The Right Thing!

The Right Thing!

James 4:16-17 NIV

[16] As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. [17] If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

The context to this verse was careful counsel by James that we should not ascribe to ourselves any power or ability outside of God. Too many times, the advancement of science and technology has tried to lessen or deaden the impact of God on human existence. We can use the phone to make plans for the present and the future; we can time cookers to make a meal at the time we need it; we can take breakfast in Europe and dinner in Africa, by the use of planes. We can connect to other people across different time zones all over the world at the touch of a button. Indeed, the world seems to move on nicely, thinking it does not need an invisible God. No one seems to acknowledge the role of the divine in the daily mundane realities of human life. However, whether we like it or not, all of creation answers to the will and purpose of the One who created it. That is a fact that has been true since creation, and will remain true when this present earth and heaven have been replaced. 

The reason why the truths presented above are important is because of the expectation of God for all who want to impact the earth and also gain eternity. You can only do so by aligning with the mind and purpose of God for His creation. I cannot go on a frolic of my own, seeking to do things my own way and at my own time, with no regard for the will and direction of God, and somehow expect God to back up my own schemes. Reflect on the verses which say that 'you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes'. This understanding must be the foundation of all I do, and how and why I do whatever I do. God has not promised anyone eternity on this present earth. We have been given a set timeline to impact our world with the gifts and talents that we have been given, and then exit at the right time to take hold of the rewards for faithful service. 

Anything done outside of God's express will and command becomes a sin. Anything done to promote self, or the idea that I am more important than anyone else is a sin. Anything I do without seeking God's face reeks of a sense of independence, and for all who know, God will not contest supremacy with any part of His creation. In fact, there is no contest. In all of my planning and execution, the will of the Lord has to be the paramount focus. What can a do outside of God's help? As the same chapter from where the verses above are taken says: 'Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that'.  Now that you know the standard, it becomes a sin not to align with that standard. If you now know the truth, it is a sin to deliberately ignore it and do what you please. Of course, it means your heart has not been totally given to God. How's your heart? Does God own and hold it? God's time of favour is here.

Ever Preaent 2!

Ever Present 2!

Psalms 91:1 KJV:
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

There's something peculiar about this Nature v. Nurture argument. One dimension claims that some people are by nature the way they are and no amount of nurture, re-orientation or attitudinal shift will change that nature. Of course, there are people on the other end of the divide also who believe in careful and purposeful nurturing to change some nature-shortcomings. What then do you say about God? What is his nature? Can he be nurtured into something different or convenient or is he a God who is permitted to constantly change his mind at his own convenience?
Today's passage highlights some very fundamental truths about God. First of all, God is not God because of us; we are the ones who are what we are because of God. He remains the same through all ages, seasons and circumstances and his standards have stood the test of time and circumstances. 

That is why he can be trusted and depended on. That is why a man can put his trust in God and be at rest and at peace for the rest of his life because he has found the safest place. Note the conditions: the invitation to rest is open to HE who chooses to DWELL. Many of us go to God only for emergencies and immediate attention. We do not bother too much with what God wants until what we want becomes the central issue. We come like visitors and strangers, rush in with our requests and demands and then rush out to continue our usual hustle and bustle of life. We choose to live alone, fight alone and struggle alone, fogetting that the inexhaustible resources of heaven have been made available for us. We cannot afford to come to God like strangers or tenants, taking up space, no rights of possession or ownership or relationship. God craves these things and he will reward as many as diligently seek him.

For as many that choose to abide therefore, God's promise is his constantly- abiding presence. His place of abode is a secret place, open to only those willing and diligent enough to search for it. Not all will find it, but for as many as will seek diligently, the rewards will be worth the search. Seek God out today. He alone has the answers we seek and the solutions we desire. In Him alone are the riches and blessings God has promised and in Him alone are the blessings activated. Dwell in Him, don't just rent space or borrow resources. No demand on earth can dent the limitless resources of heaven; we are the ones who don't ask enough. He is there for us as we journey through life. God's time of favour is here. 

Ever-Present!

Ever-Present!

Psalms 46:1-3 NIV

[1] God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. [2] Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, [3] though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

This has become one of my favourite Bible passages of all time. In a world that recognises effort and labour, it is humbling to note that help to succeed is not from man or from labour, but from God himself. We were brought up with the impression that you were only entitled to things you fought for. Nothing good was free so you had to pay a high price for it. Some sacrificed their family and relationships for the world's success, while some sold their souls to darkness just for a few moments in the spotlight. Some went to extremes, taking a life to keep their own lives, being deceived into thinking that there was anything any man could do to elongate his life or improve it on his own. We had been brought up to know that 'Heaven only helps those who help themselves', a claim some people deceptively tell you is in the Bible. But from the little God has taught me, I have come to understand that even if anything is expected from me, it is my availability and total dependence on God and his power. 

If I come to God claiming human ability or strength, I am simply telling him that I can manage by myself. I am telling God that I can do a few things on my own too. But if I come to him in my fraility and humanness, totally dependent on his enabling grace and power, I am simply telling God that I acknowledge that I am weak and powerless on my own, and only His power can uphold and sustain me. That is true strength: an acknowledgement of your limitations and the readiness to trust the right source for strength. Note that there is no offence emphasized here: it is all about God first and his defence. It is only a man who has God as his defence and refuge that can face enemies without fear. Read with me again: God alone; not man, riches, possessions position, power or prestige, is our refuge and strength. He is an 'ever-present help'. Anytime, anyday, in any circumstance, he is the answer to all of life's questions, no matter how complex. He introduced himself to Moses as the I Am that I Am, and till now, ages after, God is still current and active, working to show himself strong in the lives of those who are fully trusting in Him.

It is only when God is your strength that you have nothing to fear. The fear of God in a man's heart leaves no room for any other kind of fear, but a heart that seeks after man's approval and has no fear of God has everything else to fear, even God. The Psalmist could declare that he had nothing to fear because he had made God his refuge. No matter the shaking and the tempest, a man who has God as his refuge will smile at the storm. As you move out today, check your surroundings. Is God the only refuge you have or is he another option? Does he hold all the cards in your life or are there other competitors demanding for your allegiance and devotion? Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us worship God with reverence and with awe, for our God is a consuming fire. Rejoice as you totally depend on Him. God's time of favour is here.

The Blame Game!

The Blame Game!

Genesis 3:12 NKJV:
Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to  be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”

This blame game has been on since the days of creation. God made man as a responsible, responsive creature but man traded his independence and creativity for moral bankruptcy and decadence. Since the fall in Eden, man has been avoiding responsibility and accountability, shifting the blame for all his woes to the next person, never willing to accept he is at fault or to seek help from the Creator himself. Indeed, sin changes everything. God would come down daily in the cool of the day to converse with Adam and Eve. He was a friend, confidant and companion, until the early man listened to the devil and sold out to him. From that time on, it has been a cycle of irresponsibility and rebellion. 

