These End Times!

These End Times!

‭‭Daniel 12:3 NIV‬‬

[3] Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.

The signs around us point to the end of the ages. As you read the words of the Bible, from the old testament to the new, the prophecies about the end of the times are being fulfilled all around us. A few of the prophecies are wars and rumours of wars, earthquakes, fires, famine and pestilence. Where have we not seen these things happening in our time? God does not make empty promises, and He is able and capable, all by Himself, to bring His Word to pass. He is not God because I say He is or because I agree He is; He is God, no matter what popular opinion may be. One of His amazing promises is that He will not leave or abandon us in these end times, but He will provide the support and encouragement we need for such times as these. One action I can take to guarantee God's help for me is to ensure that my name is written in His book. 

There is a book in which names of those who belong to God are written, and no man can influence the contents by possession, power or position. Only those whose names are in the book are assured of the life that God has promised. You do not want to endure the pain and discomfort of these end times, and have no hope of eternal life with God at the end. What would be the point of a life that ended up in everlasting contempt? Many have died and many will still die, because that is the end of all men. God either returns for you when the mortal gives way to immortality, either by death or rapture. How am I preparing for that day that is coming? God does not leave us ignorant of the right preparation for that day. One major assignment He has committed into our hands is to lead others to righteousness. In fact, the verse under consideration today says that this is a proof of wisdom. How do you define wisdom outside of the One who gives it?

God's view is that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom". It is by the fear of God that a man avoids sin and can pass the same message to other people. By my own personal example, I can be the source of encouragement to another person. That is wisdom: leading others to the truth I have already known, so they can also come to the same knowledge and experience of the Truth. The power to save is in Jesus; I just need to make the introduction. My feet, lips, hands and heart must all be available for God to use as instruments for this assignment. It is amazing joy that there is a life somewhere that will make heaven because of my words or actions. Am I preparing the right way for the demands of this assignment? Am I one of the wise, certain of the call of God, sure of the terms of engagement, and available for the assignment? Time is short; eternity is real and heaven beckons. Am I ready? God's time of favour is here.

Sin's Price!

Sin's Price!

‭‭Leviticus 26:18-20 NIV‬‬

[18] “ ‘If after all this you will not listen to me, I will punish you for your sins seven times over. [19] I will break down your stubborn pride and make the sky above you like iron and the ground beneath you like bronze. [20] Your strength will be spent in vain, because your soil will not yield its crops, nor will the trees of your land yield their fruit.

God does not punish without first warning several times over. As I read the verses above, I note the words: "if after all this". Imagine how many times God would have warned before he applies the punishment He has already laid out as the consequence for sin. He does not lie, and He does not belittle sin in any way. It is critical that I also understand the perspective of God when it comes to sin. The same way He hates it must be the same way I also hate sin, if I am to remain a friend of God. The Word of God is there for me as a daily guide to life. I have been given guidance that is appropriate for all facets of life, and I will not have an excuse for engaging in iniquity when the consequences for sin comes. Some of these consequences could involve the heavens being closed, and the ground unable to yield its increase the way it should. Am I able to audit my life right now to see where I stand with God? 

The unfortunate thing is that there are earthly and eternal ramifications to sin. God could punish the sinner on earth, but the sinner could have the opportunity to repent and be restored. It is also possible that the punishment for sin could be death, and that would mean that there is no opportunity to repent and be restored. This is why you do not toy with sin. This is also why a daily check is the best guide against being ensnared in sin. When I daily check with the One who can help me avoid sin, I am able to live in line with the will of God. I please God in every way, and He is able to bless all my labour and work. The ground under me will yield as it should, and the heaven above me is also open. I can work and expect a blessing, because my life is right with God. You cannot afford to let God fight you. It is a battle you cannot win, and it will end up in eternal damnation. I ask God for grace for the race that is set before me. Only by His help will I make it. God's time of favour is here. 

Trust!

Trust!

‭‭Psalms 56:3 TPT‬‬

[3] But in the day that I’m afraid, I lay all my fears before you and trust in you with all my heart.

Life will happen to the best of us and to all of us at different times in our lives. It is either we are just getting out of one situation, or we are being prepared to get into another one. In different places in the bible and at different dispensations, God promises many things, but two things are relevant to our reflection today, and these are pressures and His presence. How can I learn to trust and depend on God if there are no situations that will make me appreciate His presence? How can I learn total dependence if I have never had to seek His help in times of difficulty? This then means that tough times are God's ways of leading me into total and absolute dependence on Him. There will be times when fear will threaten, and it looks like the world will collapse around me. The lesson is to make sure that whi lives in you is greater than the sum of all the experiences that may be going on around you. It is inner stability that drives outward focus and impact. 

On the day fear comes, and it will come, I can draw on that which has been stored up inside me. I have a God who rules and reigns in the affairs of men and He is the Almighty. There is nothing impossible with Him. I can lay all my fears before Him; in fact, He asks me to lay them all down with Him and leave then with Him. I can do nothing about these fears by myself; by worrying and fretting, I will only succeed in sucking joy out of the day. As I have been given the assurance that God is capable and able to take care of me, I simply leave all in His care. I also note that 'all my heart ' is used in the verse above, so that there is no doubt as to the full commitment required. Trust in God has to be absolute; how can God help me if I have Him as one of my many options? Why would I not try other options when it appears God is a bit slow to act? With God, it is all or nothing. Don't give God less than your all, so you can also enjoy His all. God's time of favour is here.

Take Heed!

Take Heed!

‭Luke‬ ‭12:15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

The setting of the verse above is interesting. We find a crowd gathered to listen to the words of Jesus, and as usual, in a crowd, there are people with different interests and priorities. It is easy to view a crowd as a sign of success in ministry, but it is important to note that public affirmation and approval do not always equate to God's acceptance. The crowd will always seek after new knowledge or new opinions, and it cannot be trusted to remain committed to anything that is of God's truth. We learn an example from Jesus who always had the right reaction to the crowd. He viewed it as an opportunity to sow the seeds of the kingdom of God in the hearts of men. For us today, we also must learn the limits of the crowd. We are sent to be the mouth, eyes, ears, and feet of Jesus to a dying world. He has committed the work of the kingdom into our hands. Do I really know what the work entails and I am willing and available to do the work? Remember, this present world is dying; only those in Christ have the assurance of eternal life. 

