Right Words!

Right Words!

Proverbs 12:25 AMP

[25] Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, But a good (encouraging) word makes it glad.

Isaiah 50:4 AMP

[4] ¶The Lord God has given Me [His Servant] the tongue of disciples [as One who is taught], That I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple [as One who is taught].

The state of the world naturally causes stress and anxiety. There is so much uncertainty in the world right now. Sometimes, 'bad' things happen to people we view as good, and it may seem that wicked people are prospering and succeeding in what they do. We may see the world as unfair, where people do not get what they naturally deserve, or do not see the fruit of their labour. It is usually easier to focus on the negative and not so much on the positive. For God to speak about it quite often, it means it is an issue that is dear to His heart. He made us in His own image and likeness, so we could worship and serve Him. How can I do this well when there are competiting interests? 

Why is anxiety such a big deal? One definition of anxiety is 'a natural human emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased heart rate. It is your body's "fight or flight" response to perceived stress or danger, but becomes a mental health concern when it is disproportionate, ongoing, or interferes with daily life. One of the wisest men who ever lived understood the dangers of anxiety, as we see in the first verse above. It weighs the heart down, because it shifts your focus from the size and power of God to the wrong and inflated message about the size of the problem. 

One of the solutions to anxiety, as laid out in the two verses above, is the right word. There is a reason why it must be the right word, as the wrong message, no matter how good the intention, may do more harm than good. There is a need for me to depend on the help of the Omniscient God, to know what to say, when to say it, how to say it, and even when to keep quiet when it 'makes sense' to say what comes to mind. When the right word is let out at the right time, it becomes a source of great encouragement to those who hear it and need it. To understand the power of words, reflect on the story of creation, and you will know why you are not permitted to be careless about your speech or conversations.

The prophet Isaiah would also know a thing or two about the right words. He was sent to declare death to Hezekiah, but a few minutes later, he had to go back and declare 15 more years to the same man. What if he did not hear correctly? This tells me that the source always defines the impact. If I am to be a blessing, I can only take from the right source to have the right impact. The ear must hear right for the tongue to speak right. I have a duty to go to the source for direction and inspiration before I dare stand before people to speak. Words can shape destiny, and in the wrong lips, they can destroy lives. Do my words reflect life? God's time of favour is here. 

Give!

Give!

2 Corinthians 9:7 AMP

[7] Let each one give [thoughtfully and with purpose] just as he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver [and delights in the one whose heart is in his gift]. 

Context is important. Here was Paul writing to the church in Corinth at the time, and there was an offering to be made to support the saints in Jerusalem. Reflect on this: it was not like the church in Corinth had all it needed, but it found time and grace to look outside itself to see the needs around it. The church also did not just speak or think about it; it made a plan, and also communicated that plan to Paul, and that was why Paul was writing this letter to appreciate the church for its charity and thoughtfulness to those in need. It is a message that needs to be spoken about more frequently: there will always be needs around us; what are we going to do about the needs we can meet? 

The church in Corinth was eager to give, and as Paul made clear, they were enthusiastic about giving, and their attitude had also inspired others too to join in. Let it be clear that people are watching; they may not be able to read my mind or judge my intentions and motives, but they definitely can see the things I do and how I do them. When the demand is made, do I dismiss it out of hand, or do I seek to know what the need is, and in what way I can help, no matter how small? The lesson of the feeding of the 5000 men, beside women and children, has taught us that nothing is too small in the hands of the Omnipotent God. 

If you let Him lead, and He touches that which is in your heart and hand, be sure that He will make it work. Like the boy's lunch of 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes, the reason why my heart is critical in this discussion is because it is the seat of all decisions. If it will be done right, the foundations are laid in the heart. The verse above makes that clear: first, the purpose is laid in the heart, before the hand and the purse align. When I know what is at stake, and the One I am obeying as I give, it becomes easier to do. The verse above asks me to give thought to what I do. Remember that God does not do carelessness; He is very precise: as His creation, I cannot live a life free from purpose and direction. 

All I do must point Him out as my Lord and Saviour. It cannot be done grudgingly or under compulsion. It cannot be done with an aim to get some form of public recognition or human applause. What would human approval do? Man is fickle; the same person who spoke so highly of you now can turn around to slander you the next moment. God is the only One who can be trusted to be faithful to all who are fully committed to Him. He loves one who gives cheerfully, and as the verse above presents it, whose heart is in his gift. This is powerful: your heart being in your gift means that you know why you do whatever you do. God rewards such commitment. Is your heart in what you do? God's time of favour is here. 

This Life!

This Life!

Psalms 23:4 AMP

[4] ¶Even though I walk through the [sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort and console me.

There are some experiences that will cause men to doubt their sanity, salvation or service to God. There are times when the foundation of all that you think you know and have are tested. There would be seasons where you know that if not for God's grace and mercy, it is likely that you would have fallen apart. This earthly phase of life is quite unpredictable; we do not have a self-designed crystal ball to check and decipher what is ahead; we only have the help of the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us in life, as we journey to eternity. Why are the reflections noted above important? It is the context in which the verse above is placed. I may not be able to fully comprehend the weight of the verse above without looking at the whole story behind the verse. Recall that this is a psalm of David, the man God Himself referred to as a man after His own heart. 

This reality should have led to a special and exclusive experience of God, and truly it did, but not in the way the world would interpret it. David knew God personally and received favour that no other king of Israel did, yet that did not keep him from some pretty 'horrible' experiences, the way the world defines it. He was special, but that did not keep him from lions and bears. He was favoured, but that did not make his father or brothers like him or his company that much. He spent the early years of his life in solitude and with sheep, and maybe that was the reason why he found time to know and experience God. What are my current realities too? What are the things that are really uncomfortable now, but which are  the stepping stones that God is preparing for my divine visitation and earthly impact?  How do I learn to view my current reality, no matter how painful or complex, in the light of God's purpose and plan for me? 

I must know that being a child of God does not insure me from 'unpleasant' realities. Being a Christian is not an insurance policy against pain. After all, David made it clear at the start of the chapter from where this verse above is taken from that the Lord was his shepherd, and he would not want for anything. How does a man with such supply end up in the valley of the shadow of death? This tells me that following God is a personal decision that will lead me down paths that outsiders will never understand or embrace, but I do not live life for the applause of outsiders, but just to please the One who called me. I am to follow God wherever He may lead, because I am confident in His eternal plan for me. I take comfort in the truth that His love for me will not destroy me, but He will display power and splendor in and through me, so that the world will know that there is an Omnipotent God at work. If God's presence is with me, it will not matter where His hand leads; I have peace that all will end well. Do you have the same assurance? God's time of favour is here. 

Walk Right!

Walk Right!

Galatians 5:16 AMP

[16] But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the sinful nature [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts].