We constantly avoid the truth God tries to bring our way; we constantly seek out approval for our actions and words from the wrong authority; we are at war with ourselves and every one else around us; we interprete other peoples' intentions and actions with our fallen, depraved minds, and we wonder why we have no relationships, no true friendships, no true love. Our foundations have been built on the wrong premise: seeking personal happiness at the expense of every other person and avoiding any true, honest or accountable commitment to anything or anybody. We now have live-in lovers and partners instead of married couples, we have trial marriages instead of exemplary marriages; we have same-sex marriages contrary to God's express Word taking up media space and attention; while graduates roam the streets with no jobs and a lot of bitterness in their hearts, while the devil keeps smiling to hell with a harvest of precious souls of people who have pushed God away to their destruction. 

How do we get back to Eden in our walk with God? How do we restore fellowship as it was before? We must seek God out and hear his voice as he calls us today. He is standing at the door of our hearts and knocking and, like the gentleman that he is, he will not force His way in until you open the door to Him yourself. He is waiting to change you first, because once your heart is right with God, the situations around you willl also change to align with God's purpose. You owe it to God to regain your Eden. Stop blaming others for where you are right now and start working for and walking towards what God has in store for you. Do not push the responsibility for your destiny to others; they cannot help you the way only God can help you; they will only hinder you. Seek God out today and be free of the pressure to live up to other peoples' expectation. God's time of favour is here.

Praise Gets God!

Praise Gets God!

Psalm 50:14-15, 23 AMP:
Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High, And call on Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall honor and glorify Me.
He who brings an offering of praise and thanksgiving honors and glorifies Me; and he who orders his way aright [who prepares the way that I may show him], to him I will demonstrate the salvation of God.

There are a lot of things demanding for our attention today. The fear of God seems to have been replaced with a pursuit of power, possessions and position. We seem to have discovered new ways of doing evil and pursuing our own agenda. Nobody talks about the Agape kind of love anymore; the false variants of what we erroneously call love is what the world celebrates everywhere we turn. However, in the midst of all these, God is still seeking for people who understand His place in the affairs of men, and who worship Him, not because of what they get from him, but because of their understanding of who He is. From the verses quoted above, there is really no 'specific' reason given why we should praise God but a man with a full understanding of his place and purpose and the nature and power of God will understand the demand of these verses. There does not have to be a reason to praise God. God himself did not say it would be easy to do, and that is why it is called a sacrifice of praise. 

Have you ever seen any animal laughing to the slaughter-house to be killed? If it could talk or express itself, I am sure it would make a choice to live and not die. God is also asking us today to offer him a sacrifice of praise. It must cost us something or we would take God for granted. If we only praise God when all was well, we would be spoilt,  pampered, and unpredictable Christians who could not be trusted in times of stress. As I read the verses above again, I see a strong link between praising God and deliverance from trouble. Troubles seem to be an integral part of our growth and development as Christians, but God assures us that as we praise Him, he sets out to deliver us. It seems as if praise enables him to act on our behalf. It seems as if our praise gives him legal grounds to counter everything the devil brings our way. So why is praise so difficult for us? As I read the last verse also, I also sense a warning. Praise without principles will not get you anywhere. 

If I do not live right, my words, no matter how inspired they are, will never give me the breakthrough I seek. As I order my conversation aright; as I seek to live right, and as I deny myself and make sacrifices by opening my mouth to declare the praises of God no matter the circumstances, all these enable God to act on my behalf. I must end on this note: we cannot ignore God. What you tell yourself is not as important as the reality of God's presence. You can choose to live as if God does not exist but then, God is not God simply because we agree he is God; he remains God, no matter our opinions, impressions or feelings. He does not need me to feel good about himself; I am the one that needs him so I can find out my purpose in Him. This last verse: Psalm 50:22 AMP says:' Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver'. What more needs be said? God's time of favour is here.

Timing!

Timing!

Hosea 13:13 NIV
Pains as of a woman in childbirth come to him, but he is a child without wisdom; when the time arrives, he doesn’t have the sense to come out of the womb.

Indeed, there's a time for every activity under heaven. We set deadlines for tasks; we give timetables for assignments; we have seasons for measuring the passage of time and the calculation of time; we set times for planting and different times for harvest. These are all for human endeavours. How much more, then, should we be aware of the spiritual dimensions of time? God may not be limited by time the way we view it but he also works with time on his own terms. When you read such expressions like: 'And it came to pass, that.....' or ' When the fulness of time had come...' ,all these represent God's amazing sense of timing and underline the fact that God will always be there when it is best and not when we think or feel is the best time for us.

Today's passage however throws up a fundamental question: what then is expected of me? What do i need to do to align with God's purpose and timing? Do I do something or anything just to show commitment, or do I just fold my arms and wait for God to do all? This same passage answers it in part: there is a role for God to play and a part we must play. Pregnancy is the case in point here. I am not a woman but I know that if the time for delivery comes and the child has not assumed the birth position or is not ready to come out of the womb, it portends danger for both mother and child. God nourishes and nurtures the foetus for about 40 weeks and then expects that the nourishing continues outside the womb. But if the child refuses to come out, what then are the options? 

God will play his part but we must know when it is time for us to emerge. There is a time for God to hide us away, nourishing, feeding and building us up for the world he is preparing us to bless. As soon as this work is complete, we must emerge. If however, we refuse to emerge, who then is to blame? Or, as is the case with most of us, we feel we are ready and we emerge on our own terms. We then emerge as premature babies, not fullly developed for what God has in store and unable to fully maximise the potential of God in us. We have allowed the world's standards tell us how and when things are appropriate; we feel we are ready for some things but we forget that the Creator of our lives knows us far more than we know ourselves and he alone knows just how best and when best to announce us to the world. 

Today, we must go to God for new insights and direction. I am a firm believer in hearing from God before moving out but I also know that this is only ideal when a man has built a relationship with God to the point that when God speaks, he knows the voice and is ready and equiped to move. Most times, God is speaking but because of our prejudices, preconceived ideas and personal preferences, we ignore his call and miss our time of visitation. We must retrace our steps back to God. We must find that first, undistracted and undiluted love for God that we had at the beginning. We must rely on him totally, ready for his lessons and also ready for his commission. His preparations are important; they cannot be skipped. They prepare you for the challenges ahead. Appreciate the lessons while they are on, learn the lessons, apply the lessons at the right time and place and let the God of the lessons take all the glory in our lives. God's time of favour is here.

Words and Destiny!

Words and Destiny!

Proverbs 18:20-21 KJV

[20] A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; And with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. [21] Death and life are in the power of the tongue: And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

The tongue is a small, yet fundamental part of the human body. It is usually not noticed till we speak. Its size is minute but its effect is eternal. It has been said that words are powerful but I am not sure that we fully appreciate the import of that saying. We open our mouths and pronounce blessings, sometimes insincerely, and also utter curses flippantly. We often tell people what they want to hear so we can be left alone, or we lie shamefacedly, trying to avoid confrontations and embarassment. However, for a man who understands his place in God, and the power of words, there is a different standard. Let me explain: God, the source of all life and existence, began this earthly experience with words. 

