anyone who wil approach the Father must come in through Jesus. No other key of access has been provided. 

The Contention:

As long as you do not identify with Jesus as the door, you do not have access to His Father. As long as it is God you seek to find, He has made it clear who holds access to Him. If you have tried other options and you still don't have the peace only God can give, why not come through Jesus? If you have tried other options and they have demonstrably failed, it is time to seek God as  is laid down in the verses above. All who came before and all who have come after Jesus are called thieves and robbers, as long as they are not the door of the sheep. It may look relevant, or it may be popular with the crowd, but as long as it is not Jesus, it will not give you access to God. The world may praise, honour and celebrate it, but if it does not point to Jesus alone, it is not the door. True sheep know the door; they have come to know Him by experience and relationship, not just by word of mouth. Do I know the door, or am I seeking the fake alternatives to the door? 

The Conclusion:

The Door provides access to all the provisions God has made for life and Godliness. The first thing the sheep get when they come in is salvation. That is the assurance that they are eternally safe. Then the sheep csn go in and out through the door to find pasture. They go into the world to make impact, and then return to the sheepfold. They do business in the world, but they are conscious of who they are and what is expected of them. They are not greedy for the gain of this world, because they already have divine provision of pasture. Even when the sheep makes mistakes, the fact that they remember who they are and run back to the sheepfold for the protection of the Shepherd means that they know where they belong. As long as I remain a sheep under the watchful care of the Shepherd, daily seeking Him, I am eternally safe. Am I such a sheep? Does the Shepherd know me as His? God's time of favour is here. 

All in All!

All in All!

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6 KJV

The Inspiration:

Jesus was speaking here to just His disciples, away from the crowd. There was no crowd seeking validation, or the scribes and Pharisees trying to trip him up. These were just the ones who had made sacrifices, following Him everywhere He went to teach, heal and preach. The disciples had seen Him do some amazing things like walk on water, calm the storm and feed thousands of people with a measly meal of just 5 loaves of bread and 2 small fish. Interestingly, Judas Iscariot who would later betray Jesus was there all along; he saw these miracles, but he had the seed of greed in him. He knew Jesus but he would not submit his life to the control of the One who could give him true life. He followed Jesus all the way to the last supper, but he missed the way to eternal life. At the end, there was no eternal life for him because he took his own life. One quick lesson for me here is that it is not enough to just read and hear about Jesus; the critical step is deciding what you would do with Him. 

The Contention:

Jesus introduced Himself to his disciples in these 3 dimensions: the Way, the Truth and the Life. What would these dimensions mean? First, there is an end in view for all of human life. We were made for more than what our eyes can see now. God placed His breath in us, making us living souls, and it is only expected that my heart will long after the One who formed me. Men have found alternatives to God: money, fame, influence, and the other palliative measures that the devil wants us to focus on. Some men have also presented themselves as God, but unfortunately, unless God fills my heart totally, nothing and no oneà else can. Jesus is the WAY to that end that God has promised. He also calls Himself the TRUTH, which means that there is just one version of truth that counts. Any 'truth' that does not line up with the Word of God must be thrashed. Any 'truth' that denies any of the pillars and principles which reveal the mind of God must be resisted. 

The Conclusion:

He is also the LIFE. It would mean that a man can only give you that which He has control and ownership over. This is the One who died on the cross and was then raised from the dead, and now has sealed eternal life for all who accept Him as Lord and Saviour. Taken together, all three dimensions support the position that we are nothing outside of God. We will not survive outside of God, and we cannot approach the Father outside of Jesus. He is the One whose sacrifice on the cross makes it possible for God to look at us. He paid the full price for sin, so all of us could have access to the throne of God's mercy. Now that the TRUTH is known, which is that Jesus is the WAY to eternal LIFE, what are you going to do with this information? If I reject this gift, no one else can save fromvthe coming judgment. Now that I have time, today has to be the day of salvation. The night is coming; before it does, make sure you have Jesus who is the all-in-all. God's time of favour is here. 

Abide!

Abide!

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

The Inspiration:

Just before Jesus went to the cross, He spent quite some time speaking to His disciples. He had taken time to speak to the crowd in some of the chapters before this one, but for about 5 chapters of John, it was just Jesus and His disciples. These were men who had taken a decision to follow Him. This was not a decision taken lightly; all of them had a job or business they were busy at when the call came, but they all left all that they knew or had and followed Jesus. Just as the call went out then, so does it still go out today. He is still looking for men and women who will make a lifelong commitment to follow Jesus. It should not be a revolving door, where I come in and go out when I please, but a door through which I go in and stay where the grace and mercy of God can reach me. Yes, I may make mistakes, but the grace of God keeps me connected, and I can find my way back to God. This is what it means to 'abide'.