Paul introduced himself to the church in Galatia as an apostle, not commissioned or sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ the Messiah, and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead. This introduction makes it clear what is the source and inspiration of the confidence and strength with which Paul operated, and how he was able to confront the dangers he saw in that church. This was a church in which he had spent time teaching about the principles, practices and standards of God's kingdom; the audience had initially accepted and embraced this, but over time, they had shifted allegiance from Christ and were now pursuing distractions. 

It is a warning to all of us who know, follow and serve Christ that we cannot afford to be careless. It is easier to pull down someone from a high position than it is to pull someone up to that high position. It is easier to stay off the commitment, dedication and focus that a surrender to Christ will demand from you. It takes absolutely nothing from you to live a life of compromise, but for a child of God who has seen the light, tasted the gift of the Holy Spirit, and seen God at work, it is a crime to pursue a gospel, message or lifestyle that is different from that which Christ has come to establish. The devil is smart; he offers 'viable' alternatives, but these are traps of trouble and ultimate destruction.

This is why the counsel in today's verse is very apt for our time. Habits only build up over time, and they will not happen overnight. It os what I consistently do that I become good at. It is what I focus on that I eventually master and become exceptional at. I must also be careful of who I walk with; the company I keep and the conversations I have will eventually impact eternity.  These are not decisions to be taken lightly or carelessly. The counsel in the verse above is to make it a habit to walk in the Holy Spirit. This is done by seeking His will and being responsive to His leading and direction given by His voice and Word. He will never contradict Himself, and He is not an author of confusion. 

Of course, making a choice means giving up on another alternative. The thing about the choice to follow God is that it leaves no room for any other alternative. I cannot do both at the same time. The devil seeks to steal, kill and destroy, and he does these well by keeping the focus on sin and man's areas of weaknesses. Sin keeps my eye on myself; surrender keeps my eye on the divine. It really helps that we have superior help from the One who has defeated sin, the devil, and death. That understanding keeps me focused on God and the hope that I am not ever alone. Now that I know what the options are, as well as the consequences of these options, what is the decision? Follow God or perish? God's time of favour is here. 

Grace!

Grace!

Ephesians 2:8 AMP

[8] For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God;

Man was made in the image and likeness of God, to bring God praise and pleasure. The plan was that man would not die, but sin came and attempted to distort the plan. God in His mercy laid out a plan for the restoration of man to the original position, and that plan was tied to His Person, His Son Jesus Christ. No matter how hard I tried, I could not fight sin on my own. No matter how hard I tried, sin became the default setting for me, and I just needed help outside of myself to get to where God wanted me to be. This is the impact of grace; it was not what I deserved that I got, and whatever it is I got is a reflection of God's nature,, and should make me humble. 

Grace did not consider my old condition; it simply offered me a way out of sin. It did not demand from me a price that I could not pay; it paid the full price for sin, and simply asked me to trust in that finished work, and live in daily appreciation of all that God had done for me. The verse above refers to it as God's remarkable compassion and favour, which draws us to Christ. If not for grace, how would I know and admit that I need help? If not for grace, how would I submit my whole life to someone I have never met? If not for grace, how would I give up the tangible and the physical for something that is yet unseen and in the future? 

Salvation is that change that God's grace has offered to all men. It makes no distinction between races, tribes or languages. It is just an offer of deliverance from judgment and the taking hold of eternal life. It does not consider the dirt of my past; the weight of my present, or the wiles, schemes or threats of the devil. None of these things can stop or hinder the amazing things God has put in motion for me, except my personal choices. This is where grace becomes careful; it does not force itself on anyone, and it will also not go against the exercise of my freewill. It is a free gift from God, and my response also must be a free gift from my heart. 

I could not do anything to add to, or remove anything from all that God has done and given to me. It has nothing to do with labour or personal striving, but as the verse above makes clear, it is the undeserved, gracious gift of God. This is what makes what God has done both sobering and amazing. It is sobering because there is no human value I can give to buy it, and there is nothing God demands from me, except total surrender of my heart. The rich, the poor, the influential and highly connected, the healthy and the sick all have access to the same grace and the same starting point. Now that you know what God has given, how would you respond? Would you surrender? God's time of favour is here.

God First!!

God First!

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1 Peter 3:15 AMP

[15] But in your hearts set Christ apart [as holy—acknowledging Him, giving Him first place in your lives] as Lord. Always be ready to give a [logical] defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope and confident assurance [elicited by faith] that is within you, yet [do it] with gentleness and respect.

In a world full of competing interests, the verse above reminds us of what is really important. In a world that tries to sell off greed and selfishness as necessary human attributes, I am reminded again that God deals by different standards. As it has always been pointed out, the messenger could also reflect the weight of the message. Peter was a disciple who didn't start off being strong and focused. There were times he was also caught up in the pressure of the moment, and he made rash decisions, but I am glad that Jesus told him He was praying for him, and that he would be strengthened to make impact. 

Also, the audience of the message also reflects the weight of the assignment. Peter was writing to the elect, spread across the Jews and Gentiles, with a common election in Christ; people chosen by the foreknowledge of God, the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit and the sprinkled blood, to be God's own possession. They did not have characteristics that would have made them acceptable to the world at the time, but they were chosen by a God who shows no favouritism or partiality toward anyone. What a joy to know that there is a God whose heart of love does not make any distinction based on race, tribe or language. 

If indeed I am chosen by this God to be His own, I must live to glorify Him on a regular basis. The heart is the foundation of all that I am and do. Whoever sits on the throne of the heart defines and dictates the direction of the person's life. I am encouraged to give God control. I must set Christ apart in my life, by totally surrendering to Him. He takes first place or nothing at all. He is Lord of all, or not Lord at all. It is the focus of my heart that will define my words. Even medical science notez that the vagus nerve (Cranial Nerve X) is the one that connects the brain to both the heart and the mouth. Whatever I say reflects the content and condition of my heart. 

Whether I like it or not, my heart's condition must be tested and it will be demanded for by people. If I claim to be light, I cannot get away with silence or compromise. People will see the difference in me, and they will definitely ask me what is the hope and confident assurance I have within me. Light cannot be hid; the impact of salt cannot be denied; the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a man cannot be covered. People need help; the world does not have the right answers. Those who know and follow God are the ones that God is counting on to impact the world for Him. Do I know this God? Does He also know me as His own? God's time of favour is here. 

Walk Right!

Walk Right!

Proverbs 13:20 AMP

[20] He who walks [as a companion] with wise men will be wise, But the companions of [conceited, dull-witted] fools [are fools themselves and] will experience harm.

It matters where you walk. It matters how ypu you walk. It matters who you walk with. It also matters who or what directs your steps. We are in an uncertain world; wars, rumours of wars, famine and earthquakes have changed the perspective, making us pause and really consider options before we act. The system of the world gives you options, many of which are unsafe. How do you determine the right way to go, or the right step to take? How can you be sure you are where God wants you to be, and doing what God wants you to do? You need to be sure, particularly when you consider the eternal consequences tied to your decision. 