In that crowd was a young man whose father had probably just died and left substance as an inheritance. This young man had a brother and unfortunately, there was a quarrel about how to share the inheritance. I am not sure how the brother thought that the ministry and the message of Jesus at the time suited his request, but again, it is emphasized that there will always be people in the crowd with wrong and selfish motives. Jesus was speaking about His heavenly kingdom; this young man was only interested in an earthly kingdom. As it was in the days of Jesus, so is it in our own days too today. While God is looking for daily labourers who will be engaged in winning souls for the kingdom, we still find men who are busy pursuing relevance and importance by possessions and property. I have to audit my current pursuits and priorities and be sure that I am not such a person. 

Unfortunately, the deceit of riches and possessions is such that you do not always realise the folly of the pursuit until it is too late. Men have died pursuing that which they could not take with them even into the burial ground. We make enemies of men like us, by pursuing that which is temporary. We lose sleep over things we cannot control, and sometimes we lose sound health over the inordinate ambition to be something the world has still not been able to successfully describe and define. We subscribe to an image of success that is constantly shifting, and we mortgage our eternity with God for a mess of pottage that can only satisfy for a very short time. There is an eternity to prepare for and a heaven to inherit. I cannot afford to be distracted by the mundane. Life, from the perspective of God, is best lived when pleasing God is at the centre of my life. Whatever else He gives me is secondary to having Him as Lord and Saviour. That is true life. Do you have Him? God's time of favour is here.

The Best!

The Best!

‭‭Romans 8:31-32 AMP‬‬

[31] What then shall we say to all these things? If God is for us, who can be [successful] against us? [32] He who did not spare [even] His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?

As I consider the words of the verses above, I acknowledge the love of God which is made manifest in several ways. The verses before the ones under consideration today speak to the depth, height, scope and reach of the love of God. This is a love that was expressed in full measure even before I was born. It is a love that was fully and unconditionally expressed, even with no guarantee that I will accept or respond to it the right way. It is a love that is personally revealed to all men, irrespective of background, race, culture or traditions. It did not wait for me to earn or deserve the love; it is available to me for free, at anytime before the end of this present earthly phase. If I had to buy it with money, maybe I would not be able to afford it. If it were one of the world's commodities, the forces of demand and supply may have made it impossible for me to access it. Thank God for grace that drew up this amazing plan, and the incomparable love that brought Him down to the earth to pay the price required for my salvation and redemption. 

In this message, however, is a silent but obvious warning: if God could pay such a high price for sin, what do you think are the eternal consequences of rejecting this gift to the end of this earthly phase? If God could turn his face away from His Son Jesus as He hung on the cross, paying the price for the sin of all men once and for all, irrespective of generation or dispensation, just think of the impact and effect of rejecting this gift. What other price can be accepted for sin, apart from the one already paid? What other plea or offering can be accepted by God if this one is rejected? This is the silent warning in the verses above. If God did not spare his Son, and gave Him up for us all, what else is there that He cannot give us in and through Christ? What else is the need that will be too big for God to meet, when He has already met the greatest need of all mankind? God has done his bit, and He waits for me to respond? I must always remember that my decision today has eternal consequences. There is life or death at the end of my decision. Choose wisely; God's time of favour is here.

Great Love!

Great Love!

‭‭1 John 3:1 NIV‬‬

[1] See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

John the Beloved had a personal encounter with God's version of love. He was one of the inner caucus of disciples that Jesus kept, and it was to him that Jesus handed over his mother to, as he hung on the cross. The cross is the symbol of love; it caused great pain to God and His Son, because His Son died like a common criminal, hung between two thieves who actually owned up to the fact that they were paying a just price for their actions. For the first and last time on record, Jesus knew that His Father could not look at him as he hung on the cross, bearing the penalty and the pain for the sin of the whole world. He died the death we should have died, and He rose again to seal the life we now have in Him. It is not possible to access this life any other way than by being inside the One who sealed it by his death and resurrection. No one else can pay such a price, and no one else can secure such a prize. 

This great love is the reason why I am standing where I am today. If not for Him, where would I be? If it were not for His grace and mercy, I would have been forgotten. I am called a child of God, simply because I have put my life in the hands of the One who loved me enough to die for me. I am called a child of God by my connection to God. Men must see the mark of sonship in me; the proof of my connection to God must be obvious in the company I keep, the conversations I have and the conduct I lay out. The standards I live by now are different from the world's, and that is why the world will never understand me. The world's principles and practices are not mine; I am a child of God, who seeks the glory of the One who loves me. Only in and through Jesus can anyone really know and appreciate the value of this love. It is freely given, but there are earthly and eternal consequences tied to whatever decison I make. I ask God for grace to make the right decision and to stick by it to the end. God's time of favour is here.

Chosen!

Chosen!

‭‭1 Peter 2:9 KJV‬‬

[9] But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Where there is a BUT, you have to consider the position that had been presented. You find a choice between two extremes: believe or perish. There is no middle ground, where you can stay non-committed to anything, open to whatever suggestions that may come. A decision has to be made one way or another, and you have to live with the earthly and eternal consequences of that decision. For all who choose to believe, today's verse lays out the benefits and blessings that accrue to you. It does not matter what has gone on before now; that decision to believe in Jesus and accept Him as Lord and Saviour is the the key to access all these benefits. Why are these benefits so critical to my identity? It is God's mark of distinction and discipline for all who are under his authority. When you see a king, there ars physical features that will lend credence to that identity. Do I even know who I am, or who I have called to follow and serve?

The same principle applies to the spiritual. When you see the child of the King of kings, there must be distinguishing features that will make it clear who that child is, and whose he or she is. A review of few of these features will help us here. By the nature of the kingship and priesthood in Israel, one person could be appointed to serve in both offices at the same time. David would occasionally wear the ephod but he was not ordained as God's priest at any time. In our current dispensation, God appoints all who believe as His kings and priests, presenting him before the world in both physical and spiritual assignments. Of course, one distinct feature of God is Holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. And of course, the decision to follow and submit to Jesus is not really an attractive or convenient one; there is a price to pay for going against popular opinion or the way of the world. 

All of the above lead to the conclusion in the verse above. Why would God do all He has done and give as much as He has, if there will not be a corresponding expectation from me? Why would God choose to show His affection on me, if there is nothing to be gained from it? That is why the verse above ends with this mission statement: "shew forth the praises of him". That is how my life must be defined, in light of the decision I made to give my life to Him. Men must see me and see the mark of the Most High God on me. Men must have an encounter with God through my conduct, company and conversation. He called me out of darkness and certain death, into the light and life which have no end. He has done His bit; what would I do for Him in return? He gave His all for me; what am I willing to give up for Him? Would my current path and life pattern lead to God's glory? God's time of favour is here .

New Rules!

New Rules!