The Connection:

I believe it is not a mistake that Jesus used the word 'abide'. This is the picture of someone who is residing permanently in a place, not someone with no roots, and is just seeking temporary benefits. This is why the benefits of a state's welfare system are only for citizens and permanent residents. No matter how long you live in a place, or how much you invest in a place, until you put roots in there, and make long-term commitments to show you love the place, you won't be fully committed to the place. Could this be the reason why many do not get anything from God? They are all over the place, jumping from place to place, seeking immediate solutions to long-term issues. There are some issues that speed will not solve; only careful and deliberate measures will work. Don't settle for temporary fixes; take hold of the help that is freely available in and through Christ. 

The Conclusion:

Can I confirm my current residence status? This benefit is mutual; God is pleased with me, and my life is complete in Him. He supplies all that I need for life and Godliness, and because He owns and holds me, nothing touches me without His permission. I will not survive outside the control and influence of the One who owns and holds my life. Men have tried so many options; the devil will have me think that God is slow and may not care as much, but when you think of the journey God has brought you through, you know quite clearly that only He could have sustained and kept you. In Him is life; outside of Him is pain. In Him is fruitfulness; outside of Him is loss. I have to stay connected if I want to stay fresh. I have to live in His will if I want to enjoy the benefits of His kingdom. Nothing survives outside the All-Sufficient One. He is and has all I need, both for earthly impact and eternal life. God's time of favour is here. 

The Light!

The Light!

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:12 KJV

Background:

Jesus was in the temple teaching, and of course, there was always a crowd following and listening to Him. Be careful of human applause or approval; it is never a good way to measure Godly impact. Right in the crowd were the scribes and Pharisees who always sought ways to trip Jesus up or catch him in error. This time, it was a woman caught in adultery, and she alone was brought to Jesus for judgment. It didn't occur to the accusers that with adultery, it takes at least two people to tango. It was an opportunity to catch Jesus out, but as we know, He is the Wisdom and Power of God, and just by reminding the accusers of their own past and present, they all left, leaving the woman alone. Jesus took the opportunity to remind the woman, as well as the crowd, that He has power to forgive sin, and to give a new, fresh, clean start. I am sure that woman will be daily reminded of the close shave she had with death, and this will keep her from straying into sin. 

The Inspiration:

Like the woman or the crowd in the story of today, what decision do I need to make today? Jesus continued to speak to the crowd, after dismissing the distractions of the Pharisees. He used the opportunity to remind the crowd who He is, His mission to the world, and the expectation of God for all who seek to follow Him. He calls Himself the light of the world. Light has universal appeal, as it enables us to achieve quite a lot of things in life, but there is also a place of response or reaction to this light. I have the power to allow it flow in and out of me, or I can set up structures and processes to block it out. This is why I must go on from knowing to following. It is not enough to know all about Jesus being the Light; it won't do me much good to just know. The blessing is in following the Light; allowing it to work in me, so that my life's actions and decisions can reflect the presence of the Light. 

The Conclusion:

The impact and consequences of the Light are also spelt out clearly in the verse above. He who follows the light enjoys all that the light is and gives. You cannot have the Light and not have guidance, leading and direction for every facet of life. You cannot have light and still be groping in darkness and ignorance. This earthly life is quite complex; no two days are ever the same. What worked quite well yesterday has no guarantee that it will work well today. It is important to seek daily guidance from the Light: the One who sees, knows and hears all things. Nothing catches Him by surprise, and nothing happens without his permission. Total and absolute surrender to Jesus is the key that gives access to all that is God. He will not force me to follow Him, but at least he makes it clear what I am getting if I follow Him. As always, the choice of response is mine, and the consequences of whatever decision I make are already clearly defined. The rest is up to me. God's time of favour is here. 

Hosanna!

Hossana!

They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!” John 12:13 NIV

The Inspiration:

The event in this verse took place just before Jesus went to the cross. Jesus was coming into Jerusalem for the appointment he had with destiny, and in line with the plan of God, it was not a secret mission. This time, it was like the whole town had been expecting Him. This was a city that had constantly rejected and resisted Him; in fact, at a time, Jesus raised a lament over the city. It was a city that killed the prophets sent to it by God, and stoned those sent to tell the inhabitants of the city the truth. This was a city that, according to the words of Jesus, He wanted to gather them as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but the people resisted at every turn. I must be careful that the things of God do not become too familiar to me. I can be so used to a thing or process that it loses its 'awe' value. Familiarity can be such a burden, because it closes one's eyes to the truth. 

