The Exchange!

The Exchange!

2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV

[21] For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Pause and reflect on the amazing sacrifice that Jesus had to make on my behalf. Think of the pain and hurt in the heart of God when He permitted the unusual to happen, simply because of me. We usually say that the gift was free, but that is easy to say from our own perspective. We also usually say that there is nothing God cannot do, and it is usually in respect of the impossible and the amazing. What of this: A God who hates and punishes sin; a God who is holy and righteous, who had made it clear since creation what his view of sin is, allowed his own Son, without sin and without blemish, become that which He hated. He had a choice as God, and He could have found a way to restore man to his original position, but He had to follow His own principle in relation to sin, and allow the shedding of blood for the full remission of sin for mankind. That is faithfulness, even in the face of personal cost. 

I was the one who sinned, and it was only fitting that I should be the one to pay the price for sin. I was the one who chose rebellion over obedience, and was due for the legal and fitting punishment that my actions deserve. However, with death being the price to be paid for sin, God knew that there was no way my old nature could pay such a price and still survive. How can that which is already dead due to sin still pay the appropriate sacrifice for that which was the reason for the death in the first place? There had to be a solution that was not subject to the problem of sin, or under the control and influence of sin. The solution could not come from those who could not save themselves. The flip side was that the solution also had to walk in my shoes in order to be able to fully pay the price. The solution had to experience what I did. This is just a tip of the pain, discomfort and shift that God had to put His son through, because of me. 

Due to the sacrifice made, He has been able to walk in my shoes, and now, I can walk in His. He experienced death on my behalf, and dealt a final blow to its power and scope, and by His resurrection, He now offers me the life and hope that are possible inside of Him. The limits that sin placed on me have been dealt with and removed, and I can now experience the life of God in its full form. That was the whole point behind all that He did: he wanted Godly offspring, the kind that looked, talked, dressed, walked and thought like Him, because they had His kind of life on their inside. The work He did has now birthed people who appreciate the sacrifice made, and now live in daily appreciation. They hate sin the same way He does, and embrace the righteousness He is and gives. Let it be known that no excuse for sin is acceptable anymore; that which Christ did is sufficient once and for all time. He has done His bit; how do you respond? God's time of favour is here. 

God at Work!

God at Work!

Philippians 2:13 AMP

[13] For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure. 

It is never about my ability or capacity, but it is God's enablement and empowerment that make the difference. If it was about labour or striving alone, there are many who work hard who would qualify for all that God gives. If it was about wealth or riches, many in the world today will be cut off from God's grace, and only the wealthy would appropriate all of God's riches to themselves. If it was about influence and clout, not many of us would even come close to earning salvation. Thank God for the grace that provides a level playing field for all men to be able to come near to the throne of grace. Thank God that the same opportunity given to the wealthy is given to the ordinary; the same access is given to the prince and the pauper. Let it be known today that my strength, ability or knowledge are just tools in the hand of God to fulfil certain parts of His purpose for us. 

Do not depend on those gifts solely; do not think that they give you an edge over anyone who does not have the same gifts that you have. What does a man have that has not been given to Him by God? What gift can a man form for and by himself that can be of any use in fulfilling God's purpose, outside of God's inspiration, leading, direction and usage? That is the conclusion at the start of the verse above, and we will do well to consider the impact and import of this verse. It is God's expertise that can use the foolish things of this world to shame the wise, and the weak things of this world to shame the strong, so that no one can boast about anything before Him. It is NOT my strength. It is His ability, capacity and capability that make anything possible. The focus is on what goes on inside of me. His work is first IN me, before the power and scope of Hs work can be seen outside of me.

His work is strengthening, energizing, and creating in me the longing and the ability to fulfill His purpose, and for His good pleasure. There is a motivation that the Spirit births and sustains in those who are subject to His control and influence. There are times that you cannot explain how or where the energy comes from, but you just want to keep pressing on with the assignment that has been given to you. God is faithful; He will definitely provide that which is required for the successful completion of the work. After all, it is His work, His assignment, His platform, His material, and the target of the work itself are also made by Him and for His pleasure. Why would He not be invested in my success and victory? It does not serve God any benefit to keep me suffering; there is a plan and a purpose behind every pain He has prepared. I am confident that His presence in me will empower me for whatever comes my way. What of you? God's time of favour is here.

Not Blessed!

Not Blessed!

Jeremiah 17:5 KJV

[5] Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.

Yesterday, we considered the scope, breath and depth of the blessing that comes from God for the man who trusts in the Lord. One thing was clear from yesterday's devotion, and that is what is being considered in the devotion for today: whatever God does is the focus of the devil, and how he can provide a close alternative. The devil is quite skilled in deception and deceit, and is able to closely mirror spiritual things, fooling those who do not know God, or who think that they can do things their own way and succeed in it. We have seen the benefits and blessings of trust in God; be sure that there would also be dire consequences too for not having complete trust in God. One may seem to get away with self-help for a while, and in fact, it may be very popular to present such schemes and results to the world, but you can be sure that the end of such schemes will always be disaster. 

As God made very clear to king Asa through the prophet in 2 Chronicles 16:9, 'the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him'. As long as the heart is right, the impact will be right. As long as there is trust in man and whatever he may offer, God may take a back seat to see how things end up. For king Asa, it was made clear to him that his dependence on man and phyiscal armies were foolish steps to take, and from that time henceforth, he would have wars to fight. A king who had been promised victory over his enemies now aligned with the same enemy. Of course, he ended badly. As it was then, so is it now. The standards of God have not been lowered for anyone, and they will not be lowered anytime soon. Be careful of man-made schemes that promise divine intervention. 

That which is of and from the flesh can never bring about that which only the Spirit of God can accomplish. You cannot give what you do not have, and you cannot produce any fruit that is contrary to the seed that has been planted. I also note, just like yesterday's devotion, that these are the direct words of God, not reported speech. I do have a choice of response: accept or reject the proposition of God, which is His help, and embrace the consequences of my choice. There is no middle ground, where I get to sit on the fence and do nothing. Life is too complex for that kind of carelessness. You do not want to go through life without the help of the One who designed all of life. You do not want to go through life with only the flesh to guide. That is what the verse above calls a curse, and it is not what the anyone of us can live with. Can you survive a single day outside of God? God's time of favour is here. 

Blessed!

Jeremiah 17:7 KJV

[7] Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.

The words of the verse above were directly pronounced by God Himself, in a message to the prophet Jeremiah. This is not reported speech, or someone's strong opinion on the subject matter. When you recall how long ago the man Jeremiah lived, reflect on how many generations and dispensations have passed since then, and consider the current state of the world, you will come to the inevitable conclusion that God is indeed Omniscient. He is the personification of wisdom, and there is no end to His understanding. That which He called sin under Adam has not been changed into anything else even in our own days today, even with the passing of time. That is total consistency. When you consider a God like this, you want to know and follow Him. You want Him on your side, watching your back and guiding your feet on the journey of life and into eternity. 

One of the demands of this Omniscient God is that we trust IN Him. It is not the occasional or seasonal thing we do only when we are in trouble, or things are looking unclear, but a daily and regular dependence on God. It is not only when things are going well, but at all times and in all seasons of life. Trust is defined as a 'firm belief in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone or something'. It is a firm belief that is not dependent on anything or anyone that is itself untrustworthy or untested. You would have spent time studying the target of your trust; you would have found several instances that the subject of your trust showed up and stayed true. That is how trust is built, established and maintained. You now know Him to be reliable, true and able to do exactly as He has promised. When that trust is in place, there is nothing else in all of life that can shake that trust. 

I also note that trust is even more valuable in the face of the seemingly endless pressure that will cone your way. Trust is valued due to the impact and consequences of alternatives, which we wil consider tomorrow by God's grace. The verse above calls the man who trusts in the Lord BLESSED. How does that work, you may ask? This is because God is the focus of the man who totally trusts in the Lord. He does not have a different choice, even if it is not popular to do so. He has practically put all his eggs in one basket, and it is all of God or nothing at all. Why would God not bless such a man who has put ALL he is on Him? How would God not reward a man who has placed his whole life on Him? I look in hope for that which God can do in my life. I can hope, because I have tested and found God to be true, faithful and committed to my earthly and eternal purpose. What of you? God's time of favour is here. 

Dressed Right 2!

Dressed Right 2!