‭‭Matthew 5:43-44 NIV‬‬

[43] “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 

[44] But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

As Jesus preached his first sermon on the mountain, it was clear who He was speaking to. There was a crowd at the foot of the mountain also listening to Him, but those who would follow and obey Him climbed up the mountain to listen as He spoke. I must also define who and where I am; there will be expectations and demands for all who would seek to follow and serve Jesus. This is the first question I have to sort out: who am I? When that is settled, the demands of the verses above can be met. The verses above also highlight the difference between the crowd and the disciple. One is permitted to love the neighbour and hate the enemy. That confusion is allowed in the lives of those who do not know who they are and who they follow. Hatred is such a strong word that must not be used for other people like myself who have been made in the image and likeness of God  

For those who have surrendered their lives to Jesus, the demands, pursuits and priorities are different. Hatred for people is not an option; the only thing such a life can produce is love. You do not wait for the target of love to work to deserve it. You show love because it is all your life can produce. A good tree will produce good fruit; unless you work to change the output, a bad tree will always produce bad fruit. I am to pray for those who even persecute me, because I understand that I win more when I pray more. I get things done better and with greater impact if I allow the God who has taken root in me to also flow out of me. Whatever it is that is the popular opinion these days, hear God clearly today. He wants me to live by different standards because I have the presence of God in me that the world cannot understand. I show love to everyone who comes my way, because it is also what I have received from God. God's time of favour is here. 

The Example!

The Example!

‭‭Ephesians 5:1-2 AMP‬‬

[1] Therefore become imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]; 

[2] and walk continually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.

The physical plane provides great examples that are worthy of emulation. Great men in the fields of science, technology, arts, music and other areas of human endeavour have come and left impressions for us to emulate. Their lives have provided us with studies in focus, dedication and commitment to excellence. As spiritual beings too, we also have examples that we are required to follow. An impactful life must find and maintain that balance between the physical and the spiritual. I cannot be so focused on making heaven that I forget to live the life God has placed me on earth to live. I must also not be so focused on this earth and all it provides that I forget to make proper preparations for my eternal destination. Both are important and critical to the fulfilment of God's will for my life. How is my focus at the moment? Can I say I have a healthy balance in place: able to bless lives on earth as well as headed for eternity with God? 

God is presented as the perfect example that I must follow. The Bible is His revelation of His person, purpose and plan for my life. How would I know what to emulate or imitate if I do nor even know the original? You do not have an imitation if there is no perfect version. As I read the Word of God, I see the mind of God, and His expectations from and for me. I see a child and the father, and in most cases, even without words, the blood connection is evident. There are facial and behavioral similarities that will make it clear that these people are connected or related. That has to be the same for me and my heavenly Father. People must see me and by my actions, even without words, know who I belong to. When I speak, it is like God is speaking. I reflect God; I make Him known; I make God's heart rejoice when I represent Him well, and others are drawn to the love of God that is manifest in and through me. 

It is not a mistake that it is love that is used in the verses above to reflect the best way to show God off to others. It is love for others that seeks to place their interests over and above my own. It is also not something you do only when it is convenient, but what must be a lifestyle. It is a continuous walk which reflects my ownership and direction. Again, if I did not have an example to imitate, I could be forgiven for not getting it right, but long before I was born, the template for love had been put in place. Jesus came to the earth in human form, so He could walk in my shoes and be able to provide the grace I need to live right. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross represents the height, depth and scope of God's love. It is highlighted by God as the only sacrifice that is acceptable to Him, and by it, we are saved, and given the grace to be the visible and audible expression of that love. Does this describe me? God's time of favour is here.

Do Good!

Do Good!

‭‭Hebrews 13:16 AMP‬‬

[16] Do not neglect to do good, to contribute [to the needy of the church as an expression of fellowship], for such sacrifices are always pleasing to God.

Again, the target audience matters for any message or directive given. At the top of the chapter from where today's verse is taken, you read the words: 'brothers and sisters'. There is a common affinity by the blood of Jesus, where all who have come to the saving knowledge of Jesus become related by blood. That which binds us is stronger than anything that may divide us. From different races and cultures, we come into the family of God. From different backgrounds and experiences, we come into the family of God, where there is no discrimination based on possessions, position or earnings. The early church in the book of Act gives us a picture of the ideal by God's standards. None had too little and none had too much. Those who had a lot brought what was not needed to be shared to those in need. How different our lives would be today if we could find that place of surrender again today. 

How pleasant the message of Christ would be if we could reflect such love and care for people around us. Today's verse is a reminder of the standard. Several years would have passed between the events of the book of Act and this letter in Hebrews, yet the message and the demand remain the same. Just as the early church had needs, so does the present church have needs. Just as the members at that time understood what was required of them, so does God again remind us today of what is really important. Just as the church then was the place of succour and support, so does God expect the present church to be the same. I must not get so caught up in daily life that I forget to do good. Sometimes, it will not be about money, but it could be an investment of time, a shoulder to cry on, a bed to sleep in or a hot meal or even a cold drink. 

Fellowship is God's prescription for reminding us that we are part of a family and what one part has is what another part needs. By working together, the entire body functions as it should, and no part is stressed. These are the types of sacrifices that please God: when I can see beyond what I want now and focus on what another person needs at a particular time. As I do this, God will always raise someone who will also be able to supply whatever it is I need. Seeking the good of other people first, whilst ignoring yours will not come easy, and that is why they are called sacrifices. Am I someone God can entrust with the riches of His grace? Can He entrust me with the lives of people, sure that I will use His provision to be a blessing to His church? Remember, pleasing God must be the ultimate desire for His children. Am I one?  God's time of favour is here. 

Behold the Lamb!

Behold the Lamb!

‭‭John 1:29 NIV‬‬

[29] The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

As you read the entire first chapter of John, we see the introduction if John the Baptist the forerunner of Jesus and the Saviour himself. John was popular; his message was not the usual and the normal that the people had heard from the Pharisees and the priests of their day. This was a message with a different perspective: the law was good, as it pointed us to God's standards for us, but this was a new dispensation of grace and enablement to help us please God. The law could command obedience, but it could not initiate or nurture a relationship with God. This is what John was preaching about and what Jesus came to do. John was quite popular and was mistaken for the Messiah. In fact, the leaders of his day sent high-profile leaders to ask him if he was indeed the Messiah, but of course, a man with no identity crisis does not need human appeal or applause to know, understand, follow and fulfil his purpose. 