The Contention:

I cannot afford to be careless about the things God considers important. That is not a position any of us prays to be. At the end of the denunciation of the city, Jesus said these words: "For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." Fast forward some time later, indeed, Jesus was coming into Jerusalem and all He had prophesied about the city was coming true. The people of the city came out in their numbers to honour this man that they had constantly rejected. God's Word will always come to pass, no matter how hard I try to resist or fight. The people brought out their clothes and laid them on the floor for the donkey carrying Him to walk on, and they shouted the words: "Hossana. Blessed is the king of Israel". None of God's Words will ever go back to Him empty; His Word is His name, nature and bond. 

The Conclusion:

It is impossible to call God a liar because He is not like man, who can't be trusted. God's Word was fulfilled here, but there was a bigger plan in place. Somewhere in both Isaiah and Zechariah, this experience had been foretold. This is another example of who God is and what He can do. He can raise anyone to do His will, and He can use anyone to achieve His purpose. The same crowd that came out to sing Hossana here, were the same crowd that shouted "Crucify Him". This crowd preferred a murderer to be released than Jesus who knew no sin, but there was a bigger picture in play. Jesus was sent in the name of the Lord to perfect God's plan of salvation, and He is the only One through whom this plan finds reality. If I seek to know God, and to experience forever the joy this crowd knew for just a short while, I need to surrender all to Jesus today. As He entered Jerusalem back in those days, so does He wait for me to open my heart to Him. What are you waiting for? God's time of favour is here. 

Complete Package!

Complete Package!

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35 NIV

The Inspiration:

Still in the Easter season, we read here of one of Jesus' declarations to both his disciples and the crowd that followed him. The crowd had just seen him turn 5 barley loaves of bread and 2 small fish into a feast for 5,000 men, besides men and women, and still have 12 baskets of food left. There was no mathematical combinations that could explain this miracle, so it was not a wonder that the crowd was looking for him to make him king; at least, as king, they could be sure of regular supply of bread. Living by the senses can be a dangerous thing to do; you are guided by the senses that can themselves be deceived or fooled. It is not a wonder that Jesus saw through all the pretence and hypocrisy, and went on to address the most important consideration, which is the eternal plan for all men. When the eternal is safe and secured, the earthly will always follow suit. 

The Contention:

I must not be so concerned about what I will eat and drink, at the expense of that which God desires for me. The verse above is God's mind for me. It reveals who Jesus is, who I am, and the result and consequence of my decision, whatever it may be. Jesus declares quite clearly that He is the bread of life. He is the only One who counts, because every other pretender has been shamed. Bread is that which represents all that refreshes, nourishes and helps grow. It is that which represents all that a man needs for natural life. If I relate this to the spiritual, it would then be the substance that sustains me down here, but also keeps me relevant for eternity. God does not do the earthly and the temporal alone; he is Himself eternal in scope and outlook, and He does not waste experiences. All that I need for all of life's phases are found in Him, and I will only get them if I go to and through Him. No one else counts. 

The Conclusion:

The choice of response is always personal. No one can go to heaven on my behalf; it is a personal decision I have to take. The offer is for all who will come to Jesus. He is the bread that fills; He is the water that satisfies. He is the One who fills all things in all ways, and no one takes of Him and still lacks anything good. You cannot have God and still lack anything good. You cannot have Him and not have eternal life. With Him living in my heart, I have all that I need for life and Godliness. He has made a commitment to me that if I come to Him, and believe in Him, I will not hunger or thirst anymore. Just as in the physical, if I have a lifetime investment that pays me dividends for the rest of my life, the only thing I need to do is to protect and secure that investment. That is what I need to do in the spiritual also: guard my spiritual investment. Eternity lies at the end of all my earthly decisions. Where am I headed? God's time of favour is here.

Looking Ahead!

Looking Ahead!

