The New!

The New!

2 Corinthians 5:17 AMPC

[17] Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!

It is a new year. We are grateful to God for bringing us into 2025. It is a brand new year in terms of dates, but there is a uniqueness to the stability and consistency God represents, and form the basis of our confidence as we look ahead by faith to the amazing things God has in store for us. We read of His mercies that never cease, and His faithfulness that also never comes to an end. He gives brand new blessings each day, and He does not give to us based on what we first gave to Him. He has given us all of Himself, and with that, comes everything else. If He has given His life, what else can be bigger or greater than this? However, there is an exclusive benefit that is reserved for specific people, and this is for those who have been relocated and now planted in Christ. All of us are made in the likeness of God, but not have submitted their lives totally to God. This distinction is critical.

For all who are in Christ, we are referred to as 'new creation'. It is a process that the world or its nature cannot explain, because it does not know how it works. This new birth is a result of my pledging full allegiance to Christ, and no one else. As always, it is a conditional statement, where I get to choose how to react to the call of God. God does not force Himself on anyone, and He will not go against the exercise of my freewill. IF I will come to Him, I am sure I will not be cast away. Unfortunately  if I also reject His call, I cannot later turn around and blame Him for the consequences of my decision. He offers true Life; it is for me to take Him at His Word. The process of new birth is sorted by God; I cannot buy it with money. The process cannot be tampered with by the schemes of men; it is either I have it or not. It cannot be faked, and its presence or absence cannot be ignored, because the fruit will always be evident. 

If I say something is new, there will be a marked difference between the past and the now. If I am unable to point to a remarkable difference between what I once was, and what I am now, I need to go back and check the quality of the new life I claim to have. It cannot be more of the same in the new life; it cannot be business as usual. The old must give way to the new. The old must die, so that the new can thrive. Both the old and the new CANNOT co-exist side by side. Both are parallel lines that can never meet, no matter how hard you pull them or how long you draw them. As a new year starts, I must lay hold of the new that God has provided, and make sure it is a reality in my life. The verse above says the old has 'passed away', signifying death for the old. Is the old truly dead in my life? The new is here; may the reality of the new life in Christ be our experience. God's time of favour is here. 

Abide!

Abide!

John 15:4-5 KJV

[4] 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. [5] I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

I am again reminded of the important truth, that location defines allocation. Where you are will determine what you get and where you reach. Who you know will also influence the circle of influence you have. These truths impact both the earthly and eternal phases of life. The verses above make that clear yet again: there is a need to abide in Christ. What Christ has done is that He has made a way for us to be reconciled to God. Sin had done a number on us, separating us from God as well as creating a gulf for all of eternity that nothing else could bridge, except the blood that was shed on the cross. By that sacrifice, all of the past burdens of sin have been dealt with permanently, and room has been made for me where Christ is seated, which is at the right hand of God. If that is where He is, and I am in Him, that is where I am also. The current physical reality may not look like it, but that is the message of faith and hope, that we know who we are, whose we are, and where we are headed. 

The picture of a tree/vine and its branches are presented to us here: it is one of dependence and sustenance by abiding. The vine is able to bear the weight of the branches, and is able to supply ALL that the branches need in order to thrive. If any branch decides to 'branch off' on its own, would that be the fault of the vine? The vine has never said it cannot supply all that the branch needs, and there is no need or demand of the branch that the vine is not able to solve. The picture here is one of willing surrender, as God does not force Himself on anyone, and He will not go against the exercise of my freewill. Whatever He commands, He will supply sufficient grace for it, as long as I totally depend on Him, I am sure of the supply that meets the demands of my life, generation or dispensation. To abide is to remain; it is not a conditional statement, but one that says "I am in it for the whole journey, no matter what comes my way'. Is that true for you? 

If bearing fruit and impacting lives mean much to you, the secret has been revealed in the verses above. The identity of the vine has been revealed, and the limitations and total dependence of the branches on the vine have also been laid out quite clearly. The branch, no matter how fruitful it becomes, will NEVER become the vine. It is good for me to respect and recognise my limitations, and to rely solely on that which the vine produces. It is clear from the verses above that apart from the vine, the branches count for nothing. The vine is able to produce fruit, because it is a self-sustaining vine. It is a privilege for me to be counted as a branch connected to a never- ending supply of nutrients and nourishment. Do not see this as an opportunity to promote your own idea of self-importance, but to take all the vine provides and show off to the world the grace that has been made available for you. Let the world can see the benefits and blessings that come from being connected to God. If indeed I am a child of God, it must be seen in the fruits I bear. God's time of favour is here. 

New Life!

New Life!

Colossians 3:1 AMPC

[1] IF THEN you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

The verse above starts with a positional and conditional statement, and leaves me to define my stand, as well as the commitment to be applied to whatever it is I have been called to do. Whatever is the demand of the verse above hangs on the conditional statement, which is IF I have been raised with Christ. What would that mean? We recall the experiences of Christ, who, though He is God, left all that indestructabilty in heaven, and agreed to be born on earth in human form, so He could offer us salvation and a way back to God. Sin needed to be fully atoned for, and only a perfect offering, without sin, could offer a sacrifice acceptable by God as full and final propitiation for the problem of sin. He died a shameful death on a cross, as made clear under the law, so that we could avoid the shame and take on the glory that He has now secured for us. 

If the story ended in death, we would have no hope, but we are grateful that the power of God raised Jesus up from the dead, and that singular act is the basis of our faith and hope for a life that cannot die anymore. It is the death and resurrection that form the basis of the demands and expectations of God as laid out in the verse above. God will not demand from me that which He has not first supplied sufficient grace for. If indeed I have identified with the death and resurrection of Jesus, by surrendering my life totally to Him, then I can partake in the life that He has offered me. He has not given any other option, or laid out alternatives to the Life that He offers. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Him. I can argue about His principles, or I can take Him at His Word and simply submit to Him. He has not asked me to bring anything else, or make any other offering. All He wants is my life, and He will do amazing things with a surrendered life.

This new life rewires me to aim at and seek the rich, eternal treasures that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. The person who has been raised with Christ is no longer under the influence and control of anything that belongs to the world below. There are rich eternal resources that are available to the person who is IN Christ. That location is critical to all that I can get, because location defines allocation. If I am truly in Christ, my pursuits and priorities will align with my location. It is an abomination for a child of God to still be comfortable in sin, for which such a huge price was paid. Like Christ, I have been given a seat at the right hand of God, set free from all burdens of the past, and sealed for the life that has no end. The focus may be on eternity, but you can be sure that God will also supply that which is required for impact down here on earth. He is all I need; I will do well to take Him up on His offer and lay hold of that which is truly life. God's time of favour is here. 

Approved!

Approved!.

2 Timothy 2:15 AMPC

[15] Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved (tested by trial), a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing [rightly handling and skillfully teaching] the Word of Truth.

As we come to the end of another year, it is important that we take stock of how far we have come, as well as the journey ahead. For those who have come to know Christ as Lord and Saviour, the call is different from those who are yet to know Him. The focus will be different because the foundations for both sets of people are different. Paul, writing to his son in the faith, Timothy, reminded him of the call of God upon his life. The message in the verse above is not just for everyone, but for those who have found the grace that is only available in Christ. As Paul made clear to Timothy, so is he making it clear to those of us who are reading it today: there is work to be done by those who seek to make impact for God. I do not earn God's approval by effort but be sure that a demand for excellence and dedication will be placed on anyone who has received the grace of God. That is the start point: have you responded to the grace that has been freely given by God? 

The work that is demanded from me is that I must study. Study takes time, dedication as well as effort and commitment. There will be distractions to deal with, as well as people who think it is a waste of time. There will also be temptations to seek the easy way out of the commitment required for the assignment but for all who have experienced the benefits and blessings that come from this single minded focus on God's word, you know that there is no other way but to spend time with God and His Word. The Word of God is the revelation of His purpose and plan for the world, as well as His guide to all of life. There is no dimension of life's experiences that the Word of God has no answer for. The Word of God prepares me the right way for all the experiences that will come my way. God uses the Word to equip me with all I need to stand tall in the face of trials and tough times. It is like a workman who is given the right tools to succeed.

The workman has a choice: use the right tools and succeed, or ignore the right tools and end up messing lives up. We live in a world that is increasingly becoming hostile to the Truth, and men are increasingly becoming itchy to hear only what makes them comfortable. The right application of the Word of God will lead to the right results that line up with the plan and purpose of God. God will hold me responsible for whatever I do with the Word of God. Loves are waiting to be impacted, and God's model of impact has to line up with the Word. By right teaching, men's lives are changed to align with God's purpose. By right teaching, the standards of God are laid out and made clear. My personal experiences are God's tools in shaping the lives of all those who come in contact with me, because I have also been touched by God. Please do not seek to change lives without an inner impression. Do not focus on men's applause at the expense of God's approval. He waits on us; would you be available for the work that lies ahead? God's time of favour is here. 