A desire for the physical and the mundane is what drives men to the extreme and the absurd, where we think we can play God or assist God to make us known to the world. Right from the days of the men of the bible, it has not worked, and it wil not work. Am I one who God can entrust with the deep mysteries of His kingdom? Can He trust that I will not seek glory for myself or try and draw attention to myself? John the Baptist was quick to point men in the right direction: the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. John knew the limits of his ministry and the purpose of his calling, and he stayed in it. Men could not sway him otherwise, or suggest alternative options to popularity or acceptance. Can this be said of me too? How is my focus at the moment? Is my heart set on the things that God considers important, or are there other 'viable' options fighting for attention? 

I must remember that whatever holds my heart defines and dictates my eternal destination. Eventually, the one John had been speaking about approached. Men of the world would seek ways to deflect; John went on to declare publicly, pointing men to the One sent by God to be the Saviour of the world. By John's statement, a lot of things were laid out: the identity of the Saviour, His mission and purpose in the world, and the target audience of his assignment. As John took time to publicly point to the One who can save and deliver from sin, so is God relying on those who know Him now to also be quick to draw the attention of men to Him. The Lamb has come and has been offered as the perfect sacrifice for sin. The gift is given; once and for all. What is your response? May His sacrifice not be in vain over my life? God's time of favour is here.

Love 2!

Love 2!

‭‭1 Peter 3:18 TPT‬‬

[18] Christ suffered and died for sins once and for all—the innocent for the guilty —to bring you near to God by his body being put to death and by being raised to life by the Spirit.

From yesterday's devotion, we saw the love of God made manifest in the quality of the gift He gave as a sacrifice for sin. The greatest and the most sober part of this message is the price paid. God's view of sin and the right and appropriate punishment for sin are seen from the price that was demanded. Right from the Garden of Eden when man first sinned, the wages of sin became death, and those wages are still the same today. No amount of effort, education, enlightenment, earnings or expenses can change these wages. You cannot argue your way out of the dues that are tied to sin, without taking advantage of the provision God has made for sin. Death was the price for sin, and the perfect offering had to be made to pay the price for sin once and for all. This is why Jesus had to die, because no other sacrifice could provide a permanent way out of sin, and the platform for deliverance from the power of sin. Only the blood of Jesus could do that. 

It is not a sacrifice to be repeated every time man sins, but it is a flow that is good for all seasons, on this side of eternity. No matter how terrible my past or present is, the blood of Jesus provides restoration redemption and sanctification. I have access to the riches of God's grace by the death and resurrection of Jesus. When he died and rose again, He won victory over sin and all its consequences, which is death. He was raised up and he sits at the right hand of God in heaven, far above principalities and powers. It is by my total and absolute surrender to and acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Saviour that I am located in Him. If He is at the right hand of God, by my acceptance of Him as Lord and Saviour, I am seated with Him, wherever He is. He has brought me near to God. I have access to all that has been promised to all who put their trust in Jesus. There are no alternatives provided here; it is all trust in Jesus, or nothing else. God's time of favour is here.

Love!

Love!

‭‭John 3:16 KJV‬‬

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

The natural man defines love in terms of what s/he can get. The natural man understands the power of the physical, and that is why it is the only language he understands. It is also the reason why the natural man can be easily deceived by outward pretence masquerading as love. The expectations would have been set on the wrong evidence, and everything else that follows will be based on that wrong evidence. God gives us the right perspective and definition of what love is, and this is on the basis of what he had to give up in order to secure what He wanted. God's love defined all the parameters: what do I want from man? What can man give me? What is the price to be paid so that I could get what I want from man? All of these questions and more are answered in the verse above. 

First, God was looking for a surrendered heart that He could use for His glory. Without taking control of a heart, you cannot control its daily pursuits and priorities, and that was God's first goal. As you read the verses of the Bible, you find that all the people who had lasting impact on the earth were those who God could call at any time, and they were totally available. This would come from a heart that had been in an encounter with this God. Total surrender does not come easily to a heart that has not had an encounter. God would also not demand surrender without first laying out all the benefits, blessings and demands that this encounter will bring to you, so you are fully aware of what you are getting into. This is why his offer of love comes before his demand for surrender. He makes the offer of Himself, and then demands that I also offer myself to Him in return. 

Secondly, God's love was laid out long before I was born so He was not looking for physical benefits from me. He has his eye on eternity, which is the end of all human activity, and the only way to secure this eternal life for me was to offer me His own life, which has no end. He was not looking for possessions or gifts He already owns, but He is looking for that which I have the power to withhold or freely give, and that is my heart. He knows the power of a heart under His control, and that is what He seeks by the love He has shown. The price he has paid shows the depth of the sacrifice He was willing to pay to secure the control of my heart. The offer and the gift have been made, and I have just this earthly phase to sort out a response.  The only variable here is my reply; God's love is constant, his Word is dependable and eternity is sure. He waits for you and I? How do you plead? God's time of favour is here.

Set!

Set!

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

The nature of light is such that its presence can be taken for granted, but its absence can't be ignored. We take the brightness of the sun for granted, and we mainly do our best work when it is bright. For most people, the night is for sleeping or taking a break, and it is the time when we are most vulnerable because there are many things that are hidden in darkness. The most thick darkness only needs the tiniest sliver of light for there to be some visibility. No matter how dark a room is, even the torch of the tiniest phone will give illumination. This is the power of light, and it is not a surprise that God likens those who are His own to light. Light is defined as 'the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible'. It is difficult to define light outside of its function and evidence, but you can identify the source of the light. As I have been placed on earth for a reason and a season, does the world know where I stand and who I am? 

I am not placed in an obscure place where the world cannot see or know who I am. I have been set on a hill; high enough to be visible and too far up on a hill to be careless about how I do what I do. The world is the stage where I have been planted to manifest the light that God has labelled me. God would also not demand from me that which He has not supplied grace for. If He calls me light, it means He has supplied the strength, wisdom and direction to live as light. To be set on a hill is to have your foundation firmly rooted in the place you have been set on. It is not expected that I will stay there on Sundays and then come down from Mondays to Fridays. I cannot be light one day and then blend into darkness the next day. Being set on a hill means that there is nowhere to hide. There are things that others are permitted to do but I cannot. I cannot hide my identity too, because by virtue of who I am, the world must know who I am, whose I am, and what I am on earth for. Am I light or is there darkness that I need to deal with? God's time of favour is here.

Never Forgotten!

Never Forgotten!

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18:12‬ ‭AMP‬‬

[12] “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them gets lost, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountain and go in search of the one that is lost?