1 Peter 4:7-8 NIV

[7] The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. [8] Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

As we reflected on yesterday's devotion, we are again reminded today of the importance of being dressed right. Who you are is defined by what you put on, and the things you do will reflect who you are. That is the link between identity and profession. There are jobs whose uniforms and tools make clear what they do. This has to apply the same way to all who profess to be children of God. My identity is a connection with Christ and the salvation He offers, which I have personalised. That is what drives my personal principles, pursuits and priorities. I am reminded also that the gift of salvation that I have personalised has an end result;  one day soon, the end of salvation will be a reality and eternal life with God will be real, but until that time, I must live out the presence and power of God in me. As I wait for the full measure of the Life of God to be made manifest in me, I am conscious of my daily actions and decisions.

I am charged to be alert and of sober mind. This has nothing to do with alcohol or anything that intoxicates, but with a heart that is fixed on God alone. This has nothing to do with physical food first, but with spiritual insight and understanding. It is the man who has an understanding of the times he is in that can take the right steps and make the right decisions in response to the demand of these times. We are in the end-time; of that there is no doubt. One practice that is laid out clearly in the verses above is prayer. Prayer is not so much about getting what you want every time, but it is about getting the will of God into reality every time. You are not just asking God for what you want, which is good, but you are really focused on the will of God being established on the earth where you are. The man who prays is given insights into the things that are not revealed to other people, and he can pray directed and targeted prayers in line with God's purpose and plan for the human race. 

Am I just focused only what makes me very comfortable, or am I willing to step out in faith, sure and certain that God has my back? Another practice that the verses above lay out is love. I call it practice here because it has to be evident through the things I do, but it is based on the answer to the question of identity that was asked above. There is a love that only those who are dressed in the garment of salvation can produce. There is an outflow that rightly matches the inflow of the love of God in a man's heart. There is a reason why love is placed above all, not because others are not important, but because it is the person and expression of Jesus Himself. You can be extremely gifted and able to spend time in prayer, but if you are unable to epxrees the version of love that Jesus is, everything else you do could be a wasted venture. Love sees the best in other people; love holds no grudges, and is able and willing to forgive hurts. Sin loses its power when love is in full expression. Are you dressed right? Does your life flow out with the right substance? God's time of favour is here. 

Dressed Right!

Dressed Right!

Colossians 3:12 KJV

[12] Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

The issue of dressing has always been quite a controversial one in the body of Christ. There are positions that uphold moderation in all things, whilst there are others who take the view that anything is permissible, as long as it covers the essentials and does not make you uncomfortable. These all sound nice, but I take the view that God has an opinion on the topic, and this is partly laid out in the verse above. First and foremost, it is identity that drives appearance and impact. Too many times, we have been focused on conforming people to our idea of what is right, while we forget that it is the inner conviction that needs to be in place first. We go on and on about how we look on the outside, and this is quite important too, but the start point is that which is on the inside. As someone very close to me once said, "there are some arguments that you do not need to make with someone who is born again". 

Reflect on this: the work that God does on the inside of a man will surely reflect on the outside of that man. The verse above is directed at 'the elect of God, holy and beloved'. This is not for just anyone, but for those who have been set apart by God, called to higher purposes, who know who they are, and are actively seeking to please the One who owns them. Be clear: Christianity is not a democracy; it is the rule of God, where the life of God reigns, and His will is the only possible direction. If I know who I am, whose I am, and where I am headed, there will be no confusion about my pursuits and priorities. The reason why there is so much controversy about the outward could be that we have not allowed the work of God take charge of our inner man. God does not force Himself on anyone, and He will not go against the exercise of my freewill. I have to consciously and deliberately give Him access and control, so that He can do His work in me first, and then the benefits will flow out to bless other people. 

Note the features of my dressing: bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering. None of these are physical items, but inner fruits of the presence of the Holy Spirit. You can dress up and look nice, but without the 'right dress', you will still be naked. You can buy and use expensive clothes, but it does not also mean that you are dressed right. Meekness and longsuffering are manifestations of the fruit of the Spirit; mercy is the bestowment of God and the outflow of a life that has responded to that which God bestows. Humility is the product of a life that knows that ALL he has is not a function of labour, but of grace and mercy, so there is no pride or self-sufficiency. With all the above in place, it will definitely reflect on the outside that the man is a child of God. Focus on the inside; deal with the inside; change the inside. The outward will definitely align. God's time of favour is here.

Love!

Love!

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 KJV

[4] Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: [5] and thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Moses had reason to remind the children of Israel about the God who had brought them out of the land of slavery and was bringing them into the land of promise. Recall that by this time, Israel had fallen into rebellion and many of them had died in the wilderness. A number had also committed atrocities and had been severely punished by God. Reflect on this: these were the people God had chosen for Himself and set them apart as His treasured possession, yet, when they sinned, they were not spared. It is easy to mistake God's love for compromise, or to take advantage of his slowness to punish, but I am again reminded that God is God. His standards have been in place long before man was made, and long after this earthly phase ceases to exist, God will still remain God, and the things He has expressly laid out as His standards will continue to operate. That is the God Moses sought to remind Israel of. 

We will also do well to remind ourselves of who this God is. Moses knew Him as the one and only Lord. The world may know or claim to know many variants, but there is only one true God. The world may reject Him, or claim ignorance of His person, but my opinion does not in any way change or reduce the efficacy of God and His Word. This is where the choice has to be made: is God the one and only, or are there other viable alternatives to God in your life? Note this: this God does not make room for competition in a man's heart. He is too holy to be placed in unholy or unclean vessels, and He will not compete with sin in a man's heart. The very first commandment on record in Exodus 20 is: "Thou shalt have no other God before me". Clear as day. The One who holds my heart controls my life's pursuits and priorities. No wonder I am charged to guard my heart with all diligence. 

When the heart is right, its pursuits are also right. When God sits on the throne and directs affairs, He will produce after His kind in my life. His presence in my life bears fruit that cannot be ignored. When a man has been with Jesus, you cannot ignore the reality. Peter and John were noted to have been with Jesus. The love of God in my heart will take over the entire life. That is why you see ALL repeated in every facet of life for the man who loves the Lord. There is room for no one and nothing else. I also note that the heart and the soul are mentioned first, before might. It is inner conviction that drives outward profession. It is inner strength that manifests in outward expression of love for God and the things He holds dear. If I truly love Him, I would not want to hurt Him. If I truly love Him, His heart's desires will also be my focus. God does not do half-hearted devotion, hypocrisy or eye-service. Give Him your all, so you can also take hold of His all. God's time of favour is here.

Study!

Study!

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV

[15] Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Paul writes to his young protege Timothy, and encourages him to apply himself to the value of study. Why study and not any other act? A definition of study available online says it is 'the devotion of time and attention to gaining knowledge of an academic subject, especially by means of books'. If we apply that to the verse above, it would mean the devotion of time and attention to gaining knowledge about God, by means of the only one book that reveals the mind of God, which is the written word. It is by means of the written word that the revelation of the power of the spoken word, as well as the person of the Word are all made manifest. Reflect on the words TIME and ATTENTION. Both words used in the context of the verse above are not words you use when you are in a hurry, or you are pressed for time. If you are content with just anything, then anyhow it is done is fine.

If there is something you need done right away, you will sacrifice time and most likely attention to detail, but if you want it done properly, you have to invest your time, and also pay close attention to what and how you do it. For a generation that has been viewed as the 'microwave' generation, there is a danger that it does not have the patience to sit down and study, in order to know more about God. The speed of the Internet and the ease of access to resources and information has changed the landscape for many of us. The time taken to do research has been greatly reduced by the time it takes to ask AI to generate information for you; however, it is clear that you cannot access the resources of the Holy Spirit through any code that the earth is able to give you. God cannot be rushed, and anyone willing to access the amazing resources of grace that He has must learn the value of study. It will demand time from you, and a lot of sacrifices must be made. 

Why bother with the investment of time? It is the value at the end of the wait that matters. You invest time in order to gain God's backing and approval. How can I claim to represent God and He cannot hold my attention long enough to pass on His instructions to me? What would I speak if I do not have His backing? I work for Him; I walk with Him; I speak for Him; an ambassador does not have authority separate from that of the country He represents. You become an expert by doing something over and over again, paying attention to detail. You become skilled by constant and consistent exposure. I am called a workman: a man who works. Not a man who talks a big game and does nothing, but one who works. He works under definite and divine guidance; he works for a definite and defined master, and he works for a definite reward. He becomes skillful in the right usage and application of the Word of truth. You either take Him as Truth, or you settle for the false versions that are available everywhere. Am I one who God can trust with the treasure of His Word? God's time of favour is here.