The Start!

The Start!

Proverbs 1:7 AMPC

[7] The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning and the principal and choice part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; but fools despise skillful and godly Wisdom, instruction, and discipline.

We live in strange times now. The things our parents saw as abominations have now become the norm these days. We are not as shocked these days at the things our parents seemed to abhor. Is it that our parents were a bit too strict, or is it that the right foundations of conviction are being eroded on a daily basis? We are now being told that sin is no longer sin, and that influence, earnings and time can change the standard that God has laid since the foundation of the world. Well, unfortunately, God's standards are not subject to my own interpretation, and nothing I say or do can reduce who God is in any way. What He said was wrong in Genesis is still wrong in Revelation, and as many as come to Him, no matter the dispensation or generation, still experience His power, grace and favour. He is still looking for people in whom He can show Himself strong on their behalf. 

That is the message in the verse above. We speak of fear as a bad thing, but with God, it is a good thing as well as a note of caution. Fear always dictates a reaction or response, and this is mainly in a bad way, but in this case, it warns me of the standards God wants me to keep and tells me His expectations and demands from me. If I claim to be His own, I will not struggle with submission and the fear that glorifies Him. This is a fear that is good; it reminds me of my humanity and God's divinity, and also makes it clear that God will not settle for anything less than my all. I also note that the verse refers to the fear of the Lord as the beginning of wisdom. There is a lot to learn about who God is, and it is only fitting that the place to start is where God is: a place of reverence and worship. You will not react well to a God whose authority and power you do not recognise and respect. Do I really fear God or is just talk? 

Of course, for everything God does, there is an alternative position. For everyone who fears God, there is one person who has no regard for spiritual things. For as many as would not fear God the right way, the verse above refers to them as fools. If you will not accept the authority of God upon your life, it means that you are submitting control to the other authority that is not God. As we have said repeatedly, God does not force Himself on anyone, neither does He go against the exercise of His freewill. If I despise Godly counsel, or find it difficult to embrace constructive criticism or discipline, it is a sign that God is not in charge. Men may still be applauding the output, but that output may lack God's input, and anything that God is not involved with is destined to end in failure. As always, the choice is mine to make, but there are eternal consequences for every choice. Only one has an end with God; choose wisely and see God work. Don't be a fool. God's time of favour is here. 

The Greatest Gift!

The Greatest Gift!

Matthew 2:10-11 KJV

[10] When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. [11] And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.

26th December every year is Boxing day, when gifts are shared. It takes its inspiration from the events of the Christmas season, and its history and interpretation differ from country to country and across different generations, but for those who have come to know and personally experienced the gift of God, we see the day in a different light as we celebrate the greatest gift given by God to man. There is no gift on record that can be bigger, better or greater than the one already given, so those who seek to give gifts at this season of Christmas can only strive to extend the love that they have responded to and received to other people. Everyone who heard the news of the birth of the Saviour responded one way or the other. Even indifference was a decision at the time. As it was then, so is it now: we read of the visit of the wise men from the East who saw the star of the birth of Jesus and travelled all the way to see Him. Would I also do the same? 

The wise men knew something fundamental had happened. The star they saw was not ordinary; it was the announcement of the birth of a king. There was no transport system at the time, apart from foot or animal. I do not know how long they travelled, but they did not mind the inconvenience or the distance. They knew what was at stake. The approach to finding the king that was born may have been wrong, leading to the death of several children at the time but the word of God had to be fulfilled. They found the king and though he was a baby at the time, the bible records that they fell down and worshipped him. They did not see him with ordinary eyes, but the recognised His person, power and prestige and they treated him accordingly. We also must see Him the same way: He is God, and He deserves all our praise and worship. What He has done has opened the door for our redemption and restoration. 

The wise men too opened their treasures and gave the child gifts. They came prepared, knowing who they were coming to see. Do I know the reason for this season, or am I now caught in the bug of the usual, and the annual rituals of eating and drinking? The wise men gave the child gold, frankincense and myrrh, all representing different aspects of His person, mission and impact. Gold reflects worth, whose value is further refined by fire. Frankincense is commonly used as a fragrance in soaps, lotions, and perfumes, and we see it play a major role in several events in the life of Jesus. Myrrh tpo also has many uses, including medicine, massage and embalming, among many others. As you read the stories of different events in the life of Jesus, we see these materials time and time again. What is the thing that I consider so precious that I cannot give up for the sake of the One who saved me? He has played His part, and given His all. What would I give up for Him? God's time of favour is here. 

The One 8!

The One 8!

Luke 2:13-14 KJV

[13] And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, [14] Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, good will toward men.

The verses above immediately follow after the focus for yesterday. We saw men who you would call forgotten and inconsequential being given a front view to the excitement and joy that was going on in heaven, because the Son of God had been born. One of the things that struck me in this story is how ordinary the world at the time considered the birth of this boy, and how heaven was just sending messages of goodwill to all categories of people on earth. We considered prophets from a different generation, as well as people who lived in the same space as the One to be born, and we also now see the message of hope that has been laid out even for future unborn generations. This is one of the many things that gladden my heart as I consider the events of Christmas. There is no one so far gone that s/he is beyond the message of hope and life that God brings. 

Heaven knew the value, and God wanted the earth to also know. The message to the shepherds who were taking care of their flock at night was clear: this gift is for everyone, even those the earth forgot. One angel came to deliver the message, but a multitude soon joined the angel to declare God's mind and publicly testify to the grace and mercy that was now revealed and released to the whole world. We do not know the number of angels that came to support the one who delivered the message, but we are told is it was a 'multitude of the heavenly host'. That is a number beyond counting; the message was from the whole of heaven to the whole of the earth, and the message is that God's glory is now revealed and made known to man, and we now have hope for a bright future. When things get tough and rough, remember the message that was delivered at the birth of the One. 

The message is that peace and good will have been made available to all men. The birth of the Prince of Peace means that anyone who allows Him live in his/heart will get an endless supply of whatever it is that God is making available. It is not the kind of peace that is pretentious or enforced by the threat of violence or retribution, but the peace that secures a man's heart so that no matter what is going on around him, the heart is at rest IN the One who has been born. It is not a peace you can buy with influence, connection, riches or words, but by submission to the authority and control of the One who is born. God will always be given glory in heaven, as His power and authority are without question. He wants us to also experience heaven on earth, and this we get by embracing His gift. Do not be content to just read or hear about Him; make sure He lives in you. That is what ensures that the birth of the One has also been born in you. God's time of favour is here. 

It's Time

It's Time!

Galatians 4:4-5 KJV

[4] but when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, [5] to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Adam was formed, along with Eve. Both were placed in the Garden of Eden to take care of it. Rules were given, but at some point in time, the rules were broken, and sin became the order of things for mankind. The very first prophecy about the coming One was made by God Himself, when He spoke about the seed of the woman. That was the first sign that a miracle was coming. When you speak of seed, it is the man that is the contributor of the seed, while the woman takes and nurtures the seed to maturity. God was about to do the unusual, but then time passed. Prophecies were said, messages were sent and centuries passed, but the One who was promised was not yet found. Pretenders came and went, claiming to be the one, deceiving others and they themselves being deceived. With time, they became forgotten and people moved on, seeking the true One to be born. 

With God, He is never too late. Time, for Him, works the way He wants it, and the time is always right when He says it is. He chose the day, month, year and place, as well as the vessel He would use. If He had given a specific day of the year, men would have made an altar out of the day. Christmas reminds us of the birth, and we celebrate the gift, not the day. We celebrate the visitation of God to man. We eat and drink responsibly, without forgetting the reason why we are celebrating, safe and secure in our knowledge and experience of the One who was given to set us free from the burden and the curse of sin. When the fullness of time had come, God moved, and nothing in His creation could stop Him, not even the indifference of the inn, or the wicked schemes of king Herod, or the simplicity of Mary and Joseph. All of them played their parts in bringing the purpose and plan of God to fulfilment. 

The Son was born under the operation of the law, without being subject to its limitations, so He could save all those who were under its oppressive regime. Those under the law were doomed to suffer the consequences of sin as laid down under the law, which is eternal death and separation from God. As a Son, He came to offer us the same benefits and rights that He has with His Father, one of which is life without limits. He was not subject to the limits of the law, so He could be the perfect sacrifice for sin. His blood is the seal of the life that is now offered freely to all men. We have been redeemed; bought at a price from the power of sin. We have the enablement to live above the dictates of sin. We are now called the sons of the Most High God, but it is critical to be sure that the cover offered by God really operates over me. I cannot make an assumption; I must be sure. Am I truly a son? Are you? God's time of favour is here.