I note that the verse above makes reference to the 'wise', not the 'smart'. The difference is in origin and purpose. Being smart can come from education or nature, but wisdom comes through life experiences, self-awareness and time. Also, being smart can be determined by knowing what to say at a particular time, but being wise is knowing if, when and how to say whatever it is that needs to be said. Being smart is about the short-term solution to an issue; being wise focuses on the long-term consequences of actions and decisions. It is in this light that the verse above should be considered. Am I focused on immediate reward, or on long-term benefits? 

Am I wise, or am I smart? I also note that walking with the wise as a companion makes me wise. How does this work? Walking with the wise means that I am careful to watch their lives in action. If I am walking with someone else, I keep in step with the person at all times. I do not jump ahead, and also strive not to lag behind. Like the disciples, access to the wise is a privilege not to be taken for granted, or treated with levity. There are life lessons that will not be learnt by words, but by observation. When you see a wise person respond to trials and tough times, you learn the value of patience and perseverance. 

Of course, the opposite too is true. If I choose to walk with the opposite of wisdom, I get the opposite of the benefits of wisdom. If I am a  companion of conceited, dull-witted fools, what else can my life produce, except what looks like what I have spent time with? That is another lesson for me: I look more and more like whatever experience I spend time with. If it is with the wise, it leads to good outcomes. If it is with fools, it leads to harm. Consider the eternal consequences of your actions: it is not something to leave to chance. Be very deliberate about where you walk, and who you walk with. Your eternity will be glad you did. God's time of favour is here. 

Guided!

Guided!

Psalms 32:8 AMP

[8] I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you [who are willing to learn] with My eye upon you.

For the versions of the bible with titles over the chapters, you find these words captured at the top of the chapter from where the verse above is taken: 'The blesssedness of forgiveness, and of trust in God - a psalm of David'. It becomes clear what the focus of the entire chapter is. David was a man who could relate with the title of the chapter or song. We do not know the particular event of his life that led to this song, but we know David was a man who experienced mercy almost like no other. There were events that could have taken the lives of other people, but his life was spared for a purpose. Sin must not be excused, but mercy also cannot be explained. 

David was referred to by God Himself as a man after His own heart. There were things David did to get to this point; he praised God continually, finding times and seasons to sing songs of praise and worship to God. Whether in the valley, at the point of despair or death, or even when God had given him victory all around, and there was no war, he found time to praise God. Can the same be said of me? Can God count on me to be faithful to service and sacrifice, even when things do not go my way? This is the advanced level of God's dealings with man: even when I do not fully understand what is going on around me, I still praise. 

Even when I sin, there is mercy and grace to forgive, convict and restore me to fellowship with God. When I know that there is abundant grace in God, it must keep me humble and fully dependent on God. There is no room for pride; there is no room for self-sufficiency. It is the man who trusts in the Lord that can be guided continually by Him. God will not force Himself on anyone, or go against the exercise of my freewill, but be sure that He will show Himself strong in the lives of all who are fully committed to Him. The verse may appear as 'counsel', and indeed it is, but the eternal  consequences of rejecting God's guidance make this a directive.

He wants to instruct and teach me. As He is the Omniscient God, He knows the end from the beginning, and knows the path I should take. As the Wisdom and Power of God, He wants to show me the path of life, and the way I should go. If I want to end well, it will do me good to walk in that path. I am limited; I am not strong in and of myself. I cannot see beyond this present second. As the verse above makes clear, for as many as are willing to learn, God is willing to counsel. Note that no one will have an excuse on the day of reckoning: guidance is available to all who seek it. God wants to guide; God wants to help. Would you submit to Him? God's time of favour is here.

Trust!

Trust!

Isaiah 12:2 AMP

[2] “Behold, God, my salvation! I will trust and not be afraid, For the Lord God is my strength and song; Yes, He has become my salvation.”

You do not usually associate Isaiah with songs or words such as the ones in the verse above. He was a prophet known for pronouncing the judgment of God upon the nation of Israel, and he was also privileged to speak about the coming Messiah. God is not the One to be put in a box or fully understood; there is an experience of God that is both personal and exclusive to everyone who seeks to walk with Him. Isaiah also had to have his own personal encounter with this God, and we know the impact this made to the ministry of Isaiah. If I will make impact and affect my generation, it will only happen on the back of this undeniable encounter. 

It was this personal encounter that made it possible for Isaiah to refer to God as his salvation. That was personal. There is a level you get to that you can no longer rely on another person's encounter with God. What do I know about God? When all else fails, and it appears I am on my own, what is the comfort I have that God never leaves me alone? Not only did Isaiah know this God; he was also willing and ready to draw the attention of his audience to this God. Am I proud of who I am, whose I am, and who I work for? Am I proud to be associated with a God whose power is undeniable, and whose wisdom is beyond searching out? 

Isaiah went on to speak about his response to this God. He said he will trust and not be afraid. Again, you do not pull these words from thin air; they come from a place of personal conviction. In a world that is becoming increasingly paranoid, it takes grace to look life in the face and be normal. So many things are going wrong around us, yet we are reminded that it pays to trust God. Trust is not easy; I am asked to trust the conviction in my heart that God can take care of any matter relating to me. Even when I do not understand the WHY behind WHAT I am experiencing, I still trust. Even when things do not make sense, God on my side is the only fact that makes sense. 

It is not a wonder, then, that Isaiah could sing about this God. Even in pain, can I sing? When things do not go according to plan, would I still sing? When tough times come, and it seems like I am beating against a wall, do I remind myself of the past goodness of God that I have experienced? Calling God my salvation means I have seen Him at work, and I am convinced beyond all doubt that He has got my back. He is my strength and song; He holds me up when everything else around me falls apart. He is and offers salvation to all who dare to surrender their lives to Him. How do you respond to this God? God's time of favour is here. 

Treasure!

Treasure!

Matthew 13:44 NIV

[44] “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

Jesus took time to lay out the principles and practices of His kingdom. At several times in the Bible, there are accounts of Jesus teaching both the crowd and His disciples about God's expectations from all who seek to follow and serve Him. One thing that was peculiar about the teachings of Jesus was that He spoke to the crowd in parables. These were short, simple and allegorical story that was designed to teach a spiritual lesson. He would take any earthly experience that was familiar to the crowd, and use that to teach the crowd about the principles, practices and policies of the kingdom of heaven. 

Even the disciples wondered why Jesus was always speaking to the crowd in parables, and His response is instructive: "because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them".  What an awesome responsibility for any one choosing to follow Jesus. The verse above is recorded as Jesus speaking to His disciples in the house, with the crowd now long gone. Indeed, deep secrets are best valued in privacy. I do not know of anyone who shares trade secrets openly, or who is careless about precious treasure, unless that thing is not important to you, or you do not really know the true value of what you hold. The verse above lays out clearly that God's kingdom is like treasure hidden in a field. 