Helped!

Helped!

1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV

[13] No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

There are a number of assurances that are in the verse above, and we start with the first one, which is the fact that temptations will come. I can choose to accept this fact, and also accept the other facts that follow, or I can choose to deny or deflect the fact, or even reject it in Jesus' name, but the fact will not go away. Human life since the fall of man has been full of temptations and trials, and it will remain so until the mortal body gives way to the immortal. It is pointless to pray that this fact will not happen to you; the verse above makes it clear that they would come, but I have the clear assurance of yet another fact, which is that it will always be common to man. The Bible itself assures me that there is nothing new under the sun, which means that whatever comes my way has been tried and tested on someone else. That would give me confidence that I am not alone in whatever experience comes my way. 

The next fact that I must live with is that God is faithful. Now, the end of the story may sometimes make it look like God does not know what He is doing, but let it be clear that my personal opinions or experiences do not in any way change who God is, or what He can do. Closely linked to that fact is yet another one which says that God will not allow me to be tempted beyond what I can bear. Reflect on this: whatever comes my way has been carefully calibrated by God for maximum benefit. Like the Great Physician and Pharmacist that God is, whatever He allows is not designed to destroy me, but to deliver me from fear into confidence in God's ability to perfect all that concern me. It is not the size of the battle that matters here, but the power, wisdom and purpose of the God who allows the battle to come the way it does. However it comes, in the hands of God, it will always achieve God's purpose, if I allow Him work. 

That leads to yet another fact: the God who allows it knows the best way out of it. I note that it does not provide a way to avoid it, but to endure it. The distinction is important; it is no use praying that it will not happen, but the best use of my time is to pray that I will find God's strength and direction needed to endure and to overcome. That is the fact on which to tie it all together: God does not ever plan to destroy you but to build you up. He is not interested in your fall; in fact, His glory is revealed in the victory that His children have over the schemes of the devil. Why would He take delight in my destruction? As long as my heart is fixed on God, He will show up, and supply all that I need for life and Godliness. I have to know the power of freewill. I live or die by the choices I make. God will play His part by guaranteeing supply; I must play my part by making the right demand. Not demand on earth can exhaust the resources of heaven so ask until your joy is full. God's time of favour is here. 

Like God!

Like God!

Instead, be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ. Ephesians 4:32 GNT

When a sentence starts with 'instead' there must have been an idea that is opposite of the one that follows the word 'instead. Take a look at the verse before today's extract: Get rid of all bitterness, passion, and anger. No more shouting or insults, no more hateful feelings of any sort. Reflect on this: No matter how gifted, talented or skillful I am, I cannot do both at the same time. I was not made to function at my full capacity with such confusion. I cannot allow hate to flow in and through me, and at the same time, be kind to other people. Human relationships are very complex, and God, in His wisdom, has planned it that we all come from and belong to various families. Hate and Kindness do not proceed from the same source, so it is very important that I take stock of my life and sort out my control centre. Whoever sits on the throne of my heart defines what my life produces; I cannot fake the physical manifestation of my inner conviction. 

The verse for today enjoins me to be kind, and this would mean that the seed of kindness has already been planted in me. Kindness is also a fruit of the Spirit, and it would mean that whatever I claim toe have must look like God, if God will be glorified in it. As we are made by God and in His likeness, we have the tendency and natural inclination to be kind; after all, no mother kills her own child, unless there are some other factors, but imagine the scope, reach and power of a life that is under the direct influence and control of the Holy Spirit. Paul was writing to people described as 'God's people'. Am I one? Do my present actions and reactions show that I am a child of God? Can God be glorified in and through me, by my actions and interactions with people around me?

This demand is even made more relevant today when I consider what I have also received from God. At the time Jesus died for me, I didn't even know who He was, couldn't care less who He was, or even understand the value of what He did. He did it all the same, forgiving me all my past, present and even future sins, and giving me a guarantee of eternal life with Him. He cleaned me up, and gave me a fresh start. If I know the value of what I have received, I will be quick to extend the same grace to other people. I stand where I am by God's grace only, not by works, labour, intellect or willpower. I must flow out to other people with what I have received. I was made for eternity, but while I wait for heaven to be my final home, this earth and its inhabitants are waiting for my manifestation as a child of God. Would I be the true representation of this God? God's time of favour is here. 

Influence!

Influence!

Proverbs 27:17 AMP

[17] As iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens [and influences] another [through discussion].

Proverbs 27:17 AMPC

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

We learn a lot from the words of Solomon, the man credited with most of the proverbs in the Bible. We remember his story and how he came to be so wise that kings, queens and prominent people from all over the world came to listen to his sayings. The wisdom he had was given to him by God, and the impact of this gift cannot be denied. However, as we know, it is one thing for God to give you a thing, and it is quite another thing for you to remain in God and develop what you have been given. We see the end of the man Solomon, and it is rather unfortunate that the wisdom of God in him was not nurtured and preserved the right way, so he could end his life on the right note. A gift from God does not automatically guarantee a good end; there is a role for me to nurture that which I have been given, so that it becomes a blessing not just to me, but to the world around me. 

That is the message of the verse above. God could have chosen to create a being to give Him pleasure, and the being would have no other choice but to seek to please God at all times. God had that in abundance in heaven, but among many other reasons, God placed me in the midst of other people so that I could be a blessing to them, and they to me. Human interactions are complex, but can be mutually beneficial if both parties work at being the best versions of themselves, seeking to impact the other person the right way. How can I make the right impact if I do not have the right content? Reflect on this: there is actually no one alive without a level of impact and influence, whether good or bad. I am the outward expression of my private investment. Character is a funny and stubborn thing that you just cannot fake. At some point, who I am will be made plain to all who come in contact with me. 

What kind of Iron am I: the blunt one or the sharp one? The effective one or the inefficient one? The one that dares to stand out or the one that is comfortable with blending in and is used to compromise? The right kind of iron is the kind that sharpens another man the right way. When people spend time with me, what do they go away with? When I have spent time with people, how much of the right influence have I made? I love the AMPC version above: the work of influence on another person can be for rage or a worthy purpose. That which I have will be replicated and duplicated in the lives of all who stay long enough with me. This is where hypocrisy, pretence or eye-service is pointless; the truth of who I am will be made manifest in the fullness of time. Be the right version of yourself, but also audit the company of those who are able to leave a mark in and on you. There is an eternal dimension to impact ; you will not be able to stand before God and blame another for your own choices. Be right; do right; flow right; end right. God's time of favour is here. 

Proof of Life!

Proof of Life!

Hebrews 13:16 AMPC

[16] Do not forget or neglect to do kindness and good, to be generous and distribute and contribute to the needy [of the church as embodiment and proof of fellowship], for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

As always, the good place to start is to know and understand the context and audience a verse relates to. We know little about the writer of Hebrews, but we do know a little bit about the audience. At the start of the chapter is the charge to the audience to let love for their fellow believers continue and be a fixed practice with them. You do not make such a demand from people whose hearts are not yet subject to the imprint and impact of love. A man cannot give what he does not have, and you cannot fake the fruit of the Spirit, if you do not have Him. This means that this letter is addressed to a body of believers, who have experienced the love of God, and are able to extend that same love to other people within their immediate sphere. We usually say that 'Charity begins at home' and this is also true for the church. How does the outside world know and appreciate what you have if those who are inside with you do not have the faintest idea who you are or what you have? How can I be an effective witness outside when I am yet to make the slightest difference to those who are inside? 

That is the reset and reminder we all need to pay attention to. We can get so focused on making an outward impression, that we forget that God is looking for an inner conviction first and foremost, which will then lead to all the external profession and impact that the world needs. When the house is touched, the impact will practically preach its own message to the world. It is also not a wonder that Jesus, in directing the apostles to take the gospel to the ends of the earth, made it clear that they were to start in Jerusalem, in the place they called home. Do not be so concerned about what people outside will say; focus first on helping those who are in need right in front of you. I also recall the words of Paul to the young man Timothy, when he said: "If anyone fails to provide for his relatives, and especially for those of his own family, he has disowned the faith [by failing to accompany it with fruits] and is worse than an unbeliever'. It has to start form home for it to be effective and impactful. 