The One 7!

The One 7!

Luke 2:9-10 KJV

[9] And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. [10] And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

We have considered the impact of the news of the birth of Jesus on several classes of people. We have seen interests from some people, as well as indifference and ignorance from some others. It is clear that the news of the birth of the Saviour will not be of much significance to some, as we saw in the focus of yesterday's devotion. The admonition is this: please do not be so caught up in the eating and drinking that you forget the reason why you are celebrating. The life that has been given to us is the kind that secures eternal life for as many as would take it on. You will not get it by assumption, assimilation or activities; it is first and foremost an inner witness before it becomes an outward celebration. The inn had no place for the One that was born; do you have room for Him?

We read of another category of people in the verse above, who would have been forgotten if not that God brought them into the picture. These were shepherds who were watching over their flocks at night. By the standard of the world, they may not have been wealthy or highly influential, but God does not deal with man by man's standards. The world may have forgotten them outside, but God brought them under the covenant of life that His Son came to lay down. With God, there is no one who is beyond the redemptive work of Christ. He came and He died for everyone, irrespective of colour, race, past or present. The only thing that matters to God is the future from here on now: what would you do with the life that has been secured for you? It does not matter how terrible your past was, or how bad your today is; today is the day to sort out that future that God is highly invested in.

The shepherds may not have known anyone popular, but the news of great joy made them popular. They received a visit from an angel, and they heard the good news. The message for them, as well as us, is that there is now great joy made possible for mankind. All men are covered under this policy, but like all policies, you have to subscribe to it. The policy is not asking for payment, as all the premiums under the policy were fully paid up by Jesus. He is only asking me to subscribe by faith, and surrender my life to Him. The popular and the influential are welcome, as well as the ordinary and the abandoned of the earth. As the angel came in those days to the shepherds, so does God remind us that this season is the season of God's visitation for all men. May the gift of God not be in vain in my life. May all that has been done and given become real in my life, so that my life can testify to the joy Jesus brings. God's time of favour is here. 

The One 6!

The One 6!

Luke 2:7 AMPC

[7] And she gave birth to her Son, her Firstborn; and she wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room or place for them in the inn.

The One who was promised is now born. The One who had been prophesied about many centuries before is now a reality. The Word of God is such that His name, character, ability and capability are all tied into His Word. He stakes His name and reputation on His Word such that whatever you hear Him say is His bond. He does not lie; in fact, He does not have the ability or the capacity to lie, because He does not have the fallen human nature. He says what He means, and He means whatever He says. You can take His Word as it is to any generation or dispensation, and it will remain ever relevant and impactful. This is the season to remind ourselves of all that God has promised, particularly as they relate to our earthly and eternal homes. God knows that this present earthly phase is temporary, and its best cannot secure eternal life with Him; therefore, He has provided a person and a name that secures that life for us. 

God has done His part. As you read the verse above, you see the bits and pieces fall into place. The instruments and channels, as well as resources to be used had been made ready for the season of manifestation. As you read previous devotions, you read the experiences of the virgin mother, as well as those of Joseph the one to be married to the virgin. You read of the many prophecies which came centuries before the physical revelation of the One to save the world from sin. Even the angels in heaven were part of the story, as one of them was sent to the virgin, as well as to Joseph, and even Elizabeth, the aunt to the virgin, all in preparation for the gift that had been promised, and was to be revealed at the appointed time by the God who makes all things beautiful in His time. Can anything surprise this God? Can anything happen without His knowledge or permission? 

He is God all by Himself, and He does not need my approval or permission to do whatever He says He wants to do. However, there is a fundamental truth that is again made clear in the verse above, and it is that God does not force Himself on anyone. He makes His will known, but I have to willingly submit to Him. Mary made room; Joseph made room; even the prophets of old all made room, but on the day of manifestation, the place where the gift was to be born had no room. Men had been caught in the drama and demands of the season and they had no room left for the One who was to change the course of human history. As it was then, so is it now. We can get caught up in the drama of the season, eating and drinking and making melody, but there is a reason for the joy, and it has to be because of my personal encounter with the One who makes it make sense. Do you know Him? Have you made room for Him in your heart? You cannot celebrate right if you are not right in and with Him. Make sure you are today. God's time of favour is here 

The One 3!

The One 3!

Luke 1:35 AMPC

[35] Then the angel said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you [like a shining cloud]; and so the holy (pure, sinless) Thing (Offspring) which shall be born of you will be called the Son of God.

We come to the season of the actual manifestation of the gift that God promised and which several people had prophesied about. It took quite a long while, but like all things God, He is never late or out of time, because all creation answers to Him. He is the author and controller of times and seasons and He decides when is the best time for anything under the sun. As He had promised, the woman had to be prepared and ready to receive the seed that would change the course of human history. The virgin that would miraculously conceive and bear a son was now identified, and an angel was sent to visit and give her the good news. Of course, it was natural that a woman who understands how the law of conception works would ask the right question about how this process will work, and the message to her was that with God, there are no impossibilities. 

We take a look at creation around us, and we are content to accept the things we do not fully understand as miraculous. We see the seasons change like clockwork, and once in a while, there are cosmic events that science tries to explain as best as it can, but you cannot really fully explain a phenomenon that predates whatever equipment or knowledge you may have acquired. If I could believe that a divine power made the earth, and sustains it on its axis since its creation, how can I struggle to accept that God can make a virgin conceive without the law of conception applying to her? If the law had applied, the law of sin would have also applied to the child, and he would not be an appropriate offering for sin. He would have inherited the sinful nature, and would then be subject to God's righteous judgment of sin. He had to be free from the burden of sin in order to be the perfect offering for sin, in line with the law of God. 

By the power of God, there has now been a conception and a birth. The Son of God has been brought in the likeness of the people He needed to save, so He could walk in their shoes and feel their pain. That was the best way for God to provide the help and support man needed to walk in line with the will of God. By the work and operation of the Holy Spirit, the Holy child has been born and of course, all who put their trust in the child are given the power and enablement to walk in the path of holiness. You cannot walk in it by your own power or intellect; you cannot fake it or pretend to walk in it; without the help of the One who secured it in the first place, you cannot successfully achieve the demands of God for this new life. The gift is here; life is here. All that i need for life and Godliness have been made freely available. God waits for my decision, as well as yours. What would it be? God's time of favour is here. 

The One 4!

The One 4!

Luke 1:46-47 KJV

[46] And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, [47] And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

In yesterday's devotion, we considered the message of assurance given to the virgin by the angel. She was told that the Holy Spirit of God would make the impossible possible. It is quite instructive that the virign did not have any other doubt. As long as she heard and had a sure word from God about the plan and process God was putting in place, she was content. That has to be the first lesson for me here: do I seek to fully understand the plan before I believe and pursue it? Does it have to first make sense before I can be motivated to take steps of availability and total surrender? If it has to first make sense to me, I will be robbing myself of so many benefits of faith, and seeing God work in and around me. The virgin got the assurance from God, and i will do well also not to settle for anything less than the best. It has to be God first and foremost, and everything in between too.

Too many people have views and opinions, and many are contrary to God's plan and purpose. I have to be very careful of who or what I allow to make input into my heart. The virgin listened to the message through the angel from God, and her heart was settled. It is not a wonder that she could break out in song, singing and rejoicing about the mighty things God had done in her life. The depths of her soul were rejoicing at the amazing things that were ahead. Again, she had not yet seen it, but it was very real to her. That is also a lesson for me: faith is such a fundamental part of my walk with God. In fact, the bible makes it clear that without faith, it is impossible to please God. There are things about God that I must accept by faith, as I trust Him to make things clear when I see Him face to face. There are things that i must accept outside my comfort zone, simply because God has said it. 

The virgin knew who had spoken, and that was sufficient for her. Is it the same for you, or are you seeking other people to validate or approve what God has told you? Mary's joy was full, because it was based on a knowledge and personal experience of the God who changes a person's story. It is the season of Christmas, and it is important to seek out a personal relationship with the reason for this season. Many will celebrate and eat/drink a lot, some to the point of stupor or drunkeness, yet know nothing about the person who makes life possible. I have joy in my heart, not because I have all that the world has to offer me, but I have the One who owns and holds the whole world in His hand. I sing of His goodness and mercy, and all that He has done and given. The best I can do is accept and personalise the gift, so that my eternity is secure. What's your decision? God's time of favour is here. 