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: My flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; Neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Psalm 16:9‭-‬10 KJV

The Inspiration:

David was also given the opportunity to receive inspiration and revelation about the plan of God for the salvation of mankind. If it were a flash in the plan, with only a few of the prophets speaking about this plan, you may have good reason to doubt, but from Genesis when no prophet yet existed, to Moses, Joshua, Samuel, and then David, to Isaiah and Daniel, among many others, God revealed parts of this great plan to kings, prophets, priests and ordinary men alike. His plan was not for the rich and highly connected alone, but even for the poor and the wretched alike. After all, Jesus didn't die for the rich alone; therefore the blessing and grace of salvation are for everyone who will accept the free gift given. It is a gift I could not afford on my own, but the love of God revealed and released it. From today's verse also, there are some other benefits that accrue to us by virtue of the death and resurrection of Jesus. 

The Contention:

First is the joy that death is not the final stop, but just a step to the final destination. How would I not have joy when I know what I have received from God? I deserved death, which is God's pronouncement as punishment for sin. As a faithful God, He is under obligation to keep His Word. The one who sinned was the one who should die, but if the one who sinned died, justice may have been served, but mercy has not been shown at all. The law will take its regular course, but mercy would not be revealed. The one who knew no sin came and died in the place of the one who sinned, so that the one who sinned may now receive the nature of the one without sin. The One without sin went down to hell and the bible says he took the keys of death and Hell from the devil, signifying victory over all the natural consequence of sin. Sin no longer has power over me, because the One who conquered it lives in me. 

The Conclusion:

If Jesus had died and not risen, it would mean that sin had not been fully dealt with in us and it would also mean that death would be the end for all of us. It would mean that death is indeed the most powerful in the world, but thank God that the devil did not get the power to write the final chapter of our lives. We would not be here, celebrating the season of Easter and thanking God for all his wonderful works in our lives. All that God has done shows that He will not abandon us to our own devices, but He will continue to hold us up to the end, until He returns. As I wait, I am filled with joy because I know who I have believed, and I am persuaded, beyond all doubt, that He is able to preserve me to the end. He can keep me away from sin, and preserve me spotless and blameless at His return. The same power that kept Jesus is still in play today, and all I need to do to access it is to believe in Jesus. It is that simple. He waits for you and I? How do you plead? God's time of favour is here.

The New!

The New!

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

Luke 22:19‭-‬20 NIV

The Inspiration:

The events around the Easter season gives us pause and make us wonder: what was going through the mind of Jesus as he sat at table, knowing full well what was ahead? Jesus knew what lay ahead: the pain, betrayal, the cross, the rejection by God, but He also knew about the resurrection and the coming glory. This is why the bible talks about Jesus, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despised its shame, and is now seated at the right hand of God the Father. That is the journey that lay before Jesus as he sat at table with his disciples to eat. It is very interesting to note that even Judas sat at the table to eat of this last supper with Jesus before he went to the cross. He had already sold his soul to the devil, and obtained 30 pieces of silver from the Pharisees to betray Jesus, yet he sat down and ate with Jesus and the others. 

The Contention:

I need to be careful about keeping up with the motions, whilst there is no power. Holding on to a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof is dangerous. Jesus came to the end of his earthly ministry, and he did it with a meal with all who had worked at his side for almost 3 and a half years. At the table, he laid it out quite clearly that all who partake of this meal in the future identity with his body and blood. How do I do this? By living as He lived, speaking as He spoke, relating as He did with others around me. I cannot claim to be a child of God and people will not notice the outward signs of my interaction and relationship with God. Through the table of Christ, I take on his passion for lost souls and seek to introduce them to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ too. I sit at the table to remind myself of the love that brought Christ to the cross, and then extend that same love to the lost. 

The Conclusion:

This table does not leave room for hypocrisy, deceit or eye-service. It is a table that must be a regular reminder of Jesus' expectations from me. His body was willingly given to me; He didn't force Himself on me. By the cup, he signified a new covenant, whereby man now had a new path of access into the riches of the mercy of God. By the bread and wine, I have an invitation into the heart of God, where all the pains I should have suffered where taken off me by Christ, and the full penalty for sin duly paid and settled. I now eat at that table, not carelessly, but with gratitude. I eat at that table with the full knowledge of who I am now in and through Christ, and like Christ did, I keep an eye on the eternal, whilst also impacting the earthly. I walk in the new covenant: the blood of Jesus has made new life possible, and I trust that Jesus in me is the hope of glory. That is the message of this season. God's time of favour is here. 

See Jesus!

See Jesus!