If I truly belong to this family of God, the rules of engagement are laid out clearly in the verse above. I must not forget or neglect to be kind, and to be generous. There is nothingI have today that was not either once for someone else, or given to me by God. If I know it is not mine in the first place, it helps me to know the place, usage and limits of the things I have or been given. I am also asked to distribute and contribute to the needy around me, first and particularly to those of the church, which is the embodiment and proof of fellowship. The early church was such a perfect picture; and it still remains the model for all that God desires for all who know and follow Him. The verse ends with the encouragement that God is pleased with such sacrifices. Be sure that to obey God will cost something, but the gains and benefits that God gives make it worth the efforts. Do I belong, and am I ready for the call and demand of God on all that I am and have? God's time of favour is here. 

He Waits!

He Waits!

Revelation 3:20 KJV

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

It is always important to understand the context of any verse, in order to apply it the right way. The verse above is taken from the letter written by the One called the Truth, among many other names. He cannot lie, and He will not just tell you something to make you feel good temporarily, at the expense of your eternal redemption. He is also the One before whom all hearts and motives are laid bare, and who cannot be deceived by the platitudes and attitudes the world has mastered, with the intention to deceive. If He tells me my condition, it will be wise for me to pay attention and attend to His directives. The price for disobedience or rebellion involves eternal consequences. What makes the verse above even more poignant is the fact that it was addressed to a church. It was not a random gathering, but one where the King of kings once reigned supreme. 

We usually quote this verse to speak to those who want to give their lives to Jesus for the first time, amd it is quite relevant for that purpose, but truthfully, the verse was spoken to a church that once had Him, but due to many reasons, had lost Him, and now found Him locked out and waiting to be let back in. Reflect on this: the church had locked out its Lord, owner and Master, who was now on the other side of the door, knocking and waiting to be let in. The admonition as well as the word of caution for me here is this: 'Let nothing be more important to me that having the presence of God in place in my life at all times and in all situations'. It will not matter what else you have, if you don't have God in and with you. It will also not matter what you do not yet have, as long as you have God in and with you. The destination defines who to go with: if heaven is the goal, I need to fully understand who needs to go with me.

The Truth stands at the door and knocks; it is not a door that He can force Himself through, even though He is the Master of the Universe. God does not force Himself on anyone, and He will not go against the exercise of my own freewill. He will wait, as long as this earthly life is in place, for anyone who hears Him to open the door. That is the power of personal choice, which no man can exercise on my behalf. I will not be able to blame anyone else for the consequences of my choice, whatever it is. If I open the door, He will come in, sit and sup with Him, changing the contents, focus, priorities and destination of my life. You sit down to eat and commune with someone you trust. He wants me to trust Him with all my life. Remember: He waits for you. He will continue to wait until either Jesus returns in rapture or physical death brings you before the judgment seat of God. Choose right now, as eternity beckons. God's time of favour is here.

The One!

The One!

John 1:1 KJV

[1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

There are many questions in the hearts of men that the verse above answers. A few of these questions are: 'Who is God?' 'Where does God come from?'' 'How did all of creation come to exist?'. The usual challenge with what we read or see from the Word of God is if our hearts can process and accept it. The truth of God's Word has been in place for centuries, and no varying degree of education, enlightenment, earnings or elocution can change it. You can accept it, and you are also allowed to reject it, but it does not in any way change who God is. It is also a fact that one day soon, either by free will or compulsion, we all must deal with this God. You can choose to submit to Him now of your freewill or you can wait to be do it whether you like it or not. Well, at that time, you will not even have a choice, when you stand before the throne of judgement. Who is this God, and why is His truth important? 

The verse above goes back to the origin of everything. Whatever you see today was made by someone or something. Reflect on this: can something also created be able to explain another created thing? Would you not want to know the mind of the Creator? Can I use that which is itself created and limited to explain the identity, power and personality of the One who made all that I see today? This is the dilemma of science; it wants a rational explanation for that which precedes it. Even the atom, claimed to be the fundamental building block of matter, has to originate from a power that is not limited by the atom. The idea that all life on Earth, from the smallest bacteria to the largest whale, originated from a single, ancestral cell billions of years ago is interesting, because you also have to ask how and where that single cell originated from. Is it not even a testament to power that a single cell could lead to the billions of organisms in the world today? 

God's version of truth is that He existed long before the world came into being. He had the power to, and He did create what He wanted, how He wanted them and when He wanted them, and all that He has made answers to Him. Whatever time you think was the beginning of time, God was there. Long after time, as we know it now, will cease to exist, God will still be there. The Word of God is also seen as being with God at that beginning, and we know that the Word is the instrument used by God to create the world. The Word is the person of Jesus, and He is also referred to as the second person of the Trinity, the Son of God or God the Son. You cannot claim to know and accept God the Father, and reject God the Son. The verse above has laid down the truth by God's standard. Identity, power and impact have been spelt out clearly, and the choice of response is left for me to make. Remember: a day comes when I must deal with this God. I submit to His power willingly; He is my God, and the One to whom my full allegiance is given. What of you? God's time of favour is here.

Keep Clean!

Keep Clean!

Jude 1:22-23 NIV

[22] Be merciful to those who doubt; [23] save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

Not much is known of Jude, the writer of the words in the verses above, apart from the fact that he introduces himself as a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James. The letter, just 25 verses, is addressed to those who have been called by God, who live in the love of God the Father and the protection of Jesus Christ. This introduction is critical to the entire chapter, and like all the words in the Bible, I have to know where it affects me, what it demands from me, and how and when I need to do what is required, so that I can become all that God desires for me. Jude speaks from a place of personal conviction, as he must have been close to the events around Jesus Christ. It is not enough to be in or around church; Christ, the head of the church, has to be formed in me. It is of no use if I can quote all scripture, but His Life is not evident in and on me. 

For all who have been called by God, and who live in the love of God the Father, as well as the protection of Jesus Christ, the demand is different. That ownership and allegiance call for a different focus and lifestyle. The call of God upon a man's life leaves him no choice; you are either all in or all out. There is no room for lukewarmness or half-hearted devotion to the things of God. I cannot seek to please God and be at peace with the world at the same time. These are parallel lines that can never meet, no matter how long you draw them for, or how hard you try to fit them into the same vessel. Check out the demand of the verses above, and relate these to the devotion for yesterday. Mercy comes from a place of understanding and appreciation of what you have received. It makes it easy for me to extend the same grace I have received to other people. However, the warning too is clear: in dealing with people, be careful of your own state too. 

There will be people on the journey of faith who may not yet understand why you do the things you do. There are some who are in trouble and are seeking help. There are others who do not yet know the Lord at all, and are looking for the right examples to follow. For all of them, the key words are mercy and fear. This looks contradictory, but for everyone who comes your way, know what God is saying, and hand over control to the One who knows the hearts of men. Do not rely on your human schemes; let the fear of God keep you focused on the right thing at all times. The warnings above include hating even the clothing that has been stained by corrupted flesh. This would mean among other things, that I must flee from all appearances of evil. There is no room for the management of sin. If it was not accepted by God under Adam, it will not become accepted now. My walk with God must be perfect, so that I can make it to heaven at the end of my race. There is nothing this world can give that will adequately make up for the loss of eternity with God. Keep clean; your eternity depends on it. God's time of favour is here. 

One Thing!

One Thing!

Psalm 27:4 KJV

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

This is a psalm by David, the man God called a man after His own heart. There are a lot of lessons to be learnt from the life of David, but we focus on the few that the verse above lays out, and the first is: Being called a friend of God does not keep you from trials and tough times. Check out the first verse of the chapter from where the verse above is taken, which says: 'The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?'. Being in God does not keep you away from also being in difficult situations, but the big difference is that, like David, your start point is the presence of God. With Him, you can face whatever comes. With Him in you, there is nothing else so big that it can hold your gaze or capture your heart. Can this be said of me or you? 

For the man who would see God move, like David, there cannot he multiple things that can hold and keep your attention, outside of God. The verse above lays emphasis on one thing, and that one thing was the focus of the man David: it had to do with the presence of God. I believe men like David, Enoch, Moses and Elijah understood the power and impact of the presence of God, and they would not  settle for anything less than His presence. Moses was promised an angel of God, but He preferred that God would go with the people of Israel. When you consider the man Samson, you see the dsnger when God leaves a man. Would you think you would survive a single day if God leaves you to your own devices? Does anyone really wants to take a risk to experience the devastation that the devil can bring when God leaves a man or a situation? 