The One 2!

The One 2!

Isaiah 9:6 AMPC

[6] For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father [of Eternity], Prince of Peace.

We have read from different prophecies about the reason for this season. We have read from Isaiah, as well as from Micah and Jeremiah, men who walked the earth more than 500 years before Jesus Himself walked the earth too. These men spoke from the place of inspiration, and did not physically see their prophecies come to pass, but they knew, without a doubt, that the One who made the promise had the ability, capacity and the capability to bring to pass all that He had said. They did not see it, but they actually saw it by the help of the Holy Spirit. That is why the verse above is quite instructive; the man who lived more than 500 years before Jesus was speaking as if he was seeing the fulfilment of the promise. That is how God deals with us; He wants us to walk by faith, because that is the only way to please Him. No other way has been laid down by God to walk with Him. 

We see the man Isaiah speaking of this gift as if he was seeing Him. The message is to the whole world: the child has been born; the Son has been given. God Himself had come down in the form of man, so that man can then aspire to be like God. That is a big deal; there was no way mortal man could aspire to such great heights without God's help, and that is why Jesus had to come. The gift is to the whole world, and there is no one so bad that s/he is beyond the reach and scope of the help that is available in and through the gift. There is no sin so great, no stain so deep, and no dirt so widespread that it can be bigger and better than the gift that has been given. The gift is God's answer to all of man's problems with sin. As the chapter from where the verse above is taken makes clear, all who are in the darkness of sin have an opportunity to be exposed to the light the Son is. 

The verse above gives us an insight into the mission of the Son. He is referred to as the personification of the authority of God on earth; the One who rules over all things. Check out the names the Son was given in the verse above, and you can see that these are exclusive to Him alone. No mortal man, or any part of creation can claim those names. He is Wonderful. He is the Mighty God. He is the Everlasting Father. He is the Prince of Peace. Each of these names has an earthly impact as well as eternal implications. The gift makes sense to me because all I could not do by myself has been made possible by his birth. The power of the sinful nature has been defeated; the power to live right has been bestowed on me, and now, I can claim the inheritance that is in Christ. You get it by new birth, not by entitlement or inheritance. Do you have it? Remember, there is an eternity that is tied to how you answer this question. God's time of favour is here. 

The One!

The One!

Micah 5:2 AMPC

[2] But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, you are little to be among the clans of Judah; [yet] out of you shall One come forth for Me Who is to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth have been from of old, from ancient days (eternity).

We have spoken about the One who is coming and has now been made manifest. However, in today's verse, we read about his earthly origins and where God chose to ground him and introduce him to the earth. The place was called Bethlemen, which from bible records, meant "house of bread". It is quite instructive to note this meaning, especially when you consider the identity and personality of the One associated with the town. Right from the days of Abraham, we recall it was the burial site of the love of Jacob's life, Rachel. It was also mentioned in the introduction to the great king of Israel, David the beloved of God. This was the town where David grew up and was announced to the whole world as the king of Israel, and was also launched into international repute and popularity. Like all things that God does, He seeks to teach us total dependence on Him, and not on our own systems and provisions. 

In light of the above, just picture the sight where the house of bread at some point became the land of famine in the days of Ruth, and natives had to flee the land in search of food and sustenance, going as far as Moab, a land called a wash pot by God Himself. There are many sides to a name, and it matters what the name is. Ask Jacob and Jabez, whose names limited their impact until God intervened. In one instance, Jacob's name was changed to align with the purpose of God for his life, while ih Jabez's case, his name was not changed, but we know that God changed his story. It is still the same God who is working out His purpose in our lives. He sets up one and brings down another; He steps into a situation and changes it from the inside. Men see you and think you are ordinary, but in time, the work of God done in you will be made manifest to the world. 

You could ask: "What is in a name?". The story of Bethlehem and the One who is linked to it make it clear that names are powerful. The house of bread laid the foundation for the Bread of Life to be made manifest. The place that once had famine is now the place where the spring that wells up to eternal life was made manifest. The land that was deemed to be inconsequential and unimportant is now known all over the world. That is what a connection with the Ruler of Israel can lead to; we are known as Christians because of that connection, and we have the hope of eternal life simply because of our total and complete surrender to the One who has been given as a gift to the earth. He is ageless and timeless, and all who come and put their trust in Him would also become like Him when this earthly phase is over. Whatever is my earthly reality today is timed, except He who lives in me. Have you given Him room in your life? Is He living in you, making your life His home? Eternity beckons; are you ready? God's time of favour is here. 

A Sign!

A Sign!

Isaiah 7:14 AMPC

[14] Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, the young woman who is unmarried and a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel [God with us].

We come to yet another prophecy about the coming Messiah by the prophet Isaiah. The context of this promise didi not look like the time and place to make such a promise, yet, like all that God is and does, He does not need man's permission to do whatever He wants to do, or say whatever He wants to say. He is the God of absolute power and authority and His Word, as we have seen consistently over the past few days, cannot fail to come to pass. Time, distance and man's acceptance or rejection have no impact on the veracity and effect of His Word. If He says it, be sure that He has the capacity, capability and ability to bring it to pass. That is the God who makes all these promises, and of course, we have seen the manifestation of those promises too in our lives. Is there anything that looks like it is beyond redemption or saving? Take it to God in prayer, and let Him speak over the issue or situation. Whatever He says is the assurance you need; no other opinion counts.

King Ahaz had just received a promise of deliverance and salvation from his enemies, and the prophet Isaiah, speaking by the Word of the Lord, told the king to ask for a sign that God is able to do all He had promised. I am not sure why the king did not ask for anything that would have been clearly beyond the reach and capacity of man, so he could also know this God. Could it be just fear, or even ignorance about who God is and can do? Well, God is capable of defending Himself or declaring His power in the midst of the people and that is what He did. If Ahaz would not ask for a sign, He would give a sign. He would do something the world had never seen before so the world could experience something it had never known. Many prophecies had been given about it, and this was another one, which is proof that God would do as He had consistently promised. That is something you can bank on.

The sign is itself the evidence of God's power. If the usual or the normal happens, we can put it down to the usual course of business. We find God choosing to do what had never been done before, where a virgin, without the natural course of conception, was able to conceive and bear a son. If the son had come by way of natural conception, he would have inherited the sinful nature, and would have been of no help to us. It is by the supernatural birth that we have access to the supernatural life. It is by the Son that we have access to the Father and all that He is. He has given us all of Himself, and it is no surprise that the name by which the Son is called is Immanuel which means God with us. That is the comfort and assurance we have about the present and the future. He has been given to us, and we have a decision to make: accept or reject Him. Remember, whatever decision you make has eternal consequences. Choose right. God's time of favour is here.

The Branch!

The Branch!

Jeremiah 23:5 AMPC

[5] Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch (Sprout), and He will reign as King and do wisely and will execute justice and righteousness in the land.

In the devotion for yesterday, we were introduced to the Shoot and Branch as a person, as well as the purpose and mission for the person. It was clear from the prophecy of Isaiah that God intended for that Shoot and Branch to bear fruit. God does not engage in unprofitable ventures, and that is the basis of the confidence I have to say that even if it was for just one person to be saved, and to experience and enjoy the riches of heaven, Jesus would still have died on the cross. If it was just for my sake, Jesus would still have gone to the cross. As we look around today, the church of Christ is the proof of that fruit, as we see the mighty things that God is able to do in and through the lives of those who have accepted and personalised the gift that has been given. The most important question that anyone can answer is "Have I accepted the gift of Life that has been offered by God?'

We again read of the prophecy of Jeremiah, another prophet like Isaiah, who lived at least 600 years before the physical manifestation of Jesus. This is another proof of the power and unfailing nature of the Word of God. Time is of no consequence to the power of the Word and man's acceptance or rejection of it makes no difference to the impact of the Word. The confidence is in getting a word from God for whatever situation I am in, or whatever situation is ahead. That Word is older and wiser than anything or anyone else, and it is that word that will sustain me in and through whatever comes. For the people of Israel, they had sinned and were oppressed by their enemies. They had been scattered all over the world at the time, but we see God making a promise that He would bring them back again to the land He had promised their ancestor Abraham. Today, we have the reality of that promise.