God spoke and everything as we see it came to pass. He spoke and the heavens and the earth came to be and through all the ages, God's Word still sustains the entire creation. If we were created by this same God and endowed with the same power, then our words must be tempered and monitored. God created us in his own image and his breath in us carries the same creative force that created and still sustains the universe. If we are indeed made in his likeness, I can open my mouth like him and declare things that will be. If I am truly his child, I can speak into my future and create whatever I desire under his leading. Why then do we talk like we do not really understand the import of our words? 

Why do we need to be constantly reminded of the power of the tongue? Why are we always in a hurry to speak and slow to heart instead of the other way around? God is saying to us today: if I am your father, talk like me; if I am your Lord and master, say whatever I give you to say and do whatever I ask you to do. By your words, you are either justified or condemned. If you still doubt, compare the experiences and eventual destination of Joshua and Caleb on the one hand, and the people of Israel on the other. God is still searching for people who will faithfully censor their tongues and spread his life through their words. He is the One whose Word gives life and the One who sustains life.  You are either justified or condemned by the words that you speak. God's time of favour is here.

Eternity!

Eternity!

2 Timothy 4:7-8 NIV:

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

If there has ever been any doubt as to the nature of the call we have received as Christians, today's passage simply dispels it. Some may come to Christ, thinking that his presence will sumply dispel all pain and all  inconvenience. When reality bites, we can get confused, trying to balance the realities of God's Word with the physical evidence of the things that surround us. We almost begin to think that God may have been unfair to us if things had to be this bad for his children. It is however good to note that nowhere in his Word does God promise a stressless and problem-free life. What you find in the Bible, in various ages and seasons, is the grace of God being revealed in bitter and difficult experiences encountered by his children. Things will get difficult but that is when the grace of God becomes more real. That is what God promises.

Today's passage is like a summary of all that we should expect as we live as God's true children. Life is a race, a battle, a fight. It is not a walk in the park, or just a dance. We were not called out to blend in and be ordinary. God did not invest so much in us so we could sit down and be comfortable, passing through life without so much of an impact. Our lives are meant for so much more than that. Paul could say, without any fear of contradiction, that he had done his best. On the evidence of his life, I would think he was right. He was beaten several times, betrayed by friends, shipwrecked also, imprisoned several times, praying for relief but God only promising his ever-sufficient grace. I look at myself honestly and I ask if I really can stay focused like Paul through these experiences. It takes a man who is completely sold out to God to stay focused on the grand prize at the end of the journey.

And this is the clincher: nothing you face on earth is permanent; everything you will experience has a time-frame for its  manifestation as well as an expiry date. Everything will cease one day and only those who, like Paul, have learnt to live on the grace of God, will earn the rewards for faithfulness. Can I say like Paul, that I am fighting the good fight of faith presently? Can I honestly say that I am running the race before me faithfully? Can I really look forward to a reward if I keep living my life the way I am presently living it? I alone have the honest answers to these questions. There's no place for ego or self-deceit, just a honest assesment of my life with the help of the only One who can truly reveal the real me to me.

Work, walk, run and fight like one who knows there's an end in view and a reward to be earned. God's time of favour is here. 

Sit...or Run

Sit...or Run!

II Kings 7:3-4 NKJV:
Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate; and they said to one another, “Why are we sitting here until we die? If we say, ‘We will enter the city,’ the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. Now therefore, come, let us surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they keep us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall only die.”

There was famine in Samaria due to the siege laid by the Syrians. People were eating their children for food due to hunger. These were the people of God, called and chosen by him, yet they had made a choice to rebel. Their kings led them into idolatry and disobedience and it was a cycle of war, victories, defeats and rebellion. No wonder there was no peace. There can never be peace in a life where the Prince of Peace has no control. If there was ever a doubt that God could use anybody to fulfil his purpose, today's story underlines that. Here were outcasts, lepers who were not counted as part of society, who lived on the outskirts of the city and bore the scars of their status visibly, being used by God to kick-start the miracle of abundance God had promised. It doesn't matter where you have been or where you are coming from; God is interested in the NOW and how he can take you from the NOW to the glorious future he has prepared for you. 

It doesn't matter what people call you; it only matters indeed what God says about you. If the world calls you connected, privileged and prosperous, and God calls you wretched and poor, tell me, whose opinion counts? These leprous men had an understanding that many of us, able-bodied and agile, are yet to fully understand: you must walk the talk. Many times, we speak about having faith in God's ability to help our situation but we do nothing to kick-start the process. We pray and pray and then sit on our hands, somehow expecting that by the natural order of things, they would work out. We do nothing, take no step of faith, go nowhere, say nothing else, make no consultations. Faith is not an inactive term; it is a verb- an active verb, asking us to take just 1 step in the direction of the fulfilment of our dreams.

The step may come in 'insignificant' ways but it is a step in the right direction. All God needs to bless is the little effort. He will bless the rest. Just like these lepers said, and just like Esther said, how our lives end is just about as important as the contents of our lives. These people had weighed the possibility of death and still, they went on. Death wil come one day, should the Lord tarry but while we wait,we work and walk. Where we need to speak in faith, we do; where we need to act in faith, we do; even when going out is seen as 'foolishness' to the world, as long as we have a settled witness in our hearts that we are on the right path, we press on. God will bless the rest and make it the best. Rejoice as you live by faith, working, walking, talking and living out that which God has inspired in you. God's time of favour is here.

This One Thing!

 This One thing.

Philippians 3:13-14 NIV:
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Life is indeed a journey. It is a long journey of discoveries, achievements, challenges and victories. All of us have milestones we like to remember of God's dealings with us and the incidences of his grace upon our lives too. There is just one point of emphasis: until the purpose of our life's journey is discovered, we really have not begun to live the life God intends for us. The fact that you have made money or are comfortable is not an assurance in any way that you are on God's timetable or plans. Paul's testimony here reveals a few priorities for us too: as long as I am alive, it is never too late to discover purpose. The devil longs to trick us into believing that age is a barrier to what God can do in our lives. 

If God could speak to Samuel, or to Zechariah the father of John the Baptist, then you know that God is timeless, seeking men across the ages whose hearts are fully committed to him. You can never arrrive at the end of your journey until heaven is attained; you cannot seek a sense of fulfilment while here on earth. This place is not our destination, it is a phase we must pass through to arrive at God's pre-determined end for us. Furthermore, there is a need for focus. While it is not bad to attempt great things for God, better be sure that what you are busy at is rewardable by God. We believe so much in activity, thinking that God rewards us based on how many things we take on. The parable of the talents just shows that the master's rewards are multiples of the talents he had given earlier. 