Like David, I must seek that one thing, which is the manifest presence of God. It is in His presence that there is fullness of joy, and pleasures forevermore. It is His presence that brings the light of revelation and clarity of understanding. I must seek it with the whole of my heart, as there is a standing assurance by God that I will get Him if I seek Him with the whole of my heart. Do not settle for the schemes of hypocrisy and eye-service. I deal with a God of absolute knowledge who cannot be deceived by platitudes. He will be found by all who seek Him in truth. Do not be content with mere busyness; seek to know and mind God's business. That is the key to God's heart. Now you know; how do you respond? God's time of favour is here. 

What God Expects from Me!

What God expects from me!

Luke 6:36 AMPC

[36]  So be merciful (sympathetic, tender, responsive, and compassionate) even as your Father is [all these].

The audience determines the reception. The supply, in response to the demand, will always be defined by a personal knowledge and a clear understanding of who is making the demand. The verse above is the exact replica of the Sermon on the Mount, which was quite extensively discussed in Matthew's version. It is clear that Jesus was speaking to His disciples and not to the crowd. A time comes when the message is for the crowd, but a time also comes when the message is for those who have decided to follow Jesus with the whole of their hearts. There is nowhere in the Bible that God has said following Him will be very easy or without any resistance, but He assures us of His presence and power alll through the journey. That is what makes the tough times worthwhile. That is what keeps a man motivated to hold on and press on. Where are you: in the crowd, or one of the many disciples? 

The call to the disciple has been the same since Jesus pronounced the words above. The standard has not been lowered at any time, and the demand on those who pay total allegiance to the Lamb has not been lowered at any time. As it was in the days of Adam, so was it in the days of Luke, and so it remains to this day. Education, enlightenment, earnings and elocution have not in any way impacted the standard of God for all who seek to come to Him. As we know, human relationships are complex, and it is difficult to navigate any without conflicts. Even the best of friends have disagreements, but how these are managed become testaments to their emotional and spiritual maturity. For all who have come to the saving knowledge of Jesus, you are not permitted to live, talk, relate or behave like those who are still under the influence and control of the world. 

There is a way the world handles these things, but it is not the way a child of God should. Mercy is an attribute that is spiritual, and can only be rightly produced by people who have submitted to the Spirit of God. Mercy is defined as 'compassion or forgiveness shown towards someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm'. Why does that sound a bit familiar? Is it not because all of us are beneficiaries of the mercy of God? Is there anyone alive who can say s/he has not received grace one way or the other at some point in life? God has shown the way mercy is to be done, and then, He supplies the grace and strength we need to show it to others too. God will not demand from me that which He has not first supplied sufficient grace for. As children of our Heavenly Father, we show Him off when we look, walk, talk and relate like Him. The world may not always listen, but it can recognise the difference when a child of God lives the right way. Am I one? Am I a good reflection of what I have already received? God's time of favour is here. 

What Can I do?

What Can I do?

Esther 4:14 NIV

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

The story of Esther, or Hadassar, as she was known by her Jewish name, is an interesting one. Here was a girl who was an orphan, and  brought up by her uncle in Jewish ways and customs, but whose identity had to stay a secret, because they were in exile. Here were God's own chosen people now in exile, simply because of sin and rebellion against God's express commands. There is a price to pay for sin. God has no favourites when it comes to sin, and He will punish sin, no matter in whom it is found. Even His Son Jesus got a bit of God's view of sin when His Father turned away from Him as he hung on the cross, paying the full price for our sin. As it was then, so is it still now. God has not lowered the standard for anyone, and He continues to demand faithfulness from all who will follow Him. Am I still living in sin? Know that God hates sin, and take steps to reconcile with God. Your eternity will be glad you did. We find this exiled girl rising to become the queen in a foreign land. Just like Joseph, she was someone who knew and held on to God, through all the experiences she had. 

Like Joseph, she did not abandon God when things got difficult. Like Joseph, she remained true to the principles of faith, and was greatly rewarded for it. It was not always comfortable and convenient; the verse above lays out one of the fundamental events that shaped the course of Jewish history at the time. The Jews found themselves at the risk of utter annihilation. Human was not just interested in killing Mordecai, the uncle of Esther, but wiping out the whole race. A decree of the king ordeing the destruction of the Jews, and whose word could not be changed, had gone out. The last line of defence was this young queen, whose identity was not known at the time, but would impact the world at her time. Who says you are insignificant? In the hands of the Most High God, you are a change agent. However, some things must be in place and be priority, if I am to fulfil the purpose of God for such a time as this. This is the message of the verse above. God does not make mistakes. 

There are no accidents with Him. He plants men in places of authority, and sometimes He starts them off at the very bottom, because He wants to prepare them for the times when the lessons of their lives will be relevant to the times they are in. Mordecai started from the King's gate, until he ended up as one of the king's trusted advisers. Wherever you are now, as a faithful child of God, is where God wants to be seen. Do not jump ahead of Him, but trust Him to announce you at His own time. There is also a time to keep quiet and a time to speak. Esther was taught this lesson, and it saved Jewish generations from being wiped out. Do not be quiet when God wants you to speak, and there is no value in just speaking, unless God has given you a word for the season. Position is purpose. Do your best wherever you are, and see God move in your behalf to change lives and circumstances. Whether it is in the Pit, in Prison, in Pain or in the Palace, let the Presence of God be real in you. He is all you need for life and Godliness. Do you have Him? Before you dare face up to the world, make sure you are submitted to God. God's time of favour is here.

What Have I Got?

What Have I got?

2 Timothy 1:7 AMPC

[7] For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.

The words of the verse above were said by Paul to his son in the faith, a young man called Timothy. It is easy to lay claim to the promises and benefits laid out in the verse above, but, as always, you do not ignore the conditions whilst laying emphasis on the benefits. Both are connected; one feeds the other, and one thrives when the other is also present. Reflect on the verse just before the one above, which says: "I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands". Paul was the man who had met this young man Timothy, mentored him, and helped him with access to the Jews. The gift of God had been stirred up in the young man, and maybe, like many of us will do, he was afraid of how to move forward. Thank God for the man Paul, who helped him through some dark moments, and helped him stand. What is being said of me right now? 

What will be said of me when I am not physically present to speak for myself? How many human Iives are grateful to have me in theirs? For all who are created by God, there is a God-shaped vacuum in every life, and only God can fill it to your satisfaction. Men have tried to fill the vacuum with other people or things, ranging from fast cars, mansions, wealth and loose lifestyles, yet they can never be truly satisfied, because God is the only One who can truly satisfy. Men can try to convince themselves that God does not exist, but the clear evidence of His power, presence, purpose and provisions surround us everywhere we turn. He has to take His rightful place in my heart, if my life is to turn out the way He has planned it to. He does not force Himself on anyone, and He will not go against the exercise of my freewill. It has to be a decision from my heart; choosing to submit to and serve God with all my heart. That is the evidence of the love I have for God: I choose Him of my own freewill. 

One of the reason why this freewill is critical is for the days of trouble that will come. There is nowhere in the bible that God promises a life free of trials and tough times. He will not promise courage if there was no reason for fear. All the things promised in the verse above reflect value in the face of difficulties. Think of power, and imagine its impact at a time of weakness. When you have no strength of your own, that is when you appreciate the backing of the Man of War. When there is hatred and oppression all around you, this is the love of God makes sense, and helps you to see people the way God sees them, and not the way they have treated you. In the face of provocation too, you are able to keep calm and maintain discipline and self-control, not because you don't have words, but because the Word of God is your guide and guard. God can give the right word, or He can simply be the One to speak in your defence. With God, you have no reason to fear. Without God, everything and anything will make you fear. The choice is mine to make. God's time of favour is here. 

Gain!

Gain!

Philippians 1:20-21 KJV

[20] according to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. [21] For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

There comes a time in every life that the scale of priorities must be clearly defined. Just as in life, we define what is important to us, and we expend energy and resources toward the fulfilment or achievement of those things, so does this apply to the spiritual. Paul, writing to the church in Philippi, had reason to lay this out clearly, using his own life as the template for what would be acceptable to God. It must first be clearly noted who sits at the control center of my life. This would define the things that are important to me, and will determine the allocation of scarce resources. There are no sufficient resources to play opposite sides at the same time. There is no room for lukewarmness, as the Bible has made so clear that God hates. I have to pick a aide and then apply myself fully to the requirements and demands of the side I have chosen. Who sits at the control center of your life? Who defines the things you pursue? 