Beyond the physical manifestation of the promise, we also must take note of the spiritual implication of that promise. God promised Abraham a physical territory but He also had an eternal destiny to secure. The Branch from David was about the earthly origin of Jesus, but we also know that the purpose of that Life was deeper and greater than just securing the earth. The people of Israel were to be brought back to the land of promise, and in the same way, the people of the world are to be brought back to the original position God intended before the fall of man. The verse above says that this Branch will reign as King and do wisely and will execute justice and righteousness in the land. It has to be deeper than whatever the present earth has to offer. His kingship is an eternal one, without limits or boundaries, and He will promote that which is in line with His nature, which is righteousness and justice. Those who will enjoy these benefits have to be IN that kingdom. You cannot stand outside and want to claim the benefits that only citizenship alone can give you. Make sure you are connected to the Branch. God's time of favour is here.

The Shoot; The Branch!

The Shoot; The Branch!

Isaiah 11:1 AMPC

[1] AND THERE shall come forth a Shoot out of the stock of Jesse [David's father], and a Branch out of his roots shall grow and bear fruit.

We come back again to the prophecy of the man Isaiah, who lived at least 700 years before the physical manifestation of the man Jesus. This verse is another window into the mind of God and His plans for mankind. Man had sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and the only way for man to be fully reconciled to God was for a perfect sacrifice for sin to be paid by blood. The scene of man's first sin was also the scene for God's first pronouncement about the plan for the salvation of all mankind. It took quite a while, and many prophecies about this plan was given across the ages by God to different people, but many of them never lived to see the manifestation of that gift. It took quite a while, but like all things that God does, His Word can never be broken. His Word is His bond, and He will suspend any principle or practice that stands in the way of His Word. 

We read of 2 descriptions of this gift: SHOOT and BRANCH. These descriptions speak of things that indicate life, growth and impact. A plant's shoot is that part of the plant that grows above ground and includes the stem, leaves, buds, and flowers. From the verse above, Jesse was just the channel, but we got the shoot that has come from the house of Jesse to bless the whole world. The stem, leaves, buds and flowers that have grown out of this shoot have come to be blessings to the whole world. Think of the impact of a life that was given more than 2,000 years ago, and till now, continues to change lives. Think of the love of a God who had no guarantees that everyone will accept the gift, but He still gave it anyway. Think of a love that was given to all men, and till now, the fruit of that gift continues to change lives. That is generational impact. 

The Branch is also fundamental to plants, and has several functions including structural support and the transportation of nutrients. The branch also supports the leaves, flowers and fruits, providing the bits that the seeds need in order to grow into the fruits that impact the lives of other people. People wait for the fruits because that is the physical evidence of the nutrients that have been used by the Branch. It is also interesting to note that both the Branch and the Shoot are captured as nouns, showing that they refer to a person, not an idea or theory. Jesus is the source of the Life that has been offered, and He gives Life to all who will surrender to Him. The fruit of His life is for all who will come to Him. He has come in human form, so that human beings can have hope. He looked like us, so we also look like Him when the real life starts. His life is now my life. God's time of favour is here. 

Promise Keeper!

Promise Keeper!

Jeremiah 33:14 NIV

[14] “ ‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah.

Jeremiah is credited with the words of the verse above. It is interesting to note that the words of the verse above were given to Jeremiah while he himself was locked up in the king's house. He was not a free man, yet he was proclaiming great things ahead for Judah. Judah was in captivity and its great men and women had been wasted. The first lesson for me here is that my physical reality has nothing to do with my spiritual state. As I read the verses before the verse above, I see the state of Judah: a nation that had abandoned the God of its salvation, and was now suffering the results of its sin. Please note that God will not break his laws for anyone; He will not lower the standard for anyone. Please do not toy with sin, or stay comfortable in sin. This is the season when we celebrate the greatest gift that was given to deal with the problem of sin permanently. The nature of the problem of sin and the huge price that was paid show the mind of God, and a warning that I cannot/should not toy with sin. 

Jeremiah got the message whilst he was locked up. He may not have seen the possibilities ahead with his naked eyes, but he knew the God who had made the promise. He could trust the covenant-keeping God whose word cannot be broken, and the one who does not lie, like man. If He says something to me, the whole of heaven knows that even the heavens and the earth are not as constant as the authority that backs up the Word of God. God refers to the days that are coming, and as we saw yesterday, it may take 700 years, but be sure that it will come to pass. I need to have a word from God that will be the anchor for my soul, keeping me focused on what is coming. Just like the promise of a Son/Saviour that was fulfilled at the fullness of time, so is the promise of good things worth holding on to. The critical factor here is the Source, not the circumstances that surround me, or even the doubts that the devil will try and sow in my heart. 

God does not need my cooperation for Him to be God. He does not need me to defend Him or to prove a point with anyone on His behalf. He is the Omniscient, Omnipotent and Omnipresent God. He is God, regardless of my response or reaction to Him. He has promised, and He has the capacity, capability and composure to see it to the end. Can I wait on and for God? Am I in a hurry to get what God has promised that I am willing to do anything to get it, even sin? If yes, there is an issue with my confession of Jesus as Lord and Saviour. It means that the gift of Christ in this season is yet to be a reality in my life. I can argue about the activities and demands of this season, but until Christ takes His place in my life, I can shout and make all the noise, but it will change nothing until there is change on the inside. He is faithful; He can do it; He is watching over His Word to perform it. God's time of favour is here.

A Voice!

A Voice!

Isaiah 40:3 AMPC

[3] A voice of one who cries: Prepare in the wilderness the way of the Lord [clear away the obstacles]; make straight and smooth in the desert a highway for our God.

As you read the accounts and events around Christmas, you see the amazing hand of God in all the planning and execution. You come to know that there is nothing accidental or careless about all that God has done to bring us to the place of salvation, redemption and justification. Long before the physical gift was made manifest to us, God had long made a plan, and when the time was right, He brought it into effect. The very place where man first sinned was where God first laid out the plan of restoration. He never hid the plan; in fact, several prophets including Moses and David, as well as Isaiah made repeated  pronouncements about this amazing gift. It is this same Isaiah who received the message about the coming Son, whose name will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace. What is that thing that you are sure God has promised you? It is not in His nature to promise and fail; it is impossible for the Creator to be limited or restricted by the weaknesses or failures of His creation. 

In His wisdom and strategy, He also made a way for a man to come in, like a forerunner, to introduce this gift to the world at the time. Even as far back as Isaiah, who must have lived about 700 years before the birth of Jesus, spoke about this forerunner. This man is presented to us as a voice; reflect on this. There is power in words, and as we know, God is the authority who speaks and whose words can never be broken or reversed. The creative force behind all of creation is in the Word of God, who spoke and everything came into existence. This voice is the one that has been given the mandate to prepare the way for the coming Savioir. Why are his words important? Could it be it is because it is what you hear that defines what you prrpare for and also get. If I am to enjoy the benefits and blessings of salvation, it means i must hear the right message, and react the right way to what I have heard. What is the value of hearing if it will not lead me to the place of salvation and eternal life with God? 

The message is clear: the One who brings and gives salvation is coming, and He is here now. He has been made manifest and the Life He is and came to give is freely available to all who allow Him in. He does not force Himself on anyone and He will not go against the exercise of our freewill. The message is for all the world at this time, and it is a reminder that we do not have forever to make up our minds. Time is of the essence here; the way of the Lord and the highway for our God are to be prepared. In the strangest of places, in the tightest of corners, in the most difficult situations, God wants to be made known. He wants to take charge so He can change a life from within and make it a blessing without. As John made it clear then, so do we make it clear now: the gift has been given, and He waits for us to come. What is your decision? Remember: eternity hangs on your decision? God's time of favour is here.

Love in Action!

Love in Action!

1 John 3:16 AMPC

[16] By this we come to know (progressively to recognize, to perceive, to understand) the [essential] love: that He laid down His [own] life for us; and we ought to lay [our] lives down for [those who are our] brothers [in Him].

The devotion for yesterday highlights the words of Jesus to His disciples, and we reflected on His standards and expectations for all who claim to know and follow Him. The verse above are the words of someone who took the words of Jesus from yesterday and personalised them. We do not know which John this was, but we know from the beginning of this letter that he was someone who had heard, seen, looked at and touched the Word of Life. He could testify to the Word and was able to proclaim the Word with utmost confidence, inviting others to come into fellowship with the Word and take advantage of the benefits and blessings available in union with the Word. It may sound like a lot but it is just simple a call to all who want to experience the version of love that is God to come in and take freely of it. There is really no price to pay except absolute trust and surrender to Jesus, and a commitment to daily living in line with His commands. 