As already mentioned, no one places treasure in open sight for all and anyone to see, take or steal. It is always hidden and this tells me that whoever will take hold of it must be ready to get pretty uncomfortable. I have also yet to see where anyone finds hidden treasure without working hard for it. Gold is mined; oil has to be refined and diamonds too are rare. You do not walk along the streets to pick them up. For those who claim to have Him, do you really know the value of who you claim to have? It is called a kingdom, because it is a place of power and authority. It is also called a kingdom because from it proceeds blessings and benefits for those who willingly submit to its authority. 

Anyone outside the coverage of this kingdom will never know why those who are in it live the way they do. Those who have truly tasted of the benefits of the kingdom will not desire anything else. Anyone who has seen the good of the kingdom of heaven knows that there is no better offer anywhere else. That is why anyone who has come to the knowledge of this kingdom will do all they can to take hold of it to the end. The verse above makes reference to selling all you have in order to own the field in which the treasure is buried. Knowing and having God is my greatest possession. I must do all I can to retain that knowledge and possession to the end. Where I end up is defined by who I know. Do I really know God? Does He also know me as His own? God's time of favour is here.

Faith's Harmony!

Faith's Harmony!

Romans 10:9 AMP

[9] because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Paul was writing to a specific audience: those beloved of God, called to be saints, and set apart for a sanctified life. That is specific. God is not the author of confusion. He has a purpose for every life He has made. The Bible makes that very clear. The accounts of the new testament started with the ministry of Jesus amongst  His own people the Jews, before it spread out to the uttermost parts of the world. This is in line with the plan of God for the salvation of the whole world. Paul, a Jew, found himself as a minister of the gospel of Jesus to those that the Jews thought were beneath them, and not worthy of the benefits and blessings of the new life available in Christ. 

Thank God that the story did not end with the message to the Jews only. When the Holy Spirit came down at Pentecost, He descended on all who were in the upper room, but His touch also extended to all who were in Jerusalem at the time. 3,000 souls were saved, and the move of God amongst nations was now in full force. Men and women have come to the saving knowledge of Jesus, not because of where they were from, or their tribe or language, but simply by the power of the gospel of Jesus. Men and women who the world had given up on because of their past, now had a new lease of life, by virtue of the operation of the Holy Spirit.

How does this work? The verse above lays a bit of an emphasis on both an inner witness and an outward expression. Both are critical and important. There has to be an inner witness that cannot be shaken by earthly experiences. It comes from a conviction that only Jesus can save, and that only in Him is there true salvation and eternal redemption. It is this harmony between the heart and the mouth that makes it a complete experience. If the heart does not believe, it becomes a case of hypocrisy. I do not want to pay lip-service to faith; God cannot be deceived by outward piety that is empty of inner conviction. Have you come to both believe and confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour? 

Remember: the door is open to all who seek to come. God does not force Himself on anyone, and He will not go against the exercise of my freewill. It is an open door, but it will not remain open for all of eternity. He offers eternal life to all who come to Him. At least, you know with certainty what lies at the end of your decision, whatever it is: if I confess Jesus as Lord, and believe in my heart that His Life is now my own life, I am saved. This is the simple message of the cross that many struggle with. It does not ask for money, labour or striving; it just asks me to believe and confess. If you have tried others and not experienced the joy only God can give, why not try Jesus? He waits for anyone who will come. God's time of favour is here. 

The God-Factor

The God-Factor!

1 Corinthians 3:7 AMP

[7] So neither is the one who plants nor the one who waters anything, but [only] God who causes the growth.

Paul introduced himself to the church in Corinth as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God. He was writing jointly with Sosthenes to the church in Corinth, a church described as those sanctified in thd same Christ that he, the writer, had come to know and serve. The church is the body of Christ, and are selected and called as God’s people. It is this special relationship that defines the church and Christ. It has no regard to height, weight, culture, language, or gender; what is important is faith in Christ, and that is what makes me one and the same with someone who does not even look, speak or interact like me. 

This is the church that Christ had come to lay down His life for. At the time He died, none of us alive now were there, so we could not say that He died for only those who looked a certain way. He died at a time when the world did not even recognise or acknowledge Him. His gift paved the way for anyone at all, no matter the weight or depth of sin, to make an approach to the throne of grace, and receive mercy, forgiveness of sin, and full restoration of access to God. The one who has now been forgiven and restored now has a duty to live out the demands of this new faith on a daily basis. There is now new ownership, and the demand on my time and resources have now changed.

Then comes the message in the verse above. If my racial or cultural differences with another person did not matter at the time Jesus died for all of us, why should it become important now when we am saved? If where we are from was not considered at the time Jesus paid the price for us, it means that it is now not important after we have secured the  eternal life that was promised to all who believe. The letter of Paul referred to the church in Corinth as still being worldly, with jealousy, strife and discord among the church. It was a church that was still holding allegiance to the men who preached to them; not to the One who saved them from eternal damnation. 

That is a practice or attitude which needs to be addressed. All men, no matter how smart or influential, are tools in the hands of the Saviour to lead men to the personal knowledge of, and encounter with the Saviour. It is this personal encounter that preaches the loudest message. Men will come and go, and make different impressions upon your life as you grow, but all of them must be treated as vessels in the hand of God to draw the hearts of men to God. Jesus Christ is the most important factor in this discussion: He is the One who is the gift as well as the Redeemer. He saves and preserves; and He can use anyone and anything to achieve His purpose. Am I available? Am I yielded? God's time of favour is here.

Choices and Consequences 2!

Choices and Consequences 2!

Acts 10:43 AMP

[43] All the prophets testify about Him, that through His name everyone who believes in Him [whoever trusts in and relies on Him, accepting Him as Savior and Messiah] receives forgiveness of sins.”

The foundation to the verse above is tied to a man called Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian Regiment. The bible referred to him as a devout man and one who, along with all his household, feared God. He made many charitable donations to the Jewish people, and prayed to God always. Consider this: he was not the usual Jew, but he had heard about God. He sought God the way he knew how to, making sure his life's choices, actions and decisions reflected his faith in God. He was charitable to those who he had authority over, which means that he did not let power or position get into his head. That is the recipe for the experiences this man would later have.

This man's story also makes it clear that just having the right reputation is not enough, and just being known for doing good things, as nice as it sounds, but that fact alone does not make it perfect before God. There has to be something extra. God appeared to this man, asking him to send for Peter. Details were not given, but Peter initially struggled with the assignment, but he acknowledged that God was about to do something quite extraordinary in the lives of people. Can I set aside my prejudices and assumptions, so that God can move in and through me to touch lives? There are lives in need of God's touch of mercy and forgiveness, and He needs me to be His arms, mouth, feet and heart. 