For  Paul, it was God now. It was not always God, because he had a colourful past. He met Christ on one of his many trips to perpetuate evil, and his life was turned around. Consider the journey of a man's life that could make him say that he was sure of his eternal safety, so he was not ashamed of his current choices and priorities. There was someone and something holding his heart so close that nothing else could take His place. He could face challenges and troubles with boldness, as well as enjoy the abundant grace of God, simply because of God, who was the centrepiece of his life. We do not yet know the full extent of the blessings that await us in heaven, but we have a hope that fills our hearts with joy, and we can look beyond our present trials, and embrace the hope that is birthed in us by the presence of the Holy Spirit. When He is in, you have all you need. If He is not in, it does not matter what else you have.

Like Paul then, so must we also embrace the reality of earthly impact and eternal life. Both are important. God saved me from sin, and then left me on earth so that I can be the physical representation of His eternal nature and power. Which other person can present God's nature in reality that one who has personally experienced Him? This is why Paul could look ahead to trials and tough times, because he knew what lay ahead. It did not matter what the present looked like; the weight of glory that was ahead made the journey and experience worth it. For me, it has to be the same: no matter what I am going through right now, it is just a precursor to the amazing things that God has promised for all who fear and honour Him. To live is Christ; my life must show off the One who loved me enough to die for me. Death just becomes a passage into the glory that was promised. In life or death, Jesus owns and holds me. What of you? God's time of favour is here. 

Secure 2!

Secure 2!

Psalm 91:2-3 KJV

[2] I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: My God; in him will I trust. [3] Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, And from the noisome pestilence.

As we saw in yesterday's devotion, your location will define your allocation. Where you are fixed will determine what you can get. Like all benefits systems work, you do not make a claim on specific benefits unless you are a citizen of the country offering the benefits. You cannot claim the rights of citizens unless you are one. That was the message of the verse just before the ones above, and is the foundation of the confidence and assurance that are laid bare in the verses above. When your internal state is secured, the external will align. When the internal is sorted, the external is also sorted. A man does not claim that God is His refuge and fortress until he has learned how to submit to God. Personal knowledge and experience are critical to the ability to claim God as refuge and fortress. How can a man who has never been saved from danger or trouble understand the value of a refuge or fortress? 

Before you can say, you have to first dwell. Before you can claim, you have to first be a citizen. Talk is cheap; anyone can make a claim on anything. What gives you what you claim is your ownership rights to that thing. There is no greater ownership right than that which salvation brings. Being saved means being owned and supported by God, the refuge and fortress. Now, God is a gracious God, and because we all are made in His image and likeness, He cares for all of us, but there is a special interest in those who have come to surrender their lives to His total control. I also note that personal terms used by the writer to refer to God: MY. That is an assurance of who you are, whose you are, and what you are entitled to, as well as absolute confidence in how your story ends. Just like the Lord's prayer which starts with 'Our Father', there is a personal touch that is critical to getting all that God is and has. 

I also note that the value of who God is will be appreciated whether there is trouble or not. In fact, at no time does God promise that we will have a life free of noise and trouble from God. In fact, He charges us to expect these things to happen to us, as a result of our stand with and in God. He did not keep Daniel from the den of lions; He did not keep Stephen from being stoned to death; He did not keep the three Hebrew boys from the fiery furnace; He did not keep Peter from being arrested, but in all these experiences, He was with these men every step of the way. God's presence does not mean that the story will end the way I want it to, but it will happen the way God wants it to, and it will bring glory and praise to His name. What else is the purpose of my life than to see God glorified? Let the winds roar and the storms rise; as long as God is with me, I will end well. That is enough for me; is that enough for you? Would you trust Him totally with your life, and see Him work wonders in and through you? God's time of favour is here. 

Secure!

Secure!

Psalm 91:1 AMPC

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

As always, there is a choice to be made on where to live. There are only two choices: one with God and the other with the devil. There is no fence to straddle between the two options and claiming not to make a decision is itself a decision. The world we live in today is quite complex and no one can successfully navigate it without some help. The challenge, as always, is when we seek help from the wrong source. Once the source is wrong, the output will always be wrong, no matter how hard you try to package it or explain it away. If the output must be right, I must take extra care to ensure that the focus, environment and the pursuit are all right. It is in my careful preparation that I must consider who God is, what He offers, and what I stand to get as the eternal benefits of it all. If I do this right, it will not matter who the devil is, and what threats he is able to muster. That which God is and has must be my sole focus. 

That is the start point of the verse above. God has a secret place He dwells, and it is by careful and deliberate search that a man finds it. You do not stumble upon it by accident, but by careful consideration. It does not jump on you by manipulation, but by making deliberate choices to seek God out. For he who chooses to dwell in that secret place, he has access to deep mysteries that are not naturally available to other people. You do not cast your precious pearls before swine. You do not make public your most private possessions. If that is the way of the world, imagine how this impacts the way God deals with His own. This is why God deals more with His children in secret, away from the public eye. Check out the men and women God used in the Bible; not much is known of them before they were announced to the world, but once the world knew and heard them, it could not ignore them. Same God, same application; different generations:

God is still seeking to show Himself strong in the lives of men and women who are fully committed to Him. In a world that is now increasingly becoming broken, unpredictable and terrible, God reaches out to all of us. He wants us to surrender to Him and follow Him. He knows that the world is not safe, no matter how hard the world tries to sell its ideals of safety through physical measures and force. You cannot give what you do not have; the world that is not safe cannot be trusted to also guarantee safety for anyone. The one who God keeps safe is the one who is truly stable and fixed. The one who God keeps is the one who is under the shadow of the Almighty God. It means you are never outside His cover and protection. There is nothing in this world that can snatch you away from the hand of the Almighty God. There is no foe who can withstand the power of God. Who else can guarantee you these? God waits for my decision. What would it be? God's time of favour is here. 

Merciful!

Merciful!

Be merciful (responsive, compassionate, tender) just as your [heavenly] Father is merciful. Luke 6:36 AMP

The chapter from where the verse above is taken starts with different accounts of healing that were performed by Jesus on the Sabbath day. As we know, the Jews were very religious with their feasts and holy days, and would not allow any work to be done, even if it was to change the story of someone whose hand was withered, or so many other people who sought to be healed of their diseases or were vexed with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. Jesus at this time was more interested in the eternal redemption of people, and not what the Jewish authorities of His day were interested in. He wanted to touch lives and make them better, not just fill their bellies with food, drink and other earthly benefits, with nothing of eternal value added. Like all who claim to follow this same Jesus, can I say I have the same heart? Am I focused on the lost, or just caught up in my selfish interests?

It must be pointed out here that Jesus spoke  and ministered to the crowd, but then He took the disciples aside and then spoke to them in private. There is indeed a message for the crowd, and a message for disciples. The expectations from the crowd will always be different from those of disciples. The inner conviction for disciples is not the same for the crowd. There are things the crowd will do and may seemingly get away with because it does not know any better, but the disciple is not permitted to do the same. When you hear comments like: "And you call yourself a Christian' , this shows the depth and scope of expectations for those who claim to be disciples of Jesus. The reason why the message of mercy in the verse above is quite instructive and relevant to our present times is the nature of its online definition, which says: 'compassion or forgiveness shown towards someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm'. 

Think of this: there would have been offence, and the right response would have been harm or punishment, but the one who is offended is the one who chooses to forgive or show compassion. I relate this to myself, and I know that I am a product of mercy. Due to sin, the right response by God should be punishment in line with His Word, but He chose to show me mercy. He did not even wait for me to ask for it; I may not even have known at a time that I needed it, but when the time was right, He brought me into His fold and I can say that His mercy has saved me. The one reaction that is non-negotiable is that I must also extend the same mercy I have received to other people. You cannot give what you do not have, but be sure that God will demand an account of that which He has supplied in abundant measure to you. If God is my Father, my sonship show off His nature. Do my current pursuits and priorities show that God is my Father? God's time of favour is here. 

Impact!

Impact!