The verse above also lays it out clearly that wr may not get it right from the start, but we are allowed to grow into the knowledge and personal experience of the love that is in Christ. We come into it with the baggage from our past, and we become exposed to love that we have never known. The love of God embraces our hearts and cleanses us from the weight of our past, freeing us to be able to extend the same grace we have received to other people around us. It is a lifelong learning experience, and we would never be able to fully exhaust the lessons on this side of eternity. As this love is the person of God Himself, we will again continue to experience this love when we translate to heaven. I must therefore make every effort to learn as much as I can about this love of God, so that I can also show it to other people, in line with the mandate I have received from the One who first showed it to me. You have to be IN it to be able to progressively recognize, perceive and understand it, so you can apply it the right way. 

As with all things that God commands, be sure that God will not demand from you that which He has not first given sufficient grace for. If He shows me love, it is because He knows that the new nature in me is able to make use of it, and also extend it to other people. Even the gift of salvation is first personal, but it does not stay personal, and it must be extended to other people too. This love too has been given to me, and it is quite important that others too experience that love. The verse above points me in the direction of my fellow brethren as the start point, because this is now my new family, connected by the blood of Jesus shed for all of us. The blood makes us one family, and this is what families do: they focus on the Interest and well-being of the common good. As Jesus laid down His life for me so that I could take hold of His nature, so does He expect me to strive to replicate His nature in the lives around me. The world needs to know that there is a Love that is different from the fake version it holds on to. Can God trust you with this assignment? God's time of favour is here.

Love like Jesus!

Love like Jesus!

John 13:34-35 AMPC

[34] I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another. [35] By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves].

A few days ago, we looked at the two greatest commandments that Jesus laid out at the start of His earthly ministry. The law and the prophets, and all their requirements, would be summed up under those two commandments, which were total love for God with our whole being, and love for others, just as we loved ourselves. The audience, at that time, were the Pharisees and Sadducees, and all they were looking for was a way to trap Him. They were really not looking forward to hearing the truth about God's kingdom, or His demands and expectations from all who will follow Him, but at least, Jesus made clear what the standard for everyone is. However, as we will see in the verses above, there is a step higher and an experience deeper than the one that was highlighted to the Pharisees and the Sadducees. For them, the minimum was sufficient; for disciples and followers of Christ, the minimum is not the standard. There is a step higher, deeper and nobler than being content doing the minimum.

It is quite instructive that at the time Jesus was highlighting the instructions above, only His disciples were there. This was not a message or teaching for the crowd, but only for disciples. In fact, to make matters even more poignant, Judas Iscariot, who would later betray Jesus, had gone out to do what he would do, so Jesus was left with the other 11 men. Loving God is great, and is a sign of submission to Him, but how can the world also know and experience this love if there is no earthly equivalent or manifestation of it? How can the world know of the love of God if there is no one to make it known? To the Pharisees and Sadducees, loving others as you would love yourself was sufficient, but for those who are called by the name of the Lord, the new standard is the kind of love that we have now been shown and given. If we had no examples, we would not be blamed. 

However, we have been shown what amazing looks like, and we have also been supplied the grace that we need to help us live up to these expectations, we do not have any excuse not to live in and show forth the value of the love that we have received. His love for me has become the new normal; His love for me is the new standard to be emulated and replicated across all my human interactions and engagements. The world is looking for the right examples; it is under the siege of the evil one, and that is why those who dare to be different also stand out and are abused and persecuted. That is the way of the world and should not surprise anyone who wants to live and love like the verses above lay out. Be sure you will stand out, but be sure also that you have God's backing, because you are living in line with His command. A command is not negotiable; it is required for all who are under its reach and scope. Are you under the authority of Jesus? If yes, you have your mandate and instruction. Go forth and live it out. God's time of favour is here.

Preserved!

Preserved!

Proverbs 18:10 AMPC

[10] The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the [consistently] righteous man [upright and in right standing with God] runs into it and is safe, high [above evil] and strong.

In a world that is increasingly becoming broken and unsafe, the words of the verse above is timely and relevant to our present generation. Nations have invested in many highgrade and tactical weaponry, whilst individuals and communities have also set up high fences, guard men and dogs and even physical and metaphysical weapons; yet, all these have not really made the world safer, because it is not so much the display of strength or power that guarantees safety, but the presence of the One called the strong tower. The message in the verse above is for us: there is a provision for true safely, and like all things that God does, there is also a precondition for access to that provision, as well as a predetermined conclusion or result that is linked to the provision. I will do well to study and personalise the message behind the provision, and be sure that the current pattern of my life will grant me access to all that God has provided.

The provision is the name of the Lord. It is as simple as that. There is a name that has been given to men by which men are saved. It does not matter what has gone before, or the mess that is currently in place; God provides me with a name that is a strong tower. Amongst many other uses, towers are generally built to be strategic as a point of look out, to ensure that danger is spotted before it gets too close. That is a defence strategy. It is also a point of communication, where the one on the lookout can pass on a message on required action, in order to secure the city in which the tower has been built. As also seen in the story of Abimelek who went to attack the city of Thebez, a tower can also be a point of launching an attack, where a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head, leading to his death. The name of the Lord does all these and much more. It is not just a tower, but a strong one. It is a name, which means I can call on it, and the One who bears the name will answer. 

This is why the precondition for access is also important. The verse says the righteous runs into it. It is important to review my life and be sure that it aligns with the condition for access. It is the righteous that is able to run into it and be truly safe. Those who are yet to trust in that name will not run. Those who do not know what they have been given will not run. For all who have come to trust in the One who can truly keep safe, the end result is that they are truly kept safe, and from evil too. I cannot keep myself safe from the evils of this present generation, because my knowledge is limited. I cannot, with any degree of certainty, know what is coming. All God has asked me to do is RUN into Him. Do not hesitate; do not delay; do not wait for anyone, or for favourable weather. He takes me as I come to Him, and then secures my life both for the present time and for eternity. Who else could secure that for me? What scheme of man can deliver eternal life with God to me? The offer is made; the tower is prepared. Would you run into it? God's time of favour is here. 

Fullness!

Fullness!

John 3:34 GNBUK

[34] The one whom God has sent speaks God's words, because God gives him the fullness of his Spirit.

We continue in the spirit of the season of Christmas, where we consider the impact and dimensions of the greatest gift that was given to us. What also makes this gift important and interesting is that it was given at a time when my opinion was not sought or needed. God did not need my approval to give the gift He gave, and He definitely did not need my permission to dispense the grace and mercy I have now become quite accustomed to. As it has been laid out in previous devotions, God did what He did so that future generations would have a viable alternative to eternal death and separation from God, which are the consequences of sin. No one can argue his way out of that end, and nothing I do can change the consequences as have been laid out by God. The only way, also as laid out by God, is to accept the gift that has been given, and as we read the verse above, we see where another person is testifying to the person, power, personality and purpose of the Gift that God has given.  

Honestly, what would the excuse be if I reject this gift? He has not asked me to bring any price, or pay toward the cost of the gift. He has not asked for monetary compensation, or asked me to give anything that I cannot give. After all, the life He demands is His in the first place, and what He desires is willing and total surrender to His authority. He will not force Himself on anyone, or go against the exercise of my freewill, but be sure that He will accept the willing offering with joy, and do an awesome and amazing in the lives of all who come to Him willingly. The man who pronounced the words of the verse above was John the Baptist, usually referred to as the forerunner of Jesus. He was born a few months before Jesus and his ministry was set before Jesus was made manifest to the world in the public declaration of John here, as well as at the baptism of Jesus when the heavens opened and God Himself also made a public affirmation of the sonship of Jesus. 

We have been left with no doubt as to the origin of Jesus, as well as His ministry and purpose in our lives. He is sent by God, and we are standing today because Jesus submitted to the will of the Father, as painful and inconvenient as it was. He knew that not everyone will submit their hearts to Him, but He did it all the same. He also knew that many will come and put their trust in Him, and that was enough for Him. He speaks God's mind to us, revealing God's perfect will, and also supplying the grace we need to align with His perfect will. He has the fullness of the Spirit of God with no limits or measure, and He is able to give out of that same measure to as many as would ask Him. That is the promise of the Holy Spirit to all who come and submit their hearts to Him of their own freewill. Please note the last verse of the chapter from where the verse above is taken: "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." The options are that simple, and the end is that definite. I do not have forever to make up my mind. God waits for me; how do I respond? God's time of favour is here.

Know 2!

Know 2!

Romans 5:8 AMPC

[8] But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us.

We are in the season of Christmas, where we celebrate the greatest gift given to man, which is the gift of life. It is a gift that speaks to the nature and the heart of God, and what makes it amazing is that it was given at a time when there was no guarantee that I would accept it. It is a different argument when you know the response that is expected and is sure to come, and you can work toward that end result. In this case, the Omniscient God knew that some people will reject this gift to the end of their lives, yet it did not stop God from giving it. If it was for the sake of just one person, who would accept the gift, surrender their lives to God and then live their lives in daily appreciation of this gift, God knew it was worth it. That one person would be the human expression of the divine power and nature of God, and would be a witness to the world of the amazing possibilities that are available in the love of God for man. 