Peter came, and he knew why God sent him to the house of Cornelius. Jesus died for all, and the message of eternal life is for all. No one is exempt from the coverage of this gift, and no matter how dirty the past is, or how terrible the present looks, God is able to take all that weight off me, and give me a brand new start. In His hands, no life is a waste. In His hands, no sin is too great to forgive. The blood of Jesus has capacity and capability to wash clean and make whole. If it could not, it means the blood is not effective. Through all the generations of men, the blood has been applied to the sin of man, and there is yet to be any situation so dire that the blood of Jesus could not cure. 

This is the message in the verse above. Even before Jesus was physically manifested, the prophets of old had testified about Him. We are privileged to live in the time of the power of the Holy Spirit. His acts are all around us, and He testifies to the saving knowledge of Jesus. In the name of Jesus lies the solution to the problem of sin. All I have to do is to believe in Him. He is not asking for sacrifices that will bankrupt me. There is nothing in me that I could offer to pay Him back for what He has done, and all He is asking me to do is to trust in and rely on Him. When I do that, I receive salvation from sin and eternal life is sealed. What could be bigger or better than this? Are you saved? Am I truly saved? God's time of favour is here. 

Choices and Consequences!

Choices and Consequences!

John 1:12 AMP

[12] But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the right [the authority, the privilege] to become children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name—

There was a problem that needed a personal and permanent solution. The problem had to do with the human nature. God had made man in His own image, but man gave up the truth and reality of the image of God for some lies from the devil about some falsehoods about the image of God that was not real. The devil convinced man to give up what God had already given man, for something man could never get. Man was promised that if he ate the fruit, he would be like God, knowing the difference between good and evil. Man ate, and now, we know the difference. We are not able to choose the good by ourselves without help, because we had traded God's help for the deceit of the devil. 

The verse above starts with a BUT, and it is critical to examine what came before the BUT, so we can determine the best steps forward. Man had fallen, and needed help. The drama in the Eden had eternal ramifications. There was a need for the full price for sin to be paid by those who committed the sin. However, the one who fell into sin deserved punishment, and could not now offer a fitting sacrifice for his own sin, except to die for the wrong done. That would have been justice, in line with the standards of God. God knew that man could not help himself, so He sent His own Son to stand in my place and pay the full price for sin that I could not pay. 

Christ came, and because He did not come to the sounds of bells and whistles, man missed it. As He did not come with a loud trumpet, man did not recognise the grace that was now made manifest. Jesus came in the form of the man He needed to save, but the world did not recognise or receive Him. The issue of familiarity became the burden; He is like us, so He cannot be anything special. This is how many people in His time missed the day of their visitation. Heaven backed Him up, but earth treated Him like ordinary man. He made man, but man now seeks to replace Him with alternative images and altars. 

As it was then, so is it now. Men are still in search of alternatives to Jesus; unfortunately, there is no other name or person who can secure that which Jesus offers. As the verse above makes clear, there is no favouritism with God. He offers all men the chance to come in and take hold of the benefits and blessings of a relationship with Him. To as many as will believe in and receive Him, He has given the right and the privilege to  become children of God. We are now in line to inherit all that Jesus has. That is both amazing and sobering. It is not something to be missed or trifled with. How do you respond? God's time of favour is here. 

As Promised!

As Promised!

Genesis 21:1 KJV

[1] And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.

What do you do when it appears that God has forgotten you? What do you do when you were sure that God made a promise to you, but with the passage of time, it appears that the promise no longer applies to you? This must have been the experience of the Sarah, the wife of Abraham. At the time God spoke to Abraham, asking him to leave his father's house and go to an unknown place at the time, it must have taken a strong and certain faith for him to take his family and move from the known to the unknown. We know now that Abraham obeyed because we now read about it, but it could have been easy at a time when walking with God was not popular. 

Abraham had a promise from God that he would be the father of many nations. We know that being a father means having your own child. It means that the many nations would start from your own offspring, but here was the man and wife, both getting past the ages of childbearing. Both had passed 90 and 80 years respectively, and there was no sign that the promise was even still being considered by God. Well, man's expectations or doubts have never limited God's capability and ability to fulfil His promises. He does not need my permission or authorisation to be God. Time does not limit Him the way it does for mortal man. 

In His own time, He makes all things beautiful. In His own time, He works out His perfect will. In His own time, He fulfills His promises. When He says a thing, He stakes His name and reputation on the integrity of His Word. He can be trusted, but He must be trusted to come through in His own time, not in line with our own expectations. Time as we measure it has no impact on Him. A day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like a day to Him. He stopped the sun from going down for a whole day, simply because a child of His asked. He added 15 more years to a man's life because the man asked. His mercy applies across several generations. He is the Omnipotent God. 

When it was His time, He visited Sarah again. He had sent His Word about 25 yesrs before it was fulfilled, and even the people involved had tried to help God speed up the process. For God, His Word cannot return to Him void. The power of His Word cannot be resisted by anything or anyone. When it was His time, He carried out His promise, and the one who had been mocked as barren became the mother to Isaac. The promise came to pass, even if it did not happen the way Abraham and Sarah wanted it to be. Take comfort from the legacy of truth that God has laid down: He always keeps His promises. Trust Him; your future is secure in the hands of an eternal God. God's time of favour is here. 

The Assignment!

The Assignment!

Mark 16:15-16 AMP

[15] And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. [16] He who has believed [in Me] and has been baptized will be saved [from the penalty of God’s wrath and judgment]; but he who has not believed will be condemned.

The plan of salvation was made manifest at the same time the first sin happened. The cross brought shame to Jesus, but it sealed our redemption. By the resurrection of Jesus, He has also sealed our eternal life. All these events happened in front of the disciples at that time, and it is not a wonder that all of them who witnessed the resurrection became witnesses to His Person, Power and Presence. We who are alive today may not have physically witnessed His resurrection, but there is a strong witness in our hearts that we belong to Jesus, He is ours, and we are bound for eternal life with Him. What a future to look forward to.

However, as the verse above makes clear, there is an assignment all who claim to follow Jesus have been given. The One who died needs witnesses to the power of the cross, the limits of the grave, and the hope that His life is and gives. It takes personal experience to be able to speak boldly about what you have and hold. How can I be a witness to a thing I did not touch, taste, feel, see or hear? It is not a surprise that the verse above is directed at disciples, not the crowd. The crowd flows by numbers and popularity, not by conviction or personal experience. Those who follow have a clear leader: Jesus Christ, and His instruction is to GO. 

To go means to take steps in the direction of the work to be done. It cannot be by sitting in the dark, or folding your arms, expecting some one else to do it. The platform for the work is the whole world. As I cannot be present everywhere, it means I just have to take care of the corner where I am. I show off the Person and Presence of the God I serve, and let Him shine in and through me. I do not get to determine who hears the good news of Jesus; He died for all, so the message of love is for all. It is not a call to promote myself, but to point men in the direction of the One who saves to the uttermost. That is the good news: the cross has sealed life for me.