Matthew 5:14 AMPC

[14] You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

The verse above is taken from Matthew's first recorded sermon of Jesus on the mount, after he had been baptized by John the Baptizer,  been tempted by the devil in the wilderness, had heaven testify to His Sonship and the love of His Father for Him, and then chosen His disciples. In the chapter before the one where our verse for reflection is taken, we read of the life and impact of the man Jesus. It was said of Him that He went about all of Galilee, teaching in the synagogue and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and He was healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. It is also recorded that His fame went throughout the entire Syria at the time, and people from all over the place brought to him all who were sick with all sorts of diseases, as well as those who were possessed with devils, and it is recorded that He healed them. Can you doubt the popularity and impact of such a person? 

Sometimes, the value of a thing is best seen in its absence.That is the situation with light and its impact on all of life. It is difficult to define light, yet you cannot doubt its presence or absence. One definition available online says 'light is the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible'. What is that natural agent? How was it made? As we know now from the bible, the first mention of light was at creation, when the Lord commanded there to be light, and it was so. It was not made from anything that the world has made, though there are devices and products that may provide light and brightness. Those are man-made products that can fail, because they are also dependent on other factors being present and working the right way for them to produce according to their set up. The light that the verse above speaks to is the type that cannot fail, because its origin and sustenance is not the kind that the world can limit or define. 

The One who is Light, and who commanded light to be then says that those who are IN Him are also like Him. He is the Light of the world and all who have surrendered their lives to Jesus walk in that path. We have become His ambassadors and representatives down here on earth, and it is fitting that those who look at us know who we are and who/what we represent. As we know, an ambassador owns the mandate based on the country s/he represents; you do not do your own thing your own way. You have to speak, act and relate in line with the mandate of the One who has authorised you to. As it is God who has called and set us apart, men must know we answer to a different authority. We are in the world, but the world has no hold over us. That is why we are set on a hill; we cannot hide or be hidden. He leaves me here on earth, so that the world can know the value of His presence and power. I must represent Him well. God's time of favour is here. 

Justified!

Justified!

Romans 3:23-24 KJV

[23] for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; [24] being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

There's a problem statement defined, as well as the right prescription for the problem that has been identified, in the verses above. We find the status of all men, born of women, laid out above, and when God, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life speaks, you really have to listen to what He says. He is the Creator of the Universe, the Author of all Life and the One who shapes purpose and destinies. I may be able to get away with fooling men like myself but I should never imagine that I will be able to fool the One who defines and impacts life. If He says ALL have sinned, it really means all have sinned. That is the problem itself defined. This is the identity of all men, no matter how rich, influential or connected they are now. It does not matter how hard I try to convince myself that I am not that bad; the conclusion of God as laid out in the verses above is that I am in trouble as a result of my origin. The joy is that Jesus does not just define the problem; He also lays out the solution.

Man could not save himself from the problem and predicament of sin. The world that was the promoter of sin would not also prescribe a way out of the same problem it was already responsible for. Man needed help from someone else; One who was not tainted by the same problem that man was subject to. Man was made in the image and likeness of God, yet because of sin, he was now subject to death and destruction, which was not in the original plan of God for man. This is where Jesus comes in: He needed to restore man to his original position. Man needed restoration to the original purpose and plan of God for him. Let it be clear that no amount of education, enlightenment or earnings can change the conclusions in the verses above, unless God steps in and helps. There is no other prescription that will address the problem of sin except Jesus and His gift. We all have failed God, and only by Jesus can there be a full restoration to who God made us to be. 

The gift is free, even though it cost Jesus a lot. We look at the gift that Jesus gave: his life. He laid it down freely, though it cost Him temporary discomfort as His Father turned away from Him for the first and last time, as He hung on the cross, paying the full sacrifice for our sin. We say it is free, but not from the perspective of the One who gave it. Now, reflect on this: if God could pay such a high price for the salvation of man, what do you think is the price to pay if we reject this gift to the end of our earthly lives? If the sacrifice on the cross is the only guarantee given for the salvation of man, what other way is there for man to get that which Jesus promises, unless you go through Him? He is the ONLY WAY, not one of the ways. Justification is now offered to all of us, which is God's prescription for the problem of sin. He has played His part; the response is now up to me. What is your decision? God's time of favour is here. 

Dressed Right!

Dressed Right!

Colossians 3:12 KJV

[12] Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

There is a message in how I appear. We usually have a saying that you are addressed the way you are dressed. As it may apply in the physical, it has even deeper implications in the spiritual. Of course, the audience will also define and determine the expectations. The chapter from where the verse above is taken lays out the audience: people who have been raised with Christ into a new life, and who share His resurrection from the dead. This requirement is critical to the rest of the conversation, as no one can seek higher callings unless and until s/he has been raised up with Christ. You cannot aspire to heights only possible in God whilst you are living in the bubble of sin. It is the people who have been so raised who are empowered and enabled to aim at and seek the rich, eternal treasures that are where Christ is. Again, it shows that what I get is intricately tied to who I am connected to. 

Where I am will define what I get. These are fundamental truths that I cannot take for granted. I cannot afford to live carelessly or without thought to who I am or where I am headed. If I have settled the question of my identity in Christ, then I am required to look the part. I should not cause confusion by my inconsistent and unpredictable lifestyle choices. I cannot say one thing and do the very opposite. I am not allowed to make a claim to be something and then my life's pursuits and priorities show me as completely different. That is the lukewarmness and the hypocrisy that God says He hates and can lead to rejection. God says He has no use for anyone who is comfortable being lukewarm and He would spew such a person out of His mouth. Do I really looks the part? Can men say that I look, speak, relate and engage as someone who is clear about his person and identity? 

A few of the attributes that my life must show are also listed in the verse above: bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering. This picture above is one that shows a life that is producing in line with its identity. Bowels of anything show a never-failing supply. It means that whatever my life produces is not a one-off or an error; my life is producing fruit, in large quantities, and reflecting my ownership and allegiance. By God's grace, I note also that these attributes are first and foremost internal, before they are appreciated externally. Bowels reflect the internal receptacle from where value flows out of. If you are full of the Holy Spirit, it follows that your life will produce in line with your content. Of course, the opposite is equally true; if you are full of the world, it follows that your life too will look like your contents. I am encouraged by the verse above to focus on my control centre; my dressing will definitely reflect my ownership. God's time of favour is here. 

Follow Good!

Follow Good!

3 John 1:11 KJV

[11] Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

We all need guidance. The world itself also offers models, depending on what you are looking for. God also offers us the right model in line with His nature and will. What this tells me is that we always have a choice to make at all times. God never leaves us in doubt as to what His will is; the problem is always that our human nature will not choose the right way by itself. It does not have the capacity or the ability to make the right decision, because of its exposure to sin. What this verse also makes clear is that I am a slave or servant to whatever I submit my life to. Let no one be deceived into thinking you are a free agent. It is not as if you are in physical bondage, but all of us are bound to a particular nature, either to the Godly, or to the sinful nature. We are the disciples of whatever nature we have now submitted our lives to. The most important question here, then, will be: 'what nature are you subject to? 

Who am I following? The writer of this letter must have had a personal encounter with Jesus, as we see from the first letter, where he made reference to "that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life". This is personal; this is something you cannot fake. This is not one of those things that you can pretend to have. If you don't have it, you don't. If you don't know Him, you don't. John came from a place of knowing; he could also pass on the knowledge to other people. When the squeeze comes, and be sure that it will, what would people see or get from you? When the world places a demand on you, what will your life produce? If you have not yet met God at the time, you will only produce in line with the human nature, and you can be sure that this will never look like what God's nature can produce. 

You cannot follow after a nature that is alien to you. Asking someone to follow that which is good, without first addressing the source that will generate that good, is a waste of time. You cannot compel good out of the life of a person unless and until you have taught and shown the person what good looks like. The person who does good is the one who knows and follows God. I audit my life with the help of God, and ask Him to help me walk with Him on a daily basis. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not even seen God. You look like your source; you reflect your inspiration and focus. And as can be seen, there are only two options; there is no middle ground, no fence to sit on. There is no room for being lukewarm; you are either all in or all out. As a disciple, the call is different from the crowd. Help is available for those who follow after God, while those who want to do their own thing will also pay the price? Which one are you? God's time of favour is here. 

Live Right 2!

Live Right 2!

Philippians 4:9 AMPC

[9] Practice what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and model your way of living on it, and the God of peace (of untroubled, undisturbed well-being) will be with you.