We must find that one hing or just those 2 or 3 or more things God wants us to do, and get busy, under his direction, at those things. Whatever the past holds is gone, today is called the present: a gift from God. Unwrap his mysteries and gifts and manifest his grace. Lastly, God is the author, salvation is the vehicle, good works are the fruits, and heaven is the destination for our lives. There is no other way to get there. Riches cannot get you there; position, power, privilege or possessions will only frustrate you more if they are pursued outside of God. Get the priorities right, let God do the leading, guiding, upholding and the tutoring. His plans are good, and He will take you to the place he has prepared for you. God's time of favour is here.

Restored!

Restored!

Jeremiah 31:25 AMP

[25] For I [fully] satisfy the weary soul, and I replenish every languishing and sorrowful person.”

Context to the verse above will help us in the appreciation of what God had done for His people, the land of Israel. These were His treasured possession; those whom He chose out of many nations in the world at that time, and set His affection upon them. He brought them into a land that was not theirs in the first place, and established them in the land. He gave them victories over their enemies, and no one could withstand or resist them, as long as they were true to the God who had called them to Himself. However, like all things human, there is a need for a constant reminder of the standards of God, so that I do not at any time become entitled or careless, which, if unchecked, can lead a man into  disobedience and rebellion. That is where the chosen people of God found themselves. 

Before we point the finger at Israel, let us take a critical look at ourselves too. Have we met with this God of covenant, who keeps His Word to a thousand generations, even when men everywhere become faithless? Have we come to a personal knowledge of this God who makes clear what the terms of engagement are, and leaves no doubt as to what He expects from all who seek to follow Him? There is a reason why God reveals His mind to us from His Word, so we can learn from the mistakes of other people, and we do not have to repeat the same errors. The nature of God makes it clear that if we do exactly what Israel did, we will also have to experience the same punishment they had from God. However, as Israel also did, when men who have wandered away come back to God, they find Him willing to take them back.

Like the prodigal son, the Father is on the lookout, waiting for us to return, so He can fully restore. He does not do half-measures; as the verse above lays out, He is able to FULLY satisfy the weary soul. This means that I must own up to my state, and seek help from the right source. I must be honest in my assessment of who and where I am, and where I should be headed. I cannot continue in sin, and expect the grace of God to abound. God will not force Himself on anyone, or go against the exercise of my freewill. I must admit my helplessness, and come to Him as I am. For the languishing and sorrowful person, who knows the error of his ways, and seeks the comfort and help of my presence and power, I will replenish such a person, and help him to stand. His help is available; what are you waiting for? God's time of favour is here. 

Looking Ahead

Looking Ahead!

Romans 8:18 KJV

[18] For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

It is good to keep an eye on the eternal, while trying to impact the present. The danger of either extreme is that you can be so focused on making heaven that you forget how to be a blessing to men down here on earth; you can also be so focused on labouring to impact the lives of men down here on earth that you can forget to prepare adequately for eternity. Both are extremes that we all must strive to avoid, so that we can have all-round impact. That is what God has promised to all who surrender their lives to Him. The right question, then, is not really about other people's views, or their applause or disapproval, but it is about God's position about me. Does God see me as His own? Can He dictate and direct my life as He pleases? Does He fully own me, or are there competing interests for my heart? 

It is this understanding that guides the impact of the verse above. If God owns and holds my heart, there is no earthly experience that can take my heart away from Him. Whatever comes my way is fully dimensioned in line with the will of God for me. As I am His child, nothing is permitted to touch me without His approval. If it comes, it works in line with the will of God to bring out the best in me. Like the Great Physician that He is, He is able to administer each experience in the right dosage and frequency, so that they all work out His divine solution to whatever earthly reality I am currently facing. Paul, the inspired writer of this verse, would know what he was talking about here, as his own experiences showed clearly that God was involved in bringing Paul into the fullness of His will by the experiences He allowed Paul to go through. 

Nothing down here can replace anything that God has to offer in eternity with Him. This world has nothing else to offer except tough times and tribulation, so do not expect the world to suddenly change and offer you support and encouragement. How can a world without hope offer you hope that it does not have? The joy of having and knowing God is that you are certain of the benefits that accrue to you. You do not know the full scope yet, but you know that there is no earthly equivalent for all that God has promised. This should keep you focused on making it to the end of this earthly phase. Do not let anything at all distract you from the joys of eternity. There is nothing this earth can offer you that will be adequate compensation for missing out on eternity with God. Keep an eye on the eternal, but depend on the eternal God to impact the earthly. God's time of favour is here. 

Quiet!

Quiet!

Psalms 119:114 TPT

[114] You’re my place of quiet retreat, and your wraparound presence becomes my shield as I wrap myself in your Word!

It is quite interesting to note that there is no one directly credited with the words of the longest chapter in the Bible, but there are a lot of messages in this psalm. In fact, in some versions, you find the entire chapter of 176 verses is divided into 22 sections of 8 verses each, and there is a reference to the Word of God and its power and effect in each section. That should not be a surprise; after all, we know the identity of the Word of God, and it is His person and power that run through the pages of Scripture, as well as the generations and dispensations that have been established since the foundation of the world. God has placed His Word as the standard for all He is and does, and there is nothing that can be accepted by God, if it runs contrary to that which God is or does. 

We see a few of the dimensions of the Word of God in the verse above. You find the Word as many things: a quiet place, a place of rest and retreat, the manifestation of the presence and power of God, as well as a shield of protection and preservation against whatever may be going on around me. These are just a few of the numerous manifestations of the Word of God, but we focus on the ones that have been laid out here. It has to be clearly noted that the world cannot give you that which only the Word of God can provide and preserve. If I am looking for a place of quiet retreat, the world is not able to get that for me. God is the only one with a quiet place of rest and refreshment, and He invites all who are weary and heavily burdened to come to Him, as they are, and He can guarantee them rest. 

What this tells me is that God does not force Himself on anyone, and He will not go against the exercise of my freewill. The psalmist here had found God for himself, and he could speak of His impact in his life. I note the focus on quiet retreat, and this is a benefit I must take full advantage of. No matter how busy I get, or the applause of men for the things I do, I must be careful to take a step back and retreat for refreshing. Like the writer of this verse, my focus must be to wrap myself in the Word of God. Who or what else can do what the Word of God can do? As I spend time with the Word, He changes me from within and I begin to look more and more like the One I spend time with. True protection and preservation are only available in and through the Word. Do you have Him? Does He know you as His own? God's time of favour is here. 

Light!

Light!

Genesis 1:3 KJV

[3] And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

The verse above speaks about the account of creation from God's perspective. Science and all of man's schemes have their own versions, but we have the clear Word of God that lays out how all of creation was made. As you read the verses just before the one above, we see that there really was nothing to start with. The bible says that the earth was without form, and it was void. This means a state of chaos, formlessness, and of course, a lack of life as we know it today. There was no template on which we could have claimed that the earth was copied from. However, there is this very important entry in the account of creation that bears emphasis, and it is that the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. In the midst of the emptiness and the void, the Spirit of God was controlling the narrative, to determine how things will turn out. 