This is one of the parables of Jesus, by which he taught both the crowd and his disciples about the principles, practices and processes of God's kingdom. It is not a kingdom where things are done carelessly, but rather, it is a kingdom that is strategic and deliberate in its short, medium and long-term planning. As part of its strategy, the kingdom invites people into its fold, asking them to come in, find pasture and nourishment in the fold. All that the sheep needs is provided under that fold. There is an identity by which the sheep of a fold is known and recognised, and there is no confusion about ownership or direction. The owner knows the number of sheep under his care, and can make adequate and sufficient provision for the needs of all the sheep. The first lesson for me then is to clearly identify where I am. Am I part of the sheepfold of God? Can God say, of a truth, that I belong to Him, and I am a part of His fold? Remember, provisions are guaranteed for the sheep in the fold. If you do not belong to a particular fold, you cannot access that which has been assigned to that particular fold. 

It is this careful thought and planning that makes it easy for the owner to know when even one is missing. This is the second lesson for me: I am not just a number to God; I am engraved on his palm, so he can never forget me. When he stretches his arm to do good, to bless, to strengthen, I am right before him. I am not a casualty of numbers or multitudes; I cannot get lost in the crowd. The woman with the issue of blood is a good example of how much God notices me, even when there is a press. However, from the story above, it would appear that God will not go against the exercise of a man's freewill. If a sheep decides not to listen to the direction and instruction of the owner, it will definitely get lost. God is powerful and capable to keep, but I have to stay within His provision. The grace of God is not able to preserve a man who is unrepentant in sin. As I take stock today, I need to determine if I am still in the sheepfold or if I have wandered off. The danger out there is real; the devil only knows how to steal, kill and destroy. I must not place my life in the hands of the devil. 

God is more than able to keep and preserve, but I have to hand over my life to Him. Does He own you? When even just one is lost, the number of those who are not lost is not enough to make the owner forget to go look for the one that is lost. God will never give up on me until I reject Him to the end. This is why the worst of sinners find grace and help when they call upon the Lord. The owner will keep the other 99 who are fine, and go in search of the 1 that is lost. The parable goes on to tell us that the lost sheep was found, but have you considered: "What if He did not find the lost sheep"? Does that change the heart of the owner of the sheep? Just as the love of the owner is not in doubt, so also is the need for the sheep to make a commitment to surrender and obey the instructions of the owner. I cannot insist on my own way as the sheep, and expect the owner to just go along with it. How does the owner protect the sheep from danger if it is the sheep dictating terms? 1 lost sheep is enough to make God go all out in search of the lost. His arms are open wide to receive me, but I must not resist to the point of death. Then, it will be too late. God's time of favour is here. 

Forgive!

Forgive!

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:13‬ ‭AMP‬‬

[13] bearing graciously with one another, and willingly forgiving each other if one has a cause for complaint against another; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so should you forgive.

Human relationships are complex. It is quite impossible to find relationships without some room for understanding and growth. You will not hit it off immediately, and there will be times when conflicts may arise. What you do at those critical moments will be defined by your identity, focus and inner content. This is why a look at the target audience of this message is important. The first few verses from where today's extract is taken from speaks to people who have been raised with Christ, and as a result, should have their hearts set on things above, where Christ, the one who was raised from the dead, is seated at the right hand of God. Men who know where they are located do not get bogged down by affections such as jealousy, hatred, bitterness or envy. They do not have the seed of evil in them anymore, because Christ has taken them with Him into the presence of His Father. 

My life is now hid with Christ in God. That is the foundation of today's verse and the place to build anything of value. I believe the fundamental question then is to define and recognize my identity. Then and only then can I practice what the verse above demamds. The natural man seeks to promote self; the man subject to the Spirit seeks to promote whatever promotes God. The natural man seeks self-interest and self-preservation; the man subject to the Spirit seeks to live out the principles and practices of the kingdom to which he belongs. God has so done it that it is by my human relationships that the life of God can be appreciated. As I live on a daily basis, my walk and talk must show who I am, what I am and where I am headed. Forbearing and forgiving one another are signs that what binds us is greater and deeper than whatever may seek to divide us. 

After all, the blood of Jesus did not make a distinction between races or gender, but the offer of life is made to all and sundry. The blood was offered full and free to all men, and the offer still stands till today for as many as will come to Jesus. His life is the perfect example of what love is, and how to see the best in people. He gave his life for the whole world, with no guarantee that His sacrifice will be appreciated or accepted. He did not do it to be applauded, but to give us all the opportunity to enjoy the benefits and blessings of forgiveness, and be able to extend the same grace to others. If I have received it, I have a duty to extend it to others. Let it not be that I end up selfish and bitter, not living out the full potential of the new life made possible by the death and resurrection of Jesus. He has done His part; what is my response? God's time of favour is here.

Relationships that Work!

Relationships that Work!

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:10‬ ‭AMP‬‬

Be devoted to one another with [authentic] brotherly affection [as members of one family], give preference to one another in honor;

The Lord reminds us again of the benefits and blessings that come from an understanding of who I am, who I belong to, who I serve and where I am headed. All of these lessons help me decide what is really important to focus on. Not all will be urgent at the same time, but as I depend on God for my daily work, He will make clear what is really important and He will also suppy the grace I need to meet the demand He places on me. In the face of competing interests and divergent views, this message is not a popular one, but then, when has following God or submitting to God been popular and widely accepted? The measure of submission to God's will is not in public acceptance or applause, but on God's approval. As long as God is pleased with my life and its offerings, it will not matter what the general populace thinks. If God is not pleased, it will also not matter what the general opinions of people are. What is critical is that I know who I am, which is a member of the family of God. 

As members of the same family connected by the blood of Jesus, what binds us together is stronger and greater than the details of what makes us different. It is in the diversity of views and opinions that the beauty of unity is appreciated. Affection must not be faked but it must be real and authentic, because it flows from a heart that is totally surrendered to God and His Word. It is that heart that can see others in the same way God does, and can place the interests of other people over and above yours. It will not come naturally to the natural man; the natural man fights just for himself first and foremost. The spiritual man knows that every life created by God is important, and will deal as such. Can I give preference to other people, even when my own interests are also at stake? Can God entrust the lives of other people into my hands, because He can trust my heart?  Can the verse above apply to my current pursuits and priorities? God's time of favour is here. 

Parts as Whole!

Parts as Whole!

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12:25‭-‬26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

[25] so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. [26] If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

The human body is a study in the miraculous and the amazing. There are regular and new discoveries on the human body, and how it is set up to provide maximum benefits and gain to the person as well as the community it is connected to. There is no loose part, or a part that is just there to make up the numbers. Each part fuses into the whole body, with a specific function assigned to a specific part. I can only imagine what it would mean for the body is the ear suddenly says it does not want to be a part of the body anymore, either because it is not given the recognition it thinks it deserves, or simply because it now wants to act as the foot. I can also imagine if a hardworking liver just resigns and refuses to work anymore. Think of the natural and long-term consequences of such decisions and actions. God has so designed the human body and its  parts in a way that every single part has a role to play for the proper function of the body. As it is in the physical, so is it in the spiritual. There is a spiritual body set up by God, and it will only thrive and impact if it functions the way God has set it up to do.