“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. Mark 16:6 NIV

The Inspiration:

It had been a terrible week for the women who followed Jesus during his earthly ministry. They ministered to all his needs, quietly helping and supporting Him. One of them poured all the contents of an alabaster box of expensive perfume on his feet, and wiped his feet with her hair. Another had 7 demons cast out of her, and her life was a daily lesson in gratitude for all she had received. Then, tragedy struck; the One they all called Rabbi and Master was arrested, tried without any semblance of justice and put to death like a common criminal. He was placed between 2 thieves, and suffered the worst kind of death a man could die in the Jewish world at the time, which is being hung on a tree. In fact, it was a curse to be put to death this way. Thst is what Jesus became so I could be blessed with eternal life; the kind which cannot end or die. Thank God the grave is not the final picture presented to us in this story.

The Contention:

Jesus was put to death, and these women were still there, seeking to do what they could to honour the body. They noted the place where he was buried, and they prepared spices to anoint his body. They knew a stone was rolled to the entrance of the tomb and the stone sealed, yet they left home, wondering who would help roll the stone away. They were not going to be held back by the limits on their paths, but they went on anyway. The person who recognizes what s/he has received from God would not need to be compelled to seek Him. The woman from whom 7 demons were cast out was there. For me, the question then is: "Do I know the value of the gift I have been given?". It was as if the women had forgotten completely that this same Jesus told them He would be raised from the dead in 3 days. When it was time for the grave to let Him go, there was absolutely nothing the grave could do. 

The Conclusion:

Just as the angels spoke to the women in the verse above, so does God desire that I pause and consider these points: "What would I do with Jesus? How do I see him?" It is very important to note that how I see God will define how I relate with Him. I can't take a part of Him that suits my narrative and then reject the parts that make me uncomfortable. The message of the cross is a complete message, as it also embraces the pain and the pleasure; the gory details and the glory to be made manifest. He was indeed crucified, and He was also raised from the dead. All that seek to keep me imprisoned and limited are destroyed today. I want to see Jesus as He really is; I look at the place He lay, and I am assured that if death could not hold him down, nothing can hold me back. He is not in the grave; I am made alive so I can testify to God's goodness and grace. Is that how you see Him? God's time of favour is here. 

For Me 2!

For Me 2!

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

Isaiah 53:5 NIV

The Inspiration:

Yesterday's piece provided a clear picture of what Jesus had to endure for my sake. What today's verse clearly shows is that it was not an accident or afterthought; God did not do this because He had no choice or it was forced upon Him. When you read the story of man's first sin in the Garden of Eden, the same punishment God meted out also had the pronouncement of God's plan for the salvation of the same man who sinned. The promise of God was that the seed of the woman would crush the head of the seed of the serpent. This was as far back as Genesis 3. Fast forward to a few centuries later, and even Moses, David, and here Isaiah all prophesied about this seed of the woman. God does not make careless pronouncements and whatever He says, He is able to do. He sees the end from the beginning, and everything He does is to ensure that His good end is fulfilled. There is no one alive who can thwart God's plan; you may think you have delayed your own plan or even changed the dynamics, but if you are not God, you don't have the power over God's plan. 

The Contention:

God's plan here was that His Son Jesus would bear the sin of the whole world. Look at all Jesus encountered on the path to the cross. His side was pierced with a sword, with blood and water gushing out. He was beaten with whips, and then the soldiers had a crown made of thorns placed on his head, which was then hit into his head with a staff. The bible records that the crowd spit in His face, which was one of the highest forms of contempt for a man; others struck him with their fists and others slapped Him. A man who was already battered was then made to carry a cross to his death, and someone else was also conscripted by force to help him carry the cross. Then, He was crucified in between two thieves, and anyone witnessing such would assume that He was also a thief. Yet, it is on record that Jesus knew no sin, and no iniquity was found in Him, yet it was God's will for him to be bruised in this way, because His sacrifice would open the door for you and I to be accepted before God. 

The Conclusion:

Every experience of Jesus leading to the cross as well as after the cross holds very significant blessings for me. That which brought Him pain brought me pleasure. That which brought Him rejection for a moment as His blood paid the price for sin brought me acceptance by God. The cross was not for His sin but for mine, yet He suffered the disgrace and insults of men for my sake. What is even more poignant is the fact that this sacrifice was not just for the sin of the generation he was in, but for all mankind, no matter the generation. For children yet to be born, the sacrifice on the cross is already in place to provide salvation from the power of sin. Even the stripes of Jesus has secured healing for me. His punishment has secured peace for me. He has done all that is required for me to have eternal life; what else can save my soul if I reject this gift? If Jesus can't save me, who else can? All of these were done for me; how do I respond? God's time of favour is here. 

For Me!