It is not a surprise, then, that when it was time for God to act, His power and authority could not be denied. When it was time to change the narrative, there was nothing on earth to stop His purpose from being implemented. As soon as God spoke, there was an immediate response. As it was then, so is it now. There has still been nothing made that can resist or withstand the power of God. There is nothing in all of creation that can stop the purpose of God from being established and sustained. If God says that this is the beginning of a thing or process, who is the person who can stop or delay it? If God also says that this is the end of a process, who is it that has the power to start or sustain anything? 

It is also instructive to note that no human being is on record as being there when creation started, so it is not ideal to consult any human being on any of the issues that creation may bring up. Can the created be able to change what the Creator has laid out as the standard? It is also instructive to note that the first thing that God put in place is Light. Before then, there was darkness upon the face of the deep. It is only the Light that God gives that can dispel the darkness of the world. There is no human scheme or device that can give you what only God can give you. When He speaks, there is a performance and delivery. When He speaks, whatever happens always lines up with His will. There are no accidents where God is concerned. Get His Word in today. Your life will be glad you did. God's time of favour is here.

Follow!

Follow!

Luke 9:23-24 KJV

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

The disciples had just finished one of the greatest discussons they had ever had with Jesus, which was about His divine identity as well as His mission. Peter had spoken out that eternal truth that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. We recall Jesus, in yet another account of this same story, laying the foundation of the church on this eternal truth, that Christ is God, the One by whom all the things we see today were made, and by whom all things we see or do not even see, will be judged. One would think that this amazing revelation given to Peter would exclude him from all responsibility and accountability. Not from God's perspective. The understanding I have of God must lead me down particular paths. What I have come to know about God must compel me to reflect on what God wants from me, and I must be quite willing and ready to make whatever sacrifice is demanded by God. 

It is that sacrifice that has been laid down in the verses above. It is instructive to note that at this time, all the disciples were there, and this included Judas Iscariot, the man who would later betray Him. The crowd may or may not have been there at this time, but whatever it was that Jesus was about to teach was for everyone, whether it was the popular majority or the committed and dedicated minority. For all who will come into the fullness of God's purpose for them, they must be willing to take a step away from the crowd and all it represents, which could be popular acclaim, applause and approval, to the very unpopular path of divine empowerment for great exploits. The issue will be that the world may not know or applaud you, but whatever will be of eternal value has to be more than just earthly approval. 

As Jesus made it clear in the verses above then, so does He make it clear to us today: who you are now will determine how you respond to the challenge in the verses above. The verses above challenge me to know who I am, who Jesus is, what He demands from me, and the eternal consequences of whatever decision it is that I take. The offer is for ANY one who will come after Jesus. It does not matter who you were, or are now. The offer is still open, if you are reading this. I must deny myself, take up my cross on a DAILY basis, and follow Him. That which I did not create cannot be preserved by myself. If this life was not made by me, there is no way I can keep it safe, without the help of the One who made and formed it. If I will make it to the end, it will be the help, support and backing of Creator of the Universe. He is fully invested in my success. Give Him your life today, and watch Him work miracles with the mess your life may have been before now. God's time of favour is here. 

Sent!

Sent!

John 20:21 AMP

[21] Then Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you [as My representatives].” 

At the time the words of the verse above were pronounced by Jesus, so many things had happened. Jesus had been arrested on false charges and put to death in a shameful way, at least by Jewish standards. The leaders of His day would have been rejoicing that they had seen the end of their arch-enemy, but little did they know that their problems were just starting. The crowd that stood by like a mob baying for His blood had now dispersed, and I am sure that many of them didn't know why they were there, or what their actions actually meant, but they all went with the popular vote at the time. Of course, the 11 disciples also saw what happened to their leader, after 1 of them had betrayed Jesus to the leaders at that time. You find different people at different times with differing experiences and conclusions in relation to the life of Jesus. Where do you fit in all these? 

When Jesus rose from the dead, His main focus at the time were His disciples. The Bible records several engagements with them as He sought to prepare them for the amazing assignments that were ahead of them. I note that there was really no long sermons for the Pharisees, Sadducees and teachers of the law as soon as Jesus rose from the dead. I note that after His resurrection, there was no direct advice to the crowd to repent and turn from their wicked ways, as He never had to address a crowd till He ascended to heaven. That clear mission to the crowd has now been given to His disciples; those who have walked with Him and are able to replicate the lessons and values of His life in other people. The clear message to those who follow Him, as laid out in the verse above, is that there is only one thing we need to be successful in the work He has commissioned us for, and that is His presence. 

His Presence is the only thing that counts. If I amass possessions and provisions, they will all have expiry dates. As long as it is the earth that gives you, it can also take it away after a while. The message of Jesus in the verse above is based on peace, the kind that only He can give and sustain. The world will not and cannot give you what it does not have. The world cannot produce a thing that is not consistent with its nature. Before the clear assignment comes the clear assurance of His presence, peace, provision, protection and power. We also have this amazing situation of ambassadorship, where we represent our Lord and Saviour wherever we show up. I do not belittle the assurance of the presence of God. He is all I need for all that I have to do. How do I impact lives without the help of the Prince of Peace? How do I help others outside the influence of the Help of Israel? I am sent by the Great King; I am backed up by His power. How am I discharging my responsibility? God's time of favour is here. 

Call

Call!

Romans 10:13 AMP

[13] For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord [in prayer] will be saved.” [Joel 2:32]

Joel 2:32 AMP

[32] “And it shall come about that whoever calls on the name of the Lord Will be saved....

There is an old testament version, as well as a new testament version of the counsel in the verses above. It is clear that the generation or dispensation in question does not matter; all that counts is that God has always provided avenues and channels for men to approach Him. Right from the account of creation till today, man occupies a special place in the heart of God. We see it in the way man was made, and the promises and covenants God has gone into with man, just to make the interaction and engagement with man to be worthwhile. Man is the only part of God's creation that it was recorded that God put the breath of life into man's nostrils, and the man became a living being, an individual complete in body and spirit. 

With all the points made above, I am uniquely placed and qualifed to make a demand on the resources that God has made available to me. All He has asked me to do is to ask. I am now reminded that there are some things that God can do for or give me, but He would want me to ask Him, out of a heart that has been fully submitted and is totally committed to Him. What is the definition of 'call'? One available online is 'a cry made as a summons or to attract someone's attention'. There would be at least two parties involved in a call. There would be one initiating the call, and there will be another party responding to the call. It also means that the party with the responsibility of responding has the ability, capability, as well as the capacity to meet all the needs of the party making the call. 

This confidence in God's ability is what should fill our hearts with joy, as we take steps to call on Him, as He has asked us to. I note that the offer is given to all men, no matter what the story has been in the past, or where things stand at the moment. Men from all ages have called on this God, and He has never failed to respond. It is also important to note that the point of contact is critical for this process to work. The verses above both emphasize calling on the name of the Lord. If salvation is the need, the name of the Lord is the key. It is also instructive to note that salvation is the foundation of all other benefits. Once a man is saved, he has access to all other benefits and blessings that God has given. Let that be the start point for all that I want to ask God for, and He will definitely make all other things available. Call; He hears and will answer. God's time of favour is here. 