From God's perspective, the perfect picture is where each part is comfortable in its role, and can watch out for the other parts. There is no jealousy or envy, because each part knows that it is important for the achievement of the purpose of God for setting up that body. There is no finger-pointing or apportionment of blame to other parts; each part watches out for the interests and well-being of other parts and will do all other can to ensure that there is full restoration for the part that has suffered loss or pain, as quickly as possible. As nice as this position sounds, it would not happen by accident. It will be the result of a deliberate and conscious decision to live up to God's expectations and standards. God is a God of love and unity; therefore, it will be quite impossible for me to claim to be a follower of God and still be the promoter of discord or disunity. Whether one part suffers or is honoured now, my part is there for the whole journey, until there is full restoration. That is God's expectations. How do I respond? God's time of favour is here.

Pray!

Pray!

Jeremiah 29 : 12 AMP 

Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you.

Reading this verse in the right context will help me appreciate the value and timing of prayer. At the time Jeremiah was delivering this message, the elders, priests, prophets and the people had been taken as captives to Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon. Many of these people never returned to Jerusalem. Where did it go wrong for Judah here? These were the people God had chosen for Himself and gave specific instructions on how to live. He gave them laws and statutes, and terms of engagement so they could approach Him. Maybe out of comfort or convenience, or simply just carelessness, they forgot or ignored the rules and did what they liked. God sent several people to warn his people, but they would not listen. They had all the opportunities to pray to God for mercy and forgiveness in their own land, but they would not do it until trouble displaced them. 

For all of God's offers, there is a right time and season. If I miss the time and the season, it would be hard work to get it right again. Of course, God answers prayers, but He does not condone or excuse sin. He may not punish immediately, and this can sometimes give people a sense of comfort around sin. God wants me to come to Him often, seeking His face. He wants me to avoid sin like the plague it is, so He can move and do mighty things in my life. He wants to show Himself strong and mighty in my life, and one way to do that is to invite Him into my life to do what He alone can do. That is what prayer is: an admission that I cannot do anything by myself and the clear admission that God alone is the One who can do all things. Prayer is the clear invitation to God that He should step in and do whatever is His will in, through and around us. 

Have I made prayer a habit or is it this occasional exercise I engage in only when I need something urgent from God? I need to do it the right way and the right time so I can get the right results. I must not wait, like the exiles did, to get desperate and in trouble, before I pray. Well, God will always listen if I pray sincerely, but I would rather pray in familiar surroundings than in exile and under terrible conditions. God's promise is that when His people come and pray to Him, He will hear and heed their prayers. That is a promise you can depend on, because it is from the mouth of a God whose word is Yea and Amen. He hates sin but He deeply loves the sinner. I must call to Him on a daily and regular basis, so I can know His mind about anything He wants me to do. It will save me from a lot of heartache and trouble later on in life. God's time of favour is here.

God is Just!

God is Just!

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭6:10‬ ‭AMP‬‬

For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown for His name in ministering to [the needs of] the saints (God’s people), as you do.

Most people would ascribe the words of the book of Hebrews to Paul, even though it was not so stated in the book. Even the audience is not clearly defined, but there is no doubt that the book is written to believers. Just as the messages in the book of Hebrews applied to the people of those times, so do they apply to us in our times today. God calls us to a relationship with Him first and foremost, and then to work for Him wherever He chooses to plant us. We must get that order right; walk with Him and then work for and with Him. This is the message of the verse above. God will not forget my WORK and LOVE for him. Both are critical and important. I work out of the love I have for God, and I love Him because I know the earthly and eternal blessings and benefits that follow those who so do. As I seek to work for Him, I must sort out my heart. The human heart is capable of deception and deceit, and can be caught in just keeping up appearances. It is only by a daily surrender that I can keep my heart clean of pollution, and all that I offer Him can remain acceptable to Him. 

The love for God is proven by the work done in the lives of people. I may know or say the right words but what would matter would be how my life is a blessing to others as God wants it to be. I must not forget that it is God who is watching and who blesses the work done in line with His will, not mine or anyone else's. Trying to seek man's applause or approval is a waste of time. Man's views are never always God's views. If God directs an action, be sure that He will bless it if I do it the way He has directed. God is a just God, as you would expect a God of justice to be. His Word is dependable and reliable, and He will not change His mind on sin because of anyone.  He is called the Ancient of Days, and His memory does not fail. As I help others, He takes note. As I identify needs around me, I ask God for both grace and provision that are appropriate for the need at the time. I ask God for help to love as He does, so that I can see as He sees. If He does not forget, I know I can rest assured that He has got my back. God's time of favour is here. 

No other God!

No other God!

‭‭Micah‬ ‭7:18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

[18] Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.

As you read Micah 7, you would think you were speaking about our current situation in the world. Evil seems to thrive, and men seem to have lost their fear of God. Men shed the blood of the innocent, without considering the repercussions. Bribes have become the norm and not the exception. Everywhere you turn, it seems man is seeking new, novel and terrible ways to push the boundaries of what God hates. However, it is clear from God's Word that this was also foretold, and with God, nothing catches Him by surprise. He has prescribed the punishment for sin since the days of Adam and Eve, and no explanation or excuse has been able to change the prescription. God noticed the evil of Micah's days, and He was now ready to apply the due punishment. God's mercy cannot be taken for granted. As He does not immediately punish, men think they can get away with anything. For all of us who know the standard of God, we are careful and deliberate about our actions and decisions. 

Micah could say the words of today's verse above because he had experienced mercy and grace offered by God. If God were to mark iniquity, none of us would be alive on this side of eternity. God defined and prescribed the punishment for sin, but He also prescribed the solution to sin. He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin, so that man could make the approach to His throne of grace and ask for anything. He hates sin but loves the sinner unconditionally. He is the God who pardons us when we come to Him, contrite for our sin and willing to turn a new leaf and daily dependent on Him for help to live right. God does not stay angry forever; otherwise, the world would have known the depth of his anger at sin. As it is, His mercy remains in place as long as this version of earth remains in place. Whilst there is life in me, I must make sure that God's mercy leads me to salvation and the guarantee of eternal life. May my life be the visible expression of the mercy of God. God's time of favour is here.

The Desire!

The Desire!

‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭3:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

In these times when it seems that man keeps finding new and novel ways to perpetrate evil and iniquity, the words of today's verse remind us of God's views on this present life and the one we are expecting. It had been made very clear by God that even our human bodies are not built to last forever, and that is why we report births and deaths. We are born; we live up to a certain age and then we die, with an account to be rendered to God for how we lived our lives. If our human bodies are limited as God's Word has made clear, it is also clear that this present earth is on a timer too, and will expire at some point. God has made that absolutely clear. I cannot pick and choose that which is convenient for me to accept and then reject the others which make me feel uncomfortable. As long as God has said it, He is bound by the power of His name and the integrity of His Word to do as He has said.

If I have seen many of His prrsonal promises to me come to pass, and I have seen prophecies from long ago all coming to pass in the world, I have a template and framework that proves that God is real and can be trusted. God has promised punishment for sin and eternal separation from God for anyone who dies in sin. It would appear sometimes that God is slow in punishing sin, and that is why men of the world are quick to perpetuate evil. It would appear that God is silent when even His own children, who do what is right, are treated unfairly, and sometimes killed? This is why you find believers sometimes becoming despondent, wondering where God is in the midst of their pain and discomfort. This is the mercy and grace of God at work, as well as His justice. If He were to mark and punish sin immediately it was committed, how many of us would be alive now? 

As He shows mercy for the one who tells a lie, so does He extend grace for the one who has committed murder. I cannot label one sin as small and another as big. Before God, sin is sin, and as His Word has said, liars, as well as murderers, will have their part in the lake of fire if they do not repent. He gives all of us, His creation, the same opportunity to hear His Word, repent from sin and return to Him. Would it not then amount to foolishness to take such grace and mercy for granted? It is not His desire that a life, in which He has invested a lot, should perish and be lost forever. He may appear slow, but not the way we define it. All men will stand before the throne of God for judgment at some point, and the just God would be able to say He gave all men the opportunity to hear His Word. His Word has again gone out here; how would you respond? God's time of favour is here. 

No Worries!

No Worries!

Philippians 4 : 6 AMP

Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

Paul and Timothy wrote this etter to the church in Phiippi, and it is always important to consider the audience, because you can only place a demand on those who recognize your authority. How would you command obedience and allegiance from people who do not even know you exist, or who refuse to accept your position as superior? The audience here are 'all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons'. These are the people the verse above addresses. Holiness isn't available for sale on the open market; it is something you are given based on your total surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. It is both internal and external, because it is the conviction of the heart that will determine the profession of the life. I must therefore be careful about whatever it is I allow to make or leave an impression on my heart. At some point in life, those impressions will manifest.

If I have indeed given my life to Jesus, it is again a misnomer for there to be room in my heart for worry and anxiety. God and anxiety cannot exist in the same heart all at the same time. One must give way to the other. If God is in charge, He will take care of all the things that may cause worry. If worry is in charge, it is hard for God to dictate terms. This is where I have to be careful about the One to whom I yield my heart to. To be careful for nothing is to have God in charge of everything. It is to place God first and foremost before anything else. It is to know that God can take care of anything and everything that can take his place in my heart. The right attitude is to go before God with a heart of appreciation and gratitude. He is able and capable to do all He has promised to do, so there is nothing to be anxious about. The new year ahead has its own thrills and threats; the only One who can help me navigate is the One who knows the end from the beginning. Trust Him totally. God's time of favour is here. 

Listen; Respond!

Listen; Respond!

‭‭

Mark‬ ‭4:9‬ ‭TPT‬‬

If you understand this, then you need to respond.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭4:9‬ ‭AMP‬‬

And He said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear and heed My words.”

Jesus was speaking to both the disciples and the crowd about the parable of the sower. Some deep insights into the quality of the ground and the infallible fruitfulness of the seed were laid down by Jesus. Time will nor permit a full breakdown of the lessons from this parable, but a few reflections will aid the understanding of this verse before us today. First, the secret to a life of impact lies in what and how you hear. In a generation of itching ears and convenient messages, the Truth of God's Word is becoming unpalatable. The people of the world do not like to be told that they are wrong, and there are not too many people who can call sin what God calls it, because they are afraid of losing popularity or acceptance. Unfortunately, God's views are not subject to man's acceptance or approval; what He calls sin remains so, no matter the level of expertise, experience, exposure, earning or elocution of the sinner. God's Word goes out again right now, reminding me of the standard God accepts. What have I heard God say to me? 

The second revolves around the question: "How do I wish to respond to what I have heard'? All I hear demands a response, whether good or bad. That is why I must also be conscious and deliberate about whatever I allow settle on my heart. The seed always has capacity to bear fruit, but maximum fruits come from right conditions. If I give the seed all that it needs to thrive, I cannot complain when it starts to bear fruit in line with the seed that I sowed and nurtured. Hard grounds will hinder the seed from reaching its full potential, so also would thorns and lack of good soil. Going forward, I must realise that everything I get exposed to is seed seeking a ground to be put in somewhere in my heart. If indeed I hear the right way, there is a time and place for response. Do I have an ear? Do I use it to listen well, so that my life can produce fruit that lead to praise and glory for God? He has done all He needs to do to make Himself known to the world; if I claim to be His representative, the world must see His mark upon my life by my words, actions, interactions and engagements. Does this describe me presently? God's time of favour is here.

That Day!

That Day!

‭‭Mark‬ ‭13:33‬ ‭TPT‬‬

This is why you must be waiting, watching and praying, because no one knows when that season of time will come.”

As you read the verse above, and the verses before it, you get the clear idea that life will not always continue as it is now. We live in the age the bible refers to as the end times, when there will be wars, earthquakes and different terrible experiences. We can see these happening on a regular basis now, and that makes it clear that the day of the return of the Lord is near. From the verse above, it is also clearly stated that no one knows when that season of time will come. There is no doubt that it will come, but no one can accurately predict when. This is why the verse above starts with an admonition or counsel, enjoining us to wait, watch and pray. 

All these are important. In bringing this home to us as Christians, waiting is 'to hope, to anticipate, and to trust'. To hope and trust in the Lord requires faith, patience, humility, meekness, long-suffering, keeping the commandments, and enduring to the end. You do not wait for something that has already passed, and it will be too late to prepare for an event that has already happened. If I am asked to wait, it is because there is something amazing ahead. It also means that there is a particular code of conduct that is suitable for waiting. I am not allowed to act, speak or relate as I please, but my life's pursuits and priorities must show that I am waiting in hope for something great and also permanent. 