For Me!

About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). Matthew 27:46 NIV

The Inspiration:

Let's paint a picture of the background to the verse above. Picture Jesus, the son of God in heaven. He has authority, because He is part of the Trinity. He has glory, splendour and majesty. The host of heaven know, recognize and worship Him as God. This is He of whom prophets, priests and kings of old spoke about in prophesy, certain that this was a God who deserved worship, awe and praise. Then, picture that same Jesus, offering Himself to pay the sacrifice for the sin of the whole world. This is sin for which He knew nothing about; He didn't commit sin, and no evil was found in Him. In his Godly state, no man could touch him, let alone arrest, torture and then crucify Him. He had to leave all the glory and splendour in heaven, and He chose to come to the earth in the form and likeness of the ones He wanted to save. He could have found a way to still help man, but He chose the path of pain and shame, all because of me.

The Contention:

The picture in today's verse is quite hard and heartbreaking. The son of God went to the cross in line with the will of His Father, to die for the sin of the whole world, yet when it mattered most, His Father seemingly abandoned Him. God knew a day like this was coming, as He knows all things, yet when the day came, God's nature shone through, as it has always been. His nature, as He has always shown to man all through creation, is that He hates sin. He loves the sinner, but He hates the sin. It was love that drew this plan and brought it down to man, yet love was not enough to excuse the sin. It did not matter that the son of God was the one on the cross, bearing the sin of the whole world. At this time, God was dealing with sin, and nothing would make Him change his nature; not even this one time. If God would not spare His own son, who then can toy with sin and think s/he can get away with it? 

The Conclusion:

That is the message for this season. God paid such a high price for sin that it will be criminal and negligent to ignore this price and continue in the path of sin. If I do not take advantage of the gift that has been given, and the life that this gift has secured, who else can help me? If after all that Jesus had done, and all He is now offering me for free, I still reject Him, then, I cannot be helped. Just like Jesus cried on the cross when His father looked away from Him, so would the Father look away from anyone who rejects His son to the end of life. The time to review and respond to the gift of God is now; no one knows what tomorrow holds. God has always made clear what his position on sin is; he leaves no one in doubt where he stands. Now I know what He has done, and what I have been given; what would I do with this knowledge? God's time of favour is here. 

Priorities!

Priorities!

You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” John 12:8 NIV

The Inspiration:

We read here again one of the events that occurred around the time Jesus went on the cross. Here was this family who had experienced Jesus in a unique way: Jesus had raised the brother Lazarus from the dead, and the family wanted to honour Jesus. In this season of Easter, do I even know the value of what I have received from God? It is usually easier to take a look at all the things I don't have, and complain about these, but if I would only think deep enough, I will see that the greatest gift I could have been given is the assurance of eternal life with God. Nothing can beat that. If I have secured eternal life, I have all that matters. Nothing down here can distract me from that goal, but then, I have to do all that God requires or demands from me, in order to secure that life. Is my life a daily expression of gratitude and thanksgiving for all I have received from God, or do I still need to be begged to thank God? 

The Contention:

Mary knew what she had received, and she was ready to show appreciation. According to Judas the treasurer of the disciples, the value of the perfume poured on Jesus' feet was about a year's wages. Think of this: a product bought with a year's salary was poured on the feet of a man. Then, the same woman took her precious hair, and wiped the feet of the man with it. Think of the complete surrender this showed: as far as Mary was concerned, her true worth wasn't in the things she had, but in the sacrifices she was ready to make. At all times, we define networth as what we own or have, but as far as God is concerned, true value is in what I give up in order to lay hold of that which is truly valuable. Jesus Himself laid down this rule earlier in his ministry: "A man's life does not consist of the abundance of the things that he possesses". For me,  I have this important decision to make, and it has to be about priorities. 

The Conclusion:

What is that key thing that if it is taken away, I know I am poor indeed? When I know what it is, then I know what is imperative, and what has to be guarded very jealously. Mary made a choice; Judas made a choice. Both were in the same room, but their ends were different. One is talked about today as the epitome of sacrifice; the other as an example of greed. The words of Judas sounded about right, but his heart's motives were wrong. He would pretend to care about the poor, but he was a thief who would steal from the disciples' purse. He would seek to defend the poor, but for Jesus, there was a right time for anything activity that would have eternal value. I must apply the lesson too: seek to be a blessing to people, but know how to hold on to that which is eternal. May that which I hold on to not become a weight that will keep me from that which God desires as critical for me. God's time of favour is here.