Give Thanks!

Give Thanks!

Psalms 105:1 AMP

[1] O give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the people.

There is no name credited with the words of this psalm, but the message in the verse above is timeless. We live in a world where many feel entitled to what they have because of earnings, position, privilege, or power. They feel that they have worked hard for all that they have acquired, and do not even know or acknowledge the role of God in anything. Like that rich fool who had a bountiful harvest, and thought that it was by dint of hard work and conscientious labour that got him all the good harvest, he had some lofty ideas and plans for the present and future, but the problem was that he left God out of the plans. Of course, we know how his story ended: even before he bring in the harvest, his soul was demanded of him. 

Like that man, so must we be very careful about our pursuits and priorities. There has to be a clear understanding of who God is, and how to relate with Him. All of human life, as complex as it is, was designed by God, with the blueprint for optimum performance in His hands. There is no way the created can be wiser or more clever than the Creator, who has a clear and precise picture of the purpose of a product long before it is manufactured. The man David could say confidently that 'the days allotted to me had all been recorded in your book, before any of them ever began'. This is power and wisdom that cannot be duplicated by anything in all of creation.  Like David, and this psalmist, if different, do I even acknowledge the power of a Wise God? 

That is the response of the writer of this psalm. He would have thought long and hard about the work of God in his life, and the only rational response was to give thanks. He not only did this, but he also encouraged all who would read this psalm to do the same. It is important to also define 'thanks' which is 'an expression of gratitude'. It cannot be silent or implied; there must be an outward expression of what you feel. How can I truly be thankful if there is no outward expression of the gratitude that I claim to have towards God for who He is, and what He has done? How can I also encourage others to do the same when there is no example from my life for them to emulate? I am grateful, and I will let God and the world know. I will speak of His mighty works, so that others too can be encouraged to come to Him. Would you? God's time of favour is here. 

God's Desire!

God's Desire!

Amos 5:24 AMP

[24] “But let justice run down like waters And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream [flowing abundantly].

At some point, the house of Israel had lost its way. These were the people chosen by God as His treasured possession, and He had led the nation to a land flowing abundantly with milk and honey. Even though surrounded by many enemies at the time, the Lord secured the land for them and settled them in the land. However, like all things comfort, you have to be careful how you handle seasons of plenty and abundance. When things are quiet around you, and it appears that there are no battles to fight, be very careful. When all seems to be well, be cautious about actions and reactions. At some point in time, Israel became fat, and the Bible says that he kicked at God. He had become fat, thick, sleek, and obstinate. Then he abandoned God who had made him, and scorned the Rock of his salvation. That was the testimony about Israel. What is God's testimony about me today?

Of course, God does not joke with rebellion. The devil is a great example of how God handles rebellion, with the devil not given an opportunity to repent and return to God. In His mercy, God has provided a way of return for man, and it is advisable that we take full advantage of this opportunity. As you read the verse above, it starts with a BUT, which would  mean that whatever came before it is the opposite of what the verse above is saying. Israel had found comfort in idol worship and injustice. Those who should promote fairness were now taking bribes to pervert justice. Yet, they were faithful in offering sacrifices and keeping the solemn assemblies. How can I aim to please God only by offerings, while my daily lifestyle reeks of iniquity and rebellion against God's express commands? How can I seek to placate God by external works, when my life is full of internal strife, bitterness, or hatred. How can God accept an offering made from a polluted heart? 

In clarifying God's expectations from us, let us consider the definitions of key terms in the verse above: justice is defined as: 'the maintenance or administration of what is just especially by the impartial adjustment of conflicting claims or the assignment of merited rewards or punishments'. Also, being righteous is defined as 'acting in accord with divine or moral law: free from guilt or sin'. Do we begin to see the standard that God will accept? I cannot afford to offer less than what God wants, if I want to get all that God offers. God will not demand from me that which He has not first supplied sufficient grace for. If He desires it, it is His joy to supply all I need so I can comply with His desire. He is the One whose supply can never run out. It brings God joy when my life's pursuits and priorities reflect a personal walk with God. Does yours do the same? God's time of favour is here. 

Hear; Speak!

Hear; Speak!

James 1:19 AMP

[19] Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving];

James was writing to the twelve Hebrew tribes of Israel, which had found themselves scattered all among the Gentiles. Persecution and trouble had led to this dispersion, and many of the Jews in those days found themselves amongst people they may not have wanted to associate it. This is the thing about God: He has several ways to teach us the lessons He wants us to learn. He can do this the easy way by other people's experiences, or the hard way by our own trials and tough times. However God chooses to bring us to the place of our purpose, it is very critical that I do not waste the experience, or strive to achieve the divine with the help of the fallen human nature. This is why the demand in the verse above is not for just about anyone; it is for those who identify with Jesus. That is the minimum standard that will drive maximum impact. 

The counsel in the verse above has multitude applications. Whilst on earth, we will all hear, see or feel many things, depending on our capacity. However, it is not everything that our human senses perceive that must elicit an outward response. The mouth is able to taste and define what is sweet or bitter, and it is also used for speaking, but the verse above makes it clear that I am not permitted to speak about everything that comes to my attention. I will hear a lot of things, both true and false, yet I cannot afford to express an opinion about everything that I hear. I will also see a lot of things, both physically, emotionally and spiritually, but the same principle applies: I cannot afford to react all the time based on what I see. Not everything is as it seems at first glance. Not everything is as predictable as black and white. Life is not really defined by being right all the time, but doing what is right in the sight of God at all times. 

How do I do that? The verse above makes a recommendation on the ratio of hearing to speaking and to reaction. Life is full of curve balls and unpredictable moments. It is good to be patient to hear as much as you can, from all that matter, before you decide on a response. Pausing before reacting allows time to fully process, and then decide on a response that glorifies God. After all, the verse is addressed to people who claim to know and follow God. Before I speak, I weigh my words carefully to determine if it will benefit those who will hear me. I take care not to lash out in anger over things I cannot control, knowing that my anger will not change what God will do, but will negatively impact those who God has placed in my path to be touched by His hand upon my life. Being slow is good, if you are sure that God is the One pushing your buttons. Is He doing that for you? God's time of favour is here.

Help

Help!

Galatians 6:2 AMP

[2] Carry one another’s burdens and in this way you will fulfill the requirements of the law of Christ [that is, the law of Christian love].

John 13:34 AMP

[34] I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too are to love one another.

If no example or sample of what is right and acceptable before God was not provided, anything we did would be acceptable. Until the law came, men were judged by other personal standards outside the law, but once the law laid down the model of behaviour, it then became a sin, as well as the subject of judgment, if someone refused or neglected to comply with the provisions of the law. This is the principle that also applies in the verse above. Before Jesus came, the law permitted its subjects to love their neighbours and hate their enemies, but Jesus cams to establish a different standard, where love had no limits, and was offered freely to all men, no matter who they were in the past, what they had done or not done, and even for whatever they may even do in the future. This is the new standard of behaviour that Jesus has now laid down, and expects all His followers to comply with. 