The verse above also makes clear what lies at the end of whatever decision I make. If I choose to believe in God, I stand to enjoy His salvation. I am saved from the penalty of God's wrath, the natural consequence of sin. I am also kept from the judgment thst is sure to come on the world. Again, I note that I am not asked to bring anything else, except my heart. He does not need my money; but He can use everything I have and hold to bring His purpose to pass. The person who does not accept this free gift is condemned: that is a statement of fact. There are two choices: life and death. The end of both has been made clear. What would I choose? Where would I end up? God's time of favour is here.

The Harvest!

The Harvest!

Matthew 9:37-38 AMP

[37] Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is [indeed] plentiful, but the workers are few. [38] So pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.

Just in the chapter alone from where the verse above is taken, Jesus had healed a paralytic man, had called Matthew the tax collector to follow Him as a disciple, raised Jairus's daughter from the dead, healed the woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years, restored sight to two blind men, and delivered a demon-possessed man. These were just the recorded accounts in one single chapter of the bible. You would think that all who saw these miracles would be glad for God's intervention in human affairs, but not the Jewish leaders of Jesus' time. They would rather hold on to their traditions, rather than allow God move among the people. 

There is this amazing testament to the effect and impact Jesus had among the people. It was recorded that Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages in Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom. He also healed every kind of disease and every kind of sickness, with His words and works both reflecting His Messiahship. What He did and taught were evidence of His ministry and assignment on earth. He was clear about His target, and He would not let anything at all dissuade or discourage Him. Just like Jesus, do I know why I have been planted in the place I am, and do I know what I have been gifted by God to do?

The one thing that Jesus will not compel is submission to Him. His heart is open with love and compassion, as we see in the verses just before the one above. When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion and pity for them, because they were dispirited and distressed, like sheep without a shepherd. These people had been led by men who were concerned first and foremost about control, not destiny. Pharisees and scribes were more interested in keeping their hold on men than in helping them find purpose. How can the blind lead the blind? This is why the prayer of Jesus here is instructive: there is a lot to be done. 

Divinity has to meet and help humanity. The work is so huge that just human effort and labour alone will not make a single dent. The harvest is indeed plentiful. The world is in such dire chaos, and only the Prince of Peace has the answers it needs. Those who also understand what is at stake are also few. However, there is a Lord of the harvest who understands all the dimensions to this great assignment. It is not one you can apply sticks and swords for, and it is also not one you can use PowerPoint presentations alone to fuly explain how the kingdom of God works. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to convict men, and to empower them for the work needed. It is His work; His earth; His mission field. Would we all join Him at His work? God's time of favour is here.

The Right Person!

The Right Person!

Proverbs 31:30 AMP

[30] Charm and grace are deceptive, and [superficial] beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the Lord [reverently worshiping, obeying, serving, and trusting Him with awe-filled respect], she shall be praised.

We usually quote the verse above in the context of a woman who fears God, and that would be correct, but I am sure we know that the principles laid out in the verse above apply to all persons, male or female. We are all taught how to present ourselves; we learn grooming, etiquette and accpetable behaviour as we grow. We are placed in the midst of families, and the society at large, so we can learn acceptable norms, and pattern our lives and character after these norms. We learn what is acceptable in society as we grow, and re-learning, unlearning and resetting so many ideas that make us fit into whatever society we have been planted in. That is the physical side to our existence. 

There are reasons why we are not taken away from the earth as soon as we are born again. We are left here on earth in order to impact and affect the earth the right way. As part of our earthly phase, we take care of our bodies, as we should, knowing that our bodies are the temple of God, in which He seeks to dwell. You do not treat carelessly that which has been given to you in trust. You do not handle with levity the valuable treasure that has been entrusted into your hand. We have a duty to nurture that which is given to us, and that is where charm and grace are important. Esther the queen knew the importance of this; there was a place for proper outward preparation,  before she could stand before the king.

The warning, however, is to know the place and limits of charm. It helps to open doors and give access tto great men, but it appears that it is not enough to rely on the outward alone. As we know, there are doors external preparation will open for you, but only the inner preparation will sustain you when those doors close behind you. The external is great, as it gives a beautiful first impression, but after a great first impression, what else have I got? The verse above makes a reference to superficial beauty; as great as it is to present myself the right way, I must know that the outer is temporary, and only that which is tied to the fear of God lasts forever. 

The verse refers to a woman who fears the Lord, reverently worshiping, obeying, serving, and trusting Him with awe-filled respect. This is relevant to anyone and everyone who makes an approach to God in the same way. What does the fear of God lead me to? It keeps me grounded and humble; I seek to please and honour Him in my daily choices and decisions. I make it a duty to relate with God regularly, not when the occasion calls for it. I do not seek to turn God into a dispensing machine, only coming to Him when I need a thing or two. If I seek God the right way, He will also back me up. What treasure awaits the one who fears the Lord. Do you? Do I? God's time of favour is here. 

Ambassadors!

Ambassadors!

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].”

We can read about the account of the death and resurrection of Jesus, and appreciate the sacrifice that brought us all we have now, but picture the disciples at that time. They had met and closely followed a Master who did mighty miracles before them. The dead were raised back to life, the lame walked, the blind had their sight restored, and many souls were converted. They believed their Master was beyond reproach or shame, so it must have been very hard for them to accept that He could be arrested and treated like a common criminal. Peter said so, and Jesus rebuked him for trying to stop the plan of God for the whole of mankind. 

Jesus was indeed arrested and put to death, but thank God that this is not where the story ended. Jesus was raised to life, defeating the power of sin, death and the devil, and securing eternal life for all who would come to put their total faith in Him. The disciples could not fully understood the impact of what Jesus did, and fear had made them go into a locked room. They were hiding from the Jews, but that did not stop Jesus from appearing before them, and pronouncing those immortal wrods: "Peace be unto you". Nothing can limit the One who gave His all to secure an eternal inheritance for me. No scheme of man, or the machinations and powers of hell can limit the power and effect of what Jesus has done. 

The verse above refers to the legacy that Jesus left for His disciples, and it has to be our hearts' comfort. His Peace is not subject to my convenience or acceptance; it is always available, whether I embrace it or not. It is not subject to the world's manipulation, because it is not first and foremost of physical quality. There is no experience on earth that can fully explain the effect of the Peace that only Jesus gives. It is an inner Presence; it is the Person of Jesus, who introduces Himself as the Prince of Peace. He has the capacity and capability to give of that which He is. As we know, a man can only give you out of that which He has. 

For the disciples then, Jesus gave His Word of assurance of His Peace and Presence. It is still the same message for the disciple today. He is the same God yesterday, today and forever. Dispensations may change, but God's demand for lives that will show off His power has not diminished. He is always ready to supply all that we need for life and Godliness, and we must embrace His grace. As the verse above also makes clear, being His disciple means being His representative. Wherever I stand, I proclaim publicly the identity of the One who lives inside me. He seeks men He can send to impact the world for Him. Can He count on me? Can He count on you? God's time of favour is here.