It is this love that makes God who He is, and places a demand on those of us who claim to be His children. The natural man would want assurances before he can love, and for man, love can be mainly transactional, where I get something back for whatever it is that I give. The natural man cannot comprehend sacrificial love, or where I do something simply because it is all I have, not because I am expecting something from someone else. If God were to be man, none of us would be alive today, as I am not sure what we could afford to give God for what He has given us. The verse above says that God has shown and proven His love toward us. The evidence is the fact that I am alive. The evidence is that I can take of what I have received and freely give to other people. I can take of what I have received from God, without cost to me, and also freely share with others, without expecting anything from them in return. 

It is on this matter that this truth is based,  which is that a man cannot give what he does not have. Pretence and hypocrisy do not work here, because you cannot fake what your life is unable to produce. Christ died for me, so that I did not have to die. It was my sin that took Christ to the cross, and now, I have been set free from the power of sin and death. The love of God has sealed eternal life for me, and whilst I wait for the manifestation of the life I have received, I ensure that the world knows who I am, what I am, who I know, and where I am headed. He has done all that is needed to be done, and now, the response is mine to sort out. I keep at the back of my mind that there is an eternity to sort out, and there are eternal consequences to the decision I need to make. His love seeks to keep me from eternal damnation, but my response is what guarantee that. Have I responded the right way? How would you respond? God's time of favour is here. 

Know!

Know!

1 John 4:16 AMPC

[16] And we know (understand, recognize, are conscious of, by observation and by experience) and believe (adhere to and put faith in and rely on) the love God cherishes for us. God is love, and he who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him.

The first letter of John is a study on the person and work of Jesus as Love. The usual picture of love presented to us is that is an idea, concept or theme, which can only be expressed in physical and tangible ways. We ask the popular question: "Do you love me" of people close to us, because we want to see or feel tangible things we can relate to as the proof of love. However, as the verses above make quite clear, love is first and foremost about a person, not an idea. It is the full expression of the person of Jesus, who is the full and final expression of love, from God's perspective. Just look at these 2 verses just before our devotion today: one says: "In this the love of God was made manifest where we are concerned: in that God sent His Son into the world so that we might live through Him".  Another says:"In this is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." How can one understand love without first understanding the dimensions of the gifts described above? 

It is not a surprise that the verses above start with the words: "And we know". It takes one with personal knowledge and experience of the love described here to be able to speak to, write to or teach others about it. How can you speak eloquently about something or a person that you know absolutely nothing about? That would be deceit, hypocrisy and outright lying. That is the power behind the introduction to this letter, where the writer says "that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life". It is hard to talk confidently about something you do not have personal experience of, and that is why only an eye-witness account is accepted in a court of law. You cannot speak about love unless and until you have tasted it, and once you have tasted the real deal, no counterfeit can take its place. 

The real deal begins with a personal encounter with this love. The writer of this letter had it, and could speak boldly about it, and also recommend Him to the recipients and we the readers today. The reason why it is also special is because it is not a love that expires, as it is the person of Christ Himself, who has no end. The sacrifice was paid many centuries ago, yet the benefits continue to be made available to even unborn generations, as long as this earthly phase remains. If I will enjoy this Love, I have to remain IN Him. It is ultimately a matter of choice, but it is very dangerous to maintain an open door policy, where you get to go out and come in as and when you please. That is dangerous. The free gift of salvation has been given to all men, but God does not force Himself on anyone. The one who knows the value of the gift will take it, and make it a personal experience. Note: what you do with the gift impacts eternity. God is love, but be sure that when it is time for judgement, my response to his gift of love becomes the only consideration. Nothing else will matter. Have you accepted this gift? God's time of favour is here.

Resurrection and Life!

Resurrection and Life!

John 11:25-26 AMPC

[25] Jesus said to her, I am [Myself] the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on) Me, although he may die, yet he shall live; [26] And whoever continues to live and believes in (has faith in, cleaves to, and relies on) Me shall never [actually] die at all. Do you believe this?

In previous devotions, we have seen Jesus as the Light, as well as the Word of God. He is the One who introduces the principles and the standards of God's kingdom to us, and also supplies the grace we need to be able to align with the demands of that kingdom. We come to another description of the nature of God in the verses above, and for man that is used to the finality of death, it may be difficult to man to grasp the description and idea that there can be a good end to the reality of death. Man in his fallen state is subject to eternal death and separation from God, and it will be nothing short of a miracle or simply divine intervention for man to get anything else. Even the context in which the verses above was pronounced involved death: Lazarus, a friend of Jesus had died and was buried, and the sisters, knowing that Jesus could heal the sick and do mighty things, actually said that if Jesus had been there, their brother would not have died. They knew something about Jesus, but they did not have the full story. 

Jesus used this opportunity to show us another side of his nature, identity, power and personality. He referred to himself as the Resurrection and the Life; not a concept or an idea, but a person; not a theory or figment of man's imagination, but the revelation of the divine power of God that can reverse what man thinks is irreversible. Lazarus was dead for 4 days already, and was already beyond saving by man's standard, but when the One who is Life speaks, you know it is not over until He says so. When life happens to us, and it will happen at different times and in various ways, we need the revelation of who God is, to speak to us at the point of our need. We may not get what we think we want at the time, but we will definitely get what God intends for us, and we would know more of God in that pain and hurt, as well as also know who God is in the times when things look rosy. That is God: He is the same, no matter what the external reality is. 

He is God when life is good, and He remains God when things look sour. These sisters were in pain, but Jesus let them know that true Life is Him. When a man is IN Christ, he gets all of Christ. The critical need, as laid out in the verses above, is to BELIEVE IN him. It is not enough to know or read about Him; you must progress that information or knowledge about Him to having a relationship with Him. Check out all the descriptions used to explain believing in Christ: adheres to, trusts in, relies on, has faith in, cleaves to. These show total submission; not partial alignment. It is quite impossible to cleave to two competing interests at the same time, just as Christ has said it is impossible to serve two masters. In Christ, what you think is final, such as death, is a phase into eternal life in and with Him. The one who is IN Christ never dies a final death, because he has the One who has defeated death and secured Life IN Himself for all who live IN Him. Please check your current residence status and be sure you are IN Christ. Access to the benefits is defined by residence, not by mere knowledge. Are you IN Him? God's time of favour is here. 

Treasure!

Treasure!

Matthew 6:21 AMPC

[21] For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

The context of the verse above is the Sermon on the Mount, the first one that Jesus preached as He began His public ministry. He touched on a lot of issues that relate to us today, and that is just one of the amazing ways the Word of God continues to impact our daily lives. These words were pronounced centuries ago, and written down by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit centuries ago, and till today, they continue to encourage, teach and inspire men to seek after God and His will down here on earth, as they prepare for eternal life with Him too. It is critical that I also learn from the men and women of old, who took God at His Word and allowed the Word into their lives to change them from within, so they could impact their world from without. It is still the same God, the same world, with its sinful nature, the same Word too. 

Whatever were the issues that the verse above addressed at the time are still relevant to us today, and we will do well to consider these, take note of the admonition of Jesus here and be guided in our actions, reactions, pursuits and priorities. Man, by nature, loves to have and own things. We acquire things that excite us, and sometimes, things that could kill us if not controlled. The human nature, tainted by sin, can never be satisfied, and will keep going in that nature until it is destroyed. This is why the human nature is not the best measure for what is important or eternally relevant. As I read the verses just before the one above, I realise that the issues of life then are still the issues of life today. Man has the breath of God in him, and wants to be relevant eternally. The problem is that without God, he does not know the right order of things. 

If God is not allowed to rule and reign in a man's heart, that man is not able to get his priorities right. If all that i am concerned about is the earthly, because it is all I know, all that I do will be in pursuit of the things that are relevant to the earthly. It takes a man who knows the value of the eternal to work toward the eternal. He keeps an eye on being relevant down here, but he is also conscious of the need to be relevant in eternity, because that is what really matters at the end of the day. For all who know the value of the eternal, you do all you can to lay up treasure for yourself there. If I find myself just focused on what I can get down here, I run the risk of losing out in eternity. I have to make sure that my heart is right, focused on the right, and is laying up the right things. The world and all its desires and bestowments will pass away, and only that which is eternal will last forever. Which one is your focus? God's time of favour is here.

The Light!

The Light!

John 1:5 AMPC

[5] And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it].