In complying with the law of Jesus, we have to start with the premise of identity. Who I am defines what I do, and how I do it. In both of the verses above, the audience were people who knew and were walking with Jesus. Paul was speaking to the churches in Galatia, and Jesus was speaking to His disciples, men who had left all and followed Him. It has to be laid out that these instructions will demand something from you, and that is why it is not for everyone. It has to also be emphasized that everyone would have his or her own burden to bear, and it may be convenient to focus on yourself alone, but the example that has been laid down for us places a demand on us to look beyond what we need to how we can help others with their needs, which will also lead to us getting the help that we need. That is love defined, where I am able to see the need of other people, not because I do not have mine, but because of the work that Jesus has wrought in my heart. 

Love cannot be faked; at least, not the version that Paul speaks about here. How can I focus on other people's needs, whilst I have mine to deal with? It takes a heart completely taken over by Jesus to see the needs around you, and be willing and ready to help. The other point to make, which is also quite valid, is that helping others this way is obedience to the express command of Jesus. For a child of God, being obedient is not subject to negotiation. You either obey or disobey; there is no middle ground. The law of Christ calls for loyal subjects, who will surrender their own wills to that of the Master. This Master also appreciates and rewards obedience. If I do what He commands, He is obligated to give me the reward of obedience, which is ultimately eternal life with Him. There is nothing this world can give you that will equate with what God can give, when we dare to obey His commands. He waits for us. How do we respond? God's time of favour is here. 

Fear God!

Fear God!

Proverbs 9:10 AMP

[10] The [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of wisdom [its starting point and its essence], And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding and spiritual insight.

One verse, but one full of wisdom for all who will be guided by its directives. We start with the man credited with the words of the verse above, and we are certain of his credentials. He was a man who was loved and so named by God, and, seeing the example of his father, sought the face of God for help, because he knew that being a king required more than just a sense of your own importance, or pride in your achievements, possession, position or privilege. For Solomon, it was a clear, obvious understanding that he needed the help of God for the role he had just undertaken, and he made sure he did what he could to attract God's attention. For all who desire to make impact, the path to this desire lies in a fervent search for God. Anyone who seeks to make a change has to first undergo a change of heart and life by the One who makes such change possible. 

Solomon must have feared God at the time the words above were written. He offered so many sacrifices that we have not been able to find an equivalent value today. What is the price I am willing to pay to guarantee God's hand upon my life? What are the things I need to give up in order to get to the place where God wants me to be? One of the things I need on this journey of life is a clear understanding of who God is, what He does, what He can do, and the things He demands from me. It is only healthy that I know these things, so that I can be guided appropriately. Why would I bring judgment on myself due to ignorance or even carelessness? This is the basis of the word 'fear'. There is a good version and a bad one. The fearful, according to Revelation, will have their part in the lake of fire, but there is a good fear that is based on reverence for and awe of God. 

Let it be clear that whoever or whatever you fear holds total control over you; whatever is commanded, you will obey, usually under compulsion. However, God does not force Himself on anyone, and He will not go against the exercise of my freewill. He wants me to choose Him of my own freewill; to love and honour Him out of a heart that knows who He is. This knowledge of God will help me fear Him the right way. It is not a surprise that the verse above refers to the knowledge of the Holy One as understanding and spiritual insight. This good fear is healthy, a and keeps me from making the same mistake that men like Ananais made, or women like Jezebel made. This good fear opens all other doors of favour and blessings for me. This good fear helps keep me grounded and focused on pleasing God, to the exclusion of all others. It is critical thst I know God: He is a loving and kind Father, but He is also the Lion of the tribe of Judah. He can kill and also bring to life. He needs to be feared the right way, and also held in awe. Do you know Him? Does He know you? God's time of favour is here. 

God's Creation!

God's Creation!

Psalm 139:14, 16 NIV:

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

When you take a look at yourself sometimes, you have to honestly wonder just what the big deal about man is. I see great inventions, mighty institutions and awesome structures, and then compare with feeble, weak man and you have to wonder: what is the big deal with man? Why is he so important? Why does God count him so important that he can move heaven and earth because of him? I believe that the way man was made is so central to his importance and place in creation. God called a conference at the time where the decision to make man and the way he was to be made was made. Man's power, dominion and authority were all decided and concluded; his sphere of influence and control were also established over the whole earth, and the power to create like God and reproduce his own kind were also given. 

No wonder then, that, even in his fallen state, man has found a way to tame the wildest of animals, create means of transportation and communication not thought possible even a hundred years ago. Man has gone to the ends of the world and even beyond land, as seen in space travel and exploration and the proof of other planets celebrated by science. All these are made possible by just one thing: the breath of God breathed into man at creation. Sounds ordinary but that is the control point. Everything a man will become in life, or anything he will seek to achieve will only be possible because the breath of God allows it. The Psalmist here was careful to observe and record the mighty hand of God seen in man. I see here that man was and still is the main focus of God's creation here. 

God established the number of days for each man and had even written the days and their events down long before man was born. That is ultimate knowledge. That is careful planning. That is God at work. Nothing about us catches him by suprise, and everything happening now is just what God intends to use to take me to the next level. I must cooperate with him and allow him have his way. I must seek his will and purpose so that I can be all that he has created me to be. I must work as he directs so that all the days he has promised me can be lived in total joy, irrespective of the circumstances around, knowing that I'm busy doing what he had ordained for me. His purpose is the ideal for me; I must find it and pursue it, because that is the way to true victory. God's time of favour is here.

God at Work!

God at Work!

Matthew 6:34 MSG

[34] “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

Matthew 6:34 KJV

[34] Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

The world has been unable to define success, because it does not know what the genuine version looks or feels like. All it can do is to get its own subjects to just keep chasing an idea or illusion of something that it is cannot clearly define. This is the message of the section of the Bible from where the verse above is taken: do not let the world define what is real to you. The world itself is in a state of flux; it does not know where it is headed, and does not have a future beyond that which has been determined by God. It is normal for mortal man to fret about his place in the world and how he can impact it and make the best of what he has been given, but no amount of fretting or worrying can change the world. The only change that matters is the change that happens in the heart of a man, which will then impact the way that man sees the world. 

The world's system can only teach its loyal subjects to run and hustle, in order to prepare for an unsure and uncertain tomorrow. The Word teaches its subjects that only total trust and faith in God can deal with the uncertainty of life. There is no way mortal man can, on his own, prepare the right way for this world's system that has been in place long before man was born. It is not easy to focus your heart on one thing only, as there will be many issues fighting for attention at the same time, yet, for a child of God, that is what the verse above is asking me to do. It will not be easy, but fretting about needs do not take them away. Worrying about needs only makes them look bigger than they actually are. The verse above charges me to focus on what God is doing right now. It means I must have a living, breathing relationship with Him, in order to be able to focus on Him. 