The Gift!

The Gift!

Acts 2:38 AMP

[38] And Peter said to them, “Repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways, accept and follow Jesus as the Messiah] and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

We read of the promise of a special gift that was promised by Jesus just before He left the earth. We read of the account of the Holy Spirit coming on the apostles, in fulfilment of that promise. We then see men who had been afraid in the recent past, due to events of the cross, the pain of losing the Master that they had known, the general hostility of the Jewish leaders of that time, and the non-challance of the crowd which did not even know what it had been given. Whilst God was at work in the lives of the people gathered in the upper room, there were people who were focused on power, position, possession and performance. What a mess life would have been without Jesus. 

The gift came, and timid men became bold. Men who once denied knowing Jesus stood up in front of people and spoke so boldly of the Master they had all abandoned at His hour of need. Men who had been witnesses to His power, the miracles that He performed, the amazing lessons that He taught, and the lives that He touched, were all glad to speak to other people about Him. It takes someone with personal experience to be able to speak so boldly about what he has seen, felt, heard or personally encountered. You cannot fake the experience. Someone else cannot tell you about it. The question then is: 'Do I know Him on a personal level?

The verse above is from the first Sermon of Peter after the Holy Spirit had come. He spoke about Jesus; a simple message, but backed up by the power of God. This is the impact of the Holy Spirit. He takes the very ordinary and turns it into the amazingly extraordinary. He takes simple words, and after breathing on them, He uses the vessel and the words to change the lives of men. He convicts the hearts of men, and turns their hearts back to Himself. That is the clear message in the verse above. God cannot work with a heart that He has not first worked on. For it to be a vessel in His hand, the heart has to repent, and turn to Him. 

It is the sign of total surrender; repentance means I recognize the folly of my old ways, and know that only God can keep me focused on what He wants me to do for Him. The Holy Spirit is the gift from God for the times we are living in now. The Holy Spirit will not compete for attention with sin in my life. He wants my all, so He can also give me His all. The clear message for us all is: 'do not let the free gift of God go to waste in your life'. God will not force Himself on anyone, and He will not go against the exercise of my freewill, but He will definitely demand an account from me for what I do with this gift. I surrender now, so I can reign with Him. I reject Him now; it is eternal loss. God's time of favour is here. 

Call!

Call!

Joel 2:32a AMP

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

Acts 2:21 AMP

[21] ‘And it shall be that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord [invoking, adoring, and worshiping the Lord Jesus] shall be saved (rescued spiritually).’

Romans 10:13 AMP

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

Three different passages of the Bible, with words pronounced by three different people.  Three different verses from three different writers, but the same message. Different generations and dispensations, but the same message. It is clear that we are dealing with a God who will not lower His standards for anyone. We deal with a God of consistency in what He says and does. What He called sin under Adam is a sin under Peter, and is still a sin in our own generation too. That is why God can be trusted to keep His Word. That is why men and women of old held on to Him, and they were not disappointed. Have you met this God? 

As mentioned above, God introduces himself to every generation. He leaves his handprint and footprint all through creation. He makes clear that He is the God of all creation, and He seeks men who will sincerely seek Him too. 

That is the goal of creation: that the created may seek out and worship the Creator. If we look and consider deep enough all the things that surround us, we will see clearly the hand of God in everything. We then have a choice to make: Do we embrace this God, the Creator of all things, or do we pursue our own devices and schemes? We must note that whatever action we take has both earthly and eternal consequences. Consider well before you act.

As it has been made clear several times, God does not force Himself on anyone, and He will not go against the exercise of my freewill. He wants to consider who He is in the light of the information He has provided, and He waits for my response. I can be sure that if I choose Him, I have no earthly or eternal regrets. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Those who chose Him in Joel's days saw the hand of God move mightily. This was the time when Joel prophesied about the coming of the Holy Spirit. Peter was privileged to experience the Holy Spirit, and his first Sermon following that encounter led to the conversation of 3,000 souls. 

Paul also had an encounter with this same God, and He wrote to His audience too about this God who seeks men to submit to, worship and serve Him. The promise in all the verses is the same: there is a God willing, ready and able to answer ALL who call upon His name. You see: God is not looking for ready-made vessels; He is able to take just about anyone, clean him up, equip him, and then launch him out into the world for exploits and impact. As I have now come to know who God is, and what He desires from me, am I willing and ready to call? Salvation lies at the end of my call. Judgment and eternal separation are at the end of my silence. Would you call? God's time of favour is here. 

Light 2!

Light 2!

John 8:12 AMP

[12] Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, “I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

As it was always the case, Jesis always had a crowd following Him. It is also important to note that the Pharisees, Sadducees, scribes and teachers of the law were also always around Him. It was not that the leaders liked or loved Him, but they saw Him as a threat to their dominance, influence and control over the people. These leaders used every chance and opportunity they had to oppose Him. You have to have a clear sense of purpose in order to focus on what God has assigned you to do. There will be distractions along the way; there will be people who pretend to like you but will seek ways to harm you. Not everyone in your circle is on your side. 

That was very obvious in the chapter from where the verse above is taken. The scribes and Pharisees, in their hypocrisy, brought a woman who had been caught in adultery before Jesus, seeking His view on the right punishment. Yes, the law prescribed death to anyone committing adultery, but only the woman was brought. The scribes wanted to find a way to trip Jesus up, but the Wisdom and Power of God would not be defeated. In His wisdom, He did not excuse the sin, but He went to the root of all humanity, asking anyone who was without sin to be the first to cast a stone in judgment. What a way to put us on notice that we need help.

Of course, in a moment of true honesty and sincerity, all the accusers left. They all knew that they were not without sin, and Jesus too, in His mercy, was not going to add to the woman's condemnation. He simply charged her to go, and sin no more. That is a message of hope to everyone struggling with sin. Sin and judgment will not be the final word in your life, if only you take advantage of the offer of life that has been made. This gift is of and from God, and it is available for anyone, no matter the weight of the past, the pressure of the present, or the uncertainty of the future. The One who offers is the One speaking in the verse above.

As He addressed the crowd then, so does He address us all today: I am the Light of the world. There is darkness all around, but in and by me, you have guidance, direction, hope and peace. The world cannot generate this kind of light: you cannot give what you do not have. The world is under the control and influence of the devil, and he is not able to help anyone attain the Life that is in Jesus. You access all He gives by total surrender. The verse invites us all to follow Him. It is a matter of freewill; God does not force Himself on anyone, and He will not go against the exercise of my freewill. Be sure that He is able to keep to the end anything that is committed into His hand. Are you His? Does He own you? God's time of favour is here. 

Led by the Spirit!

Led by the Spirit!

Galatians 5:25 TPT

[25] If the Spirit is the source of our life, we must also allow the Spirit to direct every aspect of our lives.