We read of the person and identity of the One called the Light here. It is instructive to note the contents of the verses just before our devotion for today. We are introduced to the Word of God, who was in the beginning with God, and in and through whom ALL things were made. This account tallies with the story of creation in Genesis, where God simply spoke and the power behind His Word brought all He pronounced into existence. It has to be noted that the Word, as well as the Light in the verse above, take on the nature of a person, and is given human-like attributes. It is also to be noted that it would seem that there can be no alternative to the Light and the Word. The use of the word 'the' for both shows that this is the real thing. Any other claim to the Word or the Light would be a lie and cannot be trusted. The attributes of the Word and the Light make it impossible for anyone else to make such a claim to equality with the Word and Light.

Why is this truth important? Jesus is presented to us as the Light, and it is not a surprise, because, the same chapter from which the verse above is taken also saus that He is full of grace, glory and truth. As the Word was with God in the beginning when the earth and the heavens were formed, it was only fitting that God's first pronouncement had to do with His identity, person, power and nature, which is Light. He spoke light into physical manifestation, a reflection of Himself, and that light continues to shine as part of God's creation. His creation is just a reflection of His nature, and that is why, as long as the earth remains, light cannot be defeated unless the source ceases to exist. As we know, it is foolishness to think that God can be defeated, or His light dimmed in any way. As long as the source cannot be removed or His impact and reach limited in any way, all He does will continue to find expression in His creation. 

This is quite clear in the verse above. The Light will shine on, no matter the quality or quantity of the opposition against Him. As we have said, you can try and defeat an idea, ax concept or process, but as long as the Source is able and capable, you cannot keep Him down. The Light has been there from the beginning of time, and will remain there for as long as this earth remains, and long after the new heaven and new earth are in place. That is power. That is consistency. That is eternal impact. See the way the verse above puts it: darkness has tried but has repeatedly failed to overpower the Light. It cannot put out the Light: it cannot absorb or appropriate it. Anyone who would last and make impact must be IN the Light. You cannot be of much use to God if He does not own, control and influence your actions, decisions and reactions. Does He live in you? Does He know you as His own? Remember: He can only save to the uttermost those who have come to put their total trust IN Him. God's time of favour is here. 

Submission!

Submission!

Philippians 2:7-8 KJV

[7] but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: [8] and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

One of the greatest examples of the benefits and blessings of salvation is laid out in the verses above. There is something to be said about someone born into wealth, who does not need to prove a point. Seeing the person already shows his pedigree; he does not have to remind people of who he is. What makes Jesus different is that He was not born into wealth; He is the fullness of the riches of God. He is God; all things were made through Him, and in Him we have life. He is the second person in the Trinity; the Omniscient, Omnipotent and Omnipresent God. He truly fills all things in all ways. When you meet a God like this, you are in awe of Him. His glory is such that the human eye cannot behold, unless God enables one so to do. You dare not go against His will. I do not know what version of God has been introduced to us, but we need to know the true God and what He has done for us. 

It was the message in the verses above that made it difficult for the people to recognise him. They must have been expecting a great man, who will shake the Roman taskmasters into submission. Prophets like Isaiah had spoken of him like a Mighty One, and even Moses had an opportunity to make reference to someone who would come as a prophet like him. They knew he was coming, but when He did, he came as one of us, no fanfare, no trumpets, no ceremony. In fact, the world at the time was going about its normal business, not knowing that prophesy was being fulfilled and destinies being changed. In His glorious form, no one could touch Him, not to talk of killing Him. He came like us, so He could feel like us. He experienced pain, rejection and death so that in and by Him, we would not need to experience these. To make matters even more interesting, He could have come as one of us, yet refuse to submit to the indignity and shame of dying on a cross, but He was seeing the big picture, and was willing to submit so I did not have to submit to them in eternity. 

He came like me, and allowed mortal man like me put him to death. There was a bigger purpose in play, and that was fulfilled when he became obedient to death, allowing the will of God to be brought to life and light through the experience on the cross. That was supposed to be me, paying the price for sin as laid down by God. Someone had to pay the price, but no one down here could do it, until Jesus stepped in. Thank God that He did. Thank God for the new lease of life that I have been given and the grace and enablement also supplied to help me walk right. I am nothing outside of this experience. I could not save or sustain myself in any way, shape or form without His help. I will also not be able to claim ignorance if I decide not to take advantage of the great blessings and abundant benefits that have been provided in Christ. God has done His own; eternity has been secured. How do you respond? God's time of favour is here..

Love the Lord!

Love the Lord!

Matthew 22:37-39 KJV

[37] Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. [38] This is the first and great commandment. [39] And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Jesus always had interesting conversations and discussions with the Pharisees, scribes, teachers of the law and the Sadducees of his time. It is amazing how Israel went from worshipping the true God, to now raising and empowering to become even more important than God was. These classes of men practically controlled the way of life of the Jews at the time, laying down what the law required and harshly punishing anyone who dated to go against their controlling influence. This was fine, and maybe the people did not have a choice as they did not have a viable alternative. Then in stepped Jesus, and the power and influence of these classes of people were at risk. Jesus always had a huge crowd following Him wherever He went, and anytime He taught/preached. As it was then, so is it now. Be careful of people who want to impose their own will on you, contrary to the express will of God, as laid down in His Word. 

The law of Moses, given by God, was there to regulate human conduct as well as interaction with God, until Jesus came. The law laid down the standard, but it had no help to render, in order to help its adherents with its demands. This was why it was impossible for anyone to gain justification from God simply by obeying the dictates of the law; the law reminded us of our inabilities, yet had no answer to the demands of the law. When Christ came, His life, death and resurrection added some things that the law did not have: grace and enablement. With all of the many laws that were given to Moses at the time, all have been distilled into two, as laid down in the verses above. We have now moved from acts that seek justification, to relationships and lifestyles that are enabled by love. We have now moved from labouring to earn God's approval solely by works under the law, to being helped by God and His grace to know, love, submit to and serve Him, as well as other people. 

That is the enablement that the law just could not provide. I now have the help I need to love God, not first out of fear, but a deep heart of appreciation for all He has done and given to enable me come to Him. The old testament had frightening accounts of God, yet there were people who still walked with God. He is still the same God, but He has now given me access to the throne of grace, which was not really available under the law. I could not minister in the Holy of Holies, but the curtain of restrictions has now been torn I am able to have an experience and encounter with God, and love Him for who He is. Of course, when I am able to love God, I also get the power and enablement to love other people. I know where I am coming from, and what I have been forgiven, so it is easy to also love other people the same way. God never said it would be easy, which is why He does not demand from me that which He has not first supplied sufficient grace for. He has done His bit; how would I respond? God's time of favour is here.

Harmony!

Harmony!

Now may the God Who gives the power of patient endurance (steadfastness) and Who supplies encouragement, grant you to live in such mutual harmony and such full sympathy with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, Romans 15:5 AMPC

As we read in the devotion for yesterday, it is important to note that power to live right and in line with God's standard has been made available for all who will surrender to Him. It has to start from an internal stability before you can speak of external impact. You can know the whole of the bible from cover to cover, but the proof of the value of what you know is seen from the depth and scope of the relationships that you form and sustain with this knowledge. It is very important, then, to take time to study the Word of God, so I can know the mind of God on all matters that concern me. I love the verse that comes just before the one above: "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." The things we read in the bible are for our own edification, and to build and entrench patience in us.

These words are to comfort us on the journey of life, so we are sure that God is with us wherever we go, and whatever may be the experience. You are sure and certain of His supply of grace and strength. He is faithful to His promise, and He will not demand from me that which He has not first supplied sufficient grace for. Whenever I go through tough times, I recall men like Shadrack, Meshack and Abednego who walked through fire and were delivered, and I know that God is still very much the One who is with me, no matter what the physical reality is. I also recall the story of Stephen, who though he was stoned to death, he saw heaven open, and the glory awaiting him was far greater than any gain the world could offer him. That has to be the mentality I have: it is God and He alone. He is the focus of my heart and no one else can be who or what He is to me. Does this also apply to you too? 

It is this inner strength that drives outward impact. I take the power and strength available to me in and through Christ, and I touch lives around me with what I have received from Him. He helps me endure what comes my way, providing encouragement along the way, so that my story can be a joy and encouragement to others. As I relate this way with people around me, the touch of God upon my life is evident, and the spring of joy in me cannot but flow out to be a blessing to other people. I love the way the verse above puts it: "mutual harmony and full sympathy with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus". It means that we share a common bond in Christ. We are allowed to be different, but the love that binds us impacts the relationship. The connection to Christ is stronger than our differences. Would you allow God work in you to bring you to the place described above? God's time of favour is here.