What am I really waiting for? Am I only interested in what I can get out of life, or am I willing to let go of the temporal so I can lay hold of the eternal? The verse above also mentions watching and praying. I note that there are no options given, or the power given to make a choice among the options. The AND makes it clear that I have to do ALL: wait, watch and pray. Watching means 'to keep awake, be vigilant'. We have spent a few days looking at prayer, which means communion with God. Natural sleep is important for the human body but spiritual sleep is dangerous. As I take time to treat my human body right, so must I take the time to treat my spiritual body right too. 

That the Lord will return one day soon is not in doubt. The Lord's reputation when it comes to doing what He has promised is solid. I cannot accept some promises as true because it is convenient to do so, and then reject others because they do not fit the narrative. If God has said it, He will bring it to pass. This is the season of preparation, when I must take stock and make sure I am on the right path. Eternity beckons on all of us; it is appointed unto man once to die, and after that comes judgment. Am I ready for that day or are there changes I need to make to bring me in line with the demands of that day? I must do all I must before it is too late. God's time of favour is here. 

Helped!

Helped!

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭41:10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

[10] So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

In this season of fear, trepidation and uncertainty about the present and the future, the words of today's verse are quite relevant and critical. All over the world, the effect and impact of sin and rebellion against God are seen everywhere. Man keeps seeking new and novel ways to perpetrate evil, and interaction and influence between people keep getting strange and strained by the day. In the face of all the above, the message of God for this season is 'do not fear'. It may be difficult to understand or appreciate this message, but you would always test the ability and capacity of anyone who makes a promise by seeing previous testimonials. What has this person done in the past to deserve such trust? What proof do I have that this person's word can be trusted? The bible is filled with accounts of previous testimonies of men and women who experienced God's power firsthand. Their accounts provide us with encouragement and comfort that if God does not change, as He has said several times in His Word, then we know we can depend on His promises. 

Do I even seek out the Word of God for myself or am I totally reliant on what someone else says? God is a personal God first and foremost. It is great to be part of a group or fellowship where God moves, but it is really the sum of the individual parts that make the group what it is. It is my personal testimony that provides you with encouragement to hold on or press on. The message in the verse above is therefore personal. He wants to be with me, living inside me. He wants to be my Lord and Master; to dictate terms and supply all I need for life and Godliness. He wants to strengthen, help and uphold me, if I will allow Him work that which is His perfect will in and through me. He will not force Himself on me, or go against the exercise of my freewill. The offer has been made to all of us who are alive now; the offer remains in place as long as I have the breath of God in my nostrils. He waits for my response. He can keep safe and secure whatever has been committed into His hands. Is your life in His hands? Is mine? God's time of favour is here.

Approach!

Approach!

‭‭1 John‬ ‭5:14‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Since we have this confidence, we can also have great boldness before him, for if we ask anything agreeable to his will, he will hear us.

Confidence and boldness come from personal experience and encounters. You will not courage to face the fire or the storm if you not have a Father you have tested several times and found to be a refuge and protection even in the fire and the storm. You do not also stumble upon confidence or boldness; it comes over a period of time. It is not an occasional experience, but a lifestyle. It really does matter in whom your confidence and boldness are anchored, because there are earthly and eternal consequences to that fact. Confidence is defined as 'the feeling or belief that one can have faith in or rely on someone or something'. As can be seen in the extract above, there must be something or someone on whom that faith is anchored. 

It will be something, no matter what I try to tell myself or how much I strive to convince myself that I do not need anyone. Life will happen to all of us; the best way to go through life is to have the help and support of the One who knows what is ahead and can and has provided all that I need for life and Godliness. Of course, in that confidence lies the power and blessing of access. I know God as the Father who loves me and has given His all for me, so I have a settled heart that He will always do what is best for me. There are no accidents when it comes to me. There are no limits to what God can do with a life that has been fully surrendered to Him. Access to God guarantees his listening ears, so I can tell Him how I am, what I want and also ask Him how I can keep pleasing Him. 

Access to God means I am able to know what pleases Him, and my prayers and asking can be in line with what pleases Him. Access to God is a privilege, and it demands specific behaviours and actions. I cannot come before the Lord in the way He demands and I will go back the same way. In fact, no matter what His answer to me is, whether yes, no or wait, I am at peace because I trust the mind and heart of my Father. He will not deny me that which is necessary for the assignment He has given me, and He will also not give me that which will destroy me or deny me eternity with Him.  I come before the Lord with confidence, sure and comfortable in the knowledge of the love of God for me. The past is forgiven, the present is stable and the future is secure. What more could I want? God's time of favour is here.

Unity!

Unity!

‭‭Mark‬ ‭3:25‬ ‭AMP‬‬

[25] And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

As Jesus ministered to the needs of the crowd and the people around me, it was natural that He would make enemies of the people who were upset that he was disrupting the status quo. The Pharisees and Scribes of His day would make the accusation that He was using the power of the devil to perform the mighty miracles He was performing. The first lesson that is apparent here is that I must know the Truth for myself. It cannot be this inconsistent walk, where I am cold today and hot tomorrow. There are teachings, practices and popular opinions that the devil will promote, even using people who are close to me or in positions of knowledge and authority to push out falsehood. If I do not know the Truth, how do I uphold it? If I do not have the conviction that I hold the genuine, there will be many alternatives that will be presented to me as the genuine. I ask God to reveal Himself to me as the only valid Truth. That knowledge is what sustains a life of impact.

Jesus used the parable above to teach the Scribes, as well as His disciples, another truth, which is that unity is a fundamental part of a walk that can achieve mighty as well as terrible things. Whether it is for good, or evil intentions, God said that if as one, a crowd makes up its mind to pursue anything, nothing will be impossible for them. This was about the tower of Babel was started and later abandoned, and that is the secret to the other amazing things that have happened in the last few centuries. There is a power and purpose to unity that cannot be achieved any other way. Unity would win wars, and unity will also help make the message about Christ attractive to other people. Satan will always pursue disunity, because his best work is done in the midst of misunderstanding and confusion. You cannot defeat the devil by using his own tactics; it has to be something different. 

Even in a home, fighting amongst yourselves will not encourage peace. If I will enjoy the life God has given me, as well as the relationships He has placed around me, I must seek and pursue after unity. It is in unity that peace can thrive. Unity does not mean uniformity in views or opinions, but that, in the midst of differences, we still see ourselves as pursuing the same goals, even from different perspectives. We may not see the same thing as the same time, but we are headed in the same direction, because we know what is at stake, and what the repercussions of disunity and confusion can be. The devil also knows and will do anything to advance his own agenda too. There is perfect unity among the Trinity, and all who claim to submit to the Trinity must reflect that interaction. Am I a child of God? If yes, the fruit of that connection will reflect in my interactions with other people. God's time of favour is here. 

‭‭