There is a lot of power in personal example. It is easy to talk and direct people to do certain things, but nothing can be compared with the power that comes from a life whose pursuits and priorities reflect discipline and simplicity, as well as alignment with God's Word. This is the point Paul was trying to make in the verse above, and we will do well to consider his journey, and apply what we observe to our own lives today. Here was a man whose past was as zealous as they come. He believed in the superiority of his race and would not let anyone or anything else take precedence over it. Following the mighty move of the Holy Spirit in the early church, many came to the saving knowledge of Jesus and they took the fruit of thsir faith everywhere they went. We saw Saul for the first time being a willing party to the stoning of Stephen. We also saw him taking permission from the authorities to arrest anyone who belonged to the Way of Christ. If that is not dedication to a cause, I do not know what else it is. 

Saul would believe in a cause and he would go all out for it. That was the personal example that he was now laying down as a lesson for his audience in Philippi, as well as those of us who are now following after God. It cannot be business as usual; we have been called to Holy living and righteousness; we have been called to represent God in the world we have been placed. We have been called to be God's eyes, ears, hands, feet and heart. When men come in contact with us, the aroma of His presence must be evident upon our lives. Reflect on this: how else will people be drawn to the saving grace of Jesus if there are no personal examples of the change He can bring into a life? How do I make the life of God attractive if His light does not shine out of me? God is still in the business of doing mighty things in the lives of those who are fully committed to Him, just as He did in the lives of the men and women we read about in the Bible. 

God has not changed. He remains the same yesterday, today and forever. His children too must make Him very proud by living lives of consistency. There has to be a match between my talk and my walk. There has to be harmony between my outer profession and my inner conviction. Think of the confidence that made Paul say this: 'Practice what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and model your way of living on it'. He was not one given to eye-service or hypocrisy. He was sure that His life was patterned after God's will. Whether it was his practice, or his words, or even what he did when he thought no one was looking at him, all became messages that would impact the lives of people around him. Can I dare say the same to those who surround me? That kind of consistency is what promotes God's kind of peace. You are not troubled by the drama all around you. That is peace that I must crave and live for. Wouldn't you? God's time of favour is here. 

Live Right!

Live Right!

Galatians 5:25 AMPC

[25] If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.]

There is a life that aligns with the natural order of things. There is also a life that aligns with the spiritual order of things as laid out by God. By the process of natural birth, the life according to the natural order of things comes into effect. This is the human nature we refer to as the one born into sin and has been destined for destruction. There is really  nothing you can do about the eternal end of the natural order of things. The human nature cannot be born again. The Bible makes it clear that the human nature has to die, so that the spiritual nature can then thrive. Both the human nature and the spiritual nature cannot co-exist side by side. One nature has to give way to the other; one has to increase while the other decreases. One has to be effectively and permanently dealt with, if the other one is to thrive. This is where the personal question comes up for each one of us: which nature am I nurturing and allowing to grow? 

The reason why this understanding must be clear is the repercussions of getting it wrong. As was laid down in the verse above, the desire of God is that I live according to the spiritual nature, the one that He births and is able to sustain. God will not demand from me that which He has not first supplied sufficient grace for. As long as He commands it, be sure that an account will be demanded for its use or abuse. The choice of nature that we feed and nurture will also define how and where we walk. That which controls the inner man is able to determine the outer impact and influence. Living by the Holy Spirit will not just happen by accident, but by intentional design. It does not leave room for eye-service or the hypocrisy that is common to the people of the world. It does not accommodate lukewarm commitment; you are either all in or all out. There is no fence for this one, because even indecision on who to follow is itself a decision and it will get the consequences that are linked. 

We get to the place of living by the Holy Spirit through a total surrender of our lives to Jesus, and then daily trusting His supply for all that He demands. Life is not a one-off; it is a daily expression of that which you have been given. I was not saved to then sit down and wait for rapture or death; I was saved to also be a blessing to my generation. It is by my daily life that i show off God's grace upon my life in all its fullness. I am saved to be the example that others can learn from. There is no real life outside of God. You cannot define life outside of the One called the Way, the Truth and the Life. Let the walk match the talk and let the inner content be revealed by the outward manifestation. The control center is the place where God has to sit and direct the affairs of men. Can I go forward, confident that God goes with me? The life of God is possible with the help and presence of God. Don't dare live life without Him. God's time of favour is here. 

The Same!

The Same!

Hebrews 13:8 AMPC

[8] Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages).

As you read the verse above, you just have to pay attention to the context in which the verse is placed. You read of the examples of the men and women of faith in the past, who walked with and worked for God, and had a lot of encounters with God that changed not just their lives, but the lives of the people that surrounded them. It is this same book of the Bible that lists the heroes of faith, men and women who saw God at work in their lives and in their situations, and whose life choices and pursuits have become lessons and great examples for us to emulate. You read of these leaders and authorities, and I am charged to imitiate their faith and how they have leanedt their entire personality on God, in absolute trust and confidence in His power and wisdom. Reflect on this: as I consider the lives of these people, what examples am I also laying down for those who are coming after me? 

It may be convenient to point the finger at other people, and also highlight their faults and shortcomings, but what am I doing with the call of God upon my own life? Are there lives that God can entrust into my hands, sure that I will strictly lay down the principles and practices of God's Word: unadulterated, pure, without compromise or deceit, and free from contamination? The one thing that has remained constant all through generations and dispensations of the world is the sheer consistency and predictability of the power and impact of the Word and person of God. What He called sin in the days of Adam and Eve is still what He calls sin in our present day too. He cannot be bribed or coerced to change His mind or lower His standards for anyone. I must choose either to align with His standards or to ignore His instructions. I have the power to choose, but it must be noted that whatever choice is made will always lead to consequences.

I deal with a God who calls Himself the First and the Last; the Beginning and the End. He is the Omniscient, Omnipotent and Omnipresent God, the One who does not change like shifting shadows. His Word is forever settled in heaven, and no amount of enlightenment, education or earnings will change that which He has said. That gives a man like me hope, sure that if He has said it, He definitely will do it. He is the One Abraham called on in faith, and till today, men and women are walking by faith and laying claim to Abraham's blessings. We also have men who chose not to walk in the path of righteousness despite several warnings, and paid the price for their rebellion and disobedience. Note that whatever I do with God is a seed that will definitely bear fruit. It is a fruit that I will have to eat forever. If I do not like the fruit I am seeing now, it is not too late to change and begin to sow the right kind of seed. He is the same through all generations. Would you trust Him with your life? God's time of favour is here.

Access!

Access!

Matthew 7:13-14 KJV

[13] Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: [14] because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

There is always a message for the crowd, and a message for disciples. The message in the verses above was taken from the Sermon on the Mount, which was the first recorded public Sermon of Jesus. He went with his own disciples to the top of the mountain and sat down to teach them. The crowd stood at the foot of the mountain listening to Him. Do not be fooled by the size of the crowd or the sound of the applause. You need the crowd to listen to the message about Christ and the gift of salvation He offers, but you need to keep your heart free from the distractions that the responses of men can generate. Not all who hear the message will immediately react and accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Not all who hear now will respond now. All I can do is to focus on my own walk of faith and be sure I am on the right path of the purpose of God for me, and that I stand to inherit the place He has prepared for me. 

For all who are disciples, I am certain you know that there is only one Way. No other way has been prescribed by God to provide access to the riches of His grace. God makes clear who this Way is, as well as the standards of behaviour that are expected from those who belong to the Way. Nowhere does God promise that the Way will always be smooth and free of trials and tough times, but the greatest blessing of being in this right Way is the assurance of its eternal destination. One definition of strait is 'close, strict, or rigorous'. Reflect on this: God calls us to walk in the path that is close, strict or rigorous. He knows that the world has a certain appeal, but He also knows the end of all that the world promises. There is nothing this world gives you that it will not eventually take away. You cannot rely on the ephemeral, temporal world to secure eternal life. That is not the kind of life that the world can secure for you. 

It is not a wonder that the verses above make clear that several people are on the wide and broad gate and way. This gate and way do not really demand anything special from those who are on it. They permit anything and can excuxe anything. They do not really address the heart and soul of those who are on thess paths. When your heart no longer pricks you about your life's choices and pursuits, please be sure that you are still on the right path. When that which used to shock you no longer has the same effect, please check again and be sure that you are on the right path. Many are comfortable on the path that leads to destruction, but few find and stay on the path that leads to life. In fact, the verses above say that there are few that find it. Finding means you need to search for it. It may come with a lot of discipline and sacrifice, but the eternal benefits are worth it. Please be sure that your current situation leads to eternal life with God. Nothing else matters. God's time of favour is here.