The church in Galatia was going through a few challenges at time Paul wrote this letter.  Of course, the Jews at the time thought that any other person not circumcised was not worthy of salvation. It became a bit of a burden and a distraction, because we see Pau at some point in this letter, challenge the church in Galatia about its desire to align with Jewish laws, at the expense of the rules of engagement of salvation laid down by God. As it was then, so is it today. We start off with total trust in the work of the cross, but as some point, we begin to think that we can bring in human effort and labour to complement what Christ has done. 

This is the error that has to be addressed. At no point could I contribute or add to what Christ has already secured. His death and resurrection are complete packages for all of humanity; He did not need my consent to offer His life for me; in fact, I was not even alive at the time He died, so my view would not have counted. All I can do right is to trust in that finished work of Jesus, rest in His love and live in the daily consciousness of what He needs from me. Human rules have a place indeed, but they cannot replace the rules of engagement laid down by Jesus. As Jesus Himself said, He had not come to abolish the law, but to fulfil it. 

The gift that Jesus secured for us is valid for all time, as long as this earthly phase remains in place. Jesus is called the Way, the Truth and the Life. He is the Source of all things, and in Him, all things hold together. He is also the Son, the only One to whom God has committed all judgment to. In light of all the above, I will do well to align with the gift and make sure that it is mine. It is not enough to know the gift by head knowledge alone. It is not enough to know Him for a while and then discard Him when problems arise. It is not enough to hold Him as one of the many available options; He has to be the only One who holds my heart and pulls its strings. 

This is what being led by His Spirit looks like. Being led means being totally surrendered. I do not have a superior argument to anything God asks me to do. I do not claim to know it all; that is God's exclusive preserve, and He will not share His glory with anyone. I cannot open up some areas of my life to Him, and then seek to keep other parts under my sole control. I either give God all, or nothing at all. I am reminded that willing surrender is the way to go. God will not force Himself on anyone, and He will not go against the exercise of my own freewill. My knowledge and encounter of God will definitely show up in my daily actions and decisions. Am I truly led of and by God? God's time of favour is here. 

The New!

The New!

Ezekiel 36:26 AMP

[26] Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you, and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

It has to be clear to all that sin has adverse consequences. It does not matter how long it has gone on undetected by man, or not openly punished by God. As long as God has said He hates and will punish sin, sin is not something to be treated with levity. God warned His own people about sin, and though they were His treasured possession, He punished them for their sin. With Him, there was no favouritism or partiality. He applied the punishment for sin in line with His command. This should make me both joyous and cautious. If He makes a promise, be sure that He has the power, capacity and capability to fulfil His promises.

Thank God that punishment was not the final word. Thank God that in the midst of the full application of judgment, God said He had concern for His Holy name, and would have mercy on His people. Even though the people had brought shame and disrepute to the name of the Lord through their many acts of disobedience and rebellion, it is a thing of joy and profound gratitude that you read words like the verse above. It has to be clear that man is not able to confront and defeat sin by any human scheme or method; it is only that which God provides and promotes that man is able to defeat sin, which is older than all of us who are alive today. 

One thing God is able to do to help us have and retain victory over sin is a new heart. The reason why a new heart is fundamental to what God wants to do is that the old heart, no matter how hard you try to shape and tool it, can never totally surrender to God. Since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, the heart of the natural man is unable to grasp the danger of sin, and seek the right kind of help. That is why a new heart is needed; the type that only God gives, and is able to keep working on, shaping and guiding it to align with His own perfect will. It is not a version you can buy in the open market for a lot of money; God alone gives it, and He will gladly do so, because He wants me to be all He has created me to be.

The fact that God promises to remove the heart of stone from my flesh tells me that a heart of stone was not part of God's original design. My flesh was not made to resist God, because I am made in His image and likeness and it is sin that messes up and disrupts the original template. God wants to restore me to the original position before sin came, and as we have always said, God will not force Himself on anyone, and He will not go against the exercise of my freewill. This is a voluntary surrender, but presented as compulsory conscription. You come in willingly, but there are rules to live by. Are you open to the new? God's time of favour is here. 

Power!

Power!

Romans 1:16 AMP

[16] I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation [from His wrath and punishment] to everyone who believes [in Christ as Savior], to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Both the writer and audience of this letter are equally important. Paul the writer had his own interesting past. He came from harassment and conspiracy to murder, to a place of total and absolute trust in God. He was a Jew who was given grace to minister the gospel of Jesus to those who were not Jews, but were also targets of the plan of salvation laid out by God. As we read in the introductory part of this letter, all of us, Jews and Gentiles alike, have all received grace and have been called into the obedience that comes from faith. The plan of salvation, as laid down by God, was not for only the Jews; it is for everyone. No one is exempt from grace.

It is in this light that the verse above can best be understood. Paul had seen firsthand what it means to be saved. He had experienced the mercy of God; how else can you explain this man's experiences? He had supported the murder of Stephen, and was on his way to do more harm, yet the mercy of God found and saved him. His past was wiped clean, and he was given a mandate to bring the gospel to those who he would normally not focus on. This is part of the message about Christ; He was put to death for the sin of the world; Jew or not, and He was brought back to life for the eternal redemption of the world, Jew or not. There is no favouritism with God. 

Paul understood this, and his earthly ministry reflected this understanding. He was the ideal personal reflection of the assignment He was given by God. He wrote to both Jews and non-Jews with the same message: Jesus Christ is the power of God. Jesus is the author of salvation for all men. He has sealed life for all who will come and surrender their lives to Him. As always, this is a free gift that had been made available to all men. Anyone can come, no matter the weight of the past, or the depth of the stain. It is a gift that does not expire until it actually does expire. That is the sobering message in today's verse too: we all have access to this gift. 

It must however be noted that this gift will not always be there. Response time is of the essence. The gospel of Jesus has power, but it does not force itself on you. It has power to change men and situations, but it will not go against the exercise of your freewill. Jesus is the Wisdom and the Power of God, yet He seeks willing surrender and total submission to Him. I am a beneficiary of the grace of God that brings salvation to all men. I have come to know God; I have seen Him at work in my life and in those close to me. I have seen men with horrible pasts become vessels of honour in God's hands. It is for everyone who believes in the finished work on the cross. Have you submitted to that power? God's time of favour is here. 

Light

Light!

Matthew 5:14 AMP

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

This chapter is the first recorded sermon of Jesus, after He had been revealed to the world through the ministry of John the Baptist, as well as the public declaration from heaven that He is God's Son. He had also been tempted by the devil, and had overcome, and He had chosen the twelve disciples who would go on to be with Him during His earthly ministry. Talk about a very busy time for Jesus as He sought to impact the world im which He had been placed. It is hard to argue for anything different for anyone who wants to walk with Jesus. If the Son of God had to go through these processes, how much more would we who seek to walk in