God will not take anything less than my all. He is a jealous God. You can choose to interpret this statement however you please, but let it be known that God does not share space with anyone. Worry and faith cannot co-exist in the same heart. Let each day worry about pleasing the One who made it. After all, I did not create the day, but the One who did has not abdicated or abandoned His post. He is still in charge of the affairs of the universe, and all that He has made must answer to Him. Why would I want to take on the role of God? Can I do that with my limited human ability? I must let God be God. Let life throw whatsoever it has at me; if it finds me in God, I will be alright. If I am not in God, then the cares of this world can sweep me away. In His time, He makes all things beautiful. On His own terms, all that relate to me will end well. Are you His child? God's time of favour is here.

Faith!

Faith!

John 20:29 AMP

[29] Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, do you now believe? Blessed [happy, spiritually secure, and favored by God] are they who did not see [Me] and yet believed [in Me].”

Walking with God can be quite challenging. There will be times when it seems as if He is far away, or that you are left to fend for and take care of yourself alone. There will be times the devil will try and raise doubts in the hearts of men, to question the existence or power of God. There will also be times when things will look quite rosy, and trials seem so far away, but as we now know, trials have been built into the fabric of our experience as Christians, unless that which we hold is not the real deal. How do you cope in the face of such daunting challenges? How do you hold up when things do not go the way you plan, even after you have done things the right way? How do you still embrace a God who seems to ask you to trust Him, even without any physical senses being fully satisfied as to His existence, except for an actual throbbing conviction in the heart that He is real? 

This is where Thomas, as a disciple, found himself at some point in His relationship with Jesus. He had walked with Jesus for more than 3 years, seen Him perform amazing miracles, yet when pressure came, he went back to what was familiar and predictable. Like him, we will also find ourselves at crossroads sometimes, not sure where to turn, and sometimes not sure how to stand up under the burden of expectation. What Jesus said to Thomas in the verse above, based on the latter's experience, is also critical: not everything about Jesus can be explained or fully understood by our phyiscal senses. The reality of our walk with God is first and foremost about faith. No one has seen God on this side of eternity and lived; we take it on faith that He is and lives, and by a relationship with Him, we know in our hearts that He exists and is a rewarder of all who seek Him diligently. 

Thomas wanted to see, feel, touch and be satisfied, and the human nature really loves these predictable outcomes. However, if we will walk with God the right way, the secret is in walking by faith, not by sight. We read in Hebrews where it is made clear that it is impossible to please God without faith. If all I know is what my senses tell me, how can I hold on to the assurance of eternity, which I have not yet seen? How can I trust God to be true to His Word, if I am only holding to what men like myself say? What works is for me to hold on to Jesus. He alone is the answer to all of life's questions. He alone can sort out life's uncertainties. The man who can hold on to God, even when everything else is falling apart around him, is truly blessed. He does not need to see first, because he already has a relationship with the One who brings eternity into reality. Do you know Him? Do you have Him? God's time of favour is here. 

The Return!

The Return!

Isaiah 52:3 AMP

[3] For the Lord says this, “You were sold for nothing and you will be redeemed, but not with money.”

There was a time that Zion was awake and alert, conscious of what God wanted it to do, and was busy at it. There was a time Zion had strength, but something had taken it away. There was a time Jerusalem had beautiful garments, but it had been stripped of those garments. There was a time just anyone or anything, particularly the unclean and the uncircumcised, was permitted to come through the gates of the city that was referred to as HOLY by the Lord. There was a time that Jerusalem was bowed down or laid down in the dust, helpless and unable to stand up. It was in bondage, sold into slavery and by this experience, a lot of reproach was brought to the name of the Lord, because these were His people that he had made very popular by the great things he did for them. How did these people then end up here? 

Unfortunately, a lot had happened to disrupt the initial amazing situation for Israel, and at the heart of these negative changes was sin. Am I asleep at critical junctures of my life, unsure and uncertain of God's expectations and demands from me? Have I become quite complacent about the work of God in my care, content to just do the basic minimum to get by? At the heart of these instructions is the One giving them. I want to know the authority and power of the One who speaks; does he have the capacity to bring to pass what he has instructed? From long use, I have come to know that indeed, God can back up all that He commands. If God commands, it means that what happens thereafter is not a function of the power of the one who obeys, but the clear  function of the capacity of the One who commands and is able to back up what He commands. 

I cannot boast or beat my chest, thinking it had anything to do with me, but by obedience, surrender and cooperation, my life becomes the platform for the display of God's power, grace and mercy. Does this describe me in any way? Sometimes, we think that by compromise or blending in, we are getting an advantage or gaining an upper hand in something; however, for a child of God, this compromise is the shortcut to disaster. Zion was sold, or rather it sold itself for nothing, thinking it was getting something of value. God would now step in and redeem Zion, at a price of course, though not with money. This is the proof of love that cannot be fully explained, that even when I am where I deserve, mercy speaks. This is the message from God for such times as these; am I listening? He wants to do mighty things, but I have to surrender all. Would you? God's time of favour is here.  

 

Loved!

Loved!

Romans 8:38-39 KJV

[38] For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, [39] nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Persuasion, conviction and confidence come from a place of personal encounter with the One who guarantees the subject of that confidence. If I seek to build a house, I do not go to a dentist with no expertise, knowledge or experience of how to design and set up a building. I go to an architect, then a building engineer, as well as other qualified artisans who can bring their knowledge and experience to bear on the work. In the same way, if I seek eternal life, I do not go to the devil whose eternal damnation is already sealed and certain. I go to the One who has conquered death and the grave, and has won life for me by His resurrection. A man cannot give what he does not have. Paul would know the truth of that statement, having had to experience both worlds: knowing the love of God, as well as His wrath, keeps you focused. 

Having tasted life, Paul knew where His priorities lay. Having been saved from certain death, he knew what was now important. Being in Christ Jesus is such a blessing that all of this earthly life cannot comprehend or fully understand. There are things that this earth cannot fully comprehend about the love of God. How does a holy God stand the sin and iniquity of mortal man? How does the immortal God endure the constant and irrational disobedience and rebellion of mere men? It is the love of God that can explain these things. God's love is described in so many ways in the Bible that time and space will not permit us to fully lay out here, but one thing is sure: God's love will not make sense until you have personally experienced it. Until you walk in it, you will likely not be able to speak about it. Paul did, and so, Paul could. 

Check out the valid excuses others may have, but which to Paul, were nothing. The world is focused on such themes as death and life, principalities, powers, angels, height, depth, or anything else this world has raised as valid distractions for those who are under its control and influence, but the man who is focused on the love of God knows the right order of priorities. Pressure from the world may make others lose their faith, but for those who have seen love in its pure form, you press on, knowing the eternal value of what yoi have and who you know. The life of Jesus has saved me from the curse of sin and death. I walk in a new reality, which is that I am safe and secure in the love of God. There is nothing more powerful than the God who called me to Himself. He will preserve to the end, and secure me a home with Him at the end of this earthly phase. Who else can give me that? God's time of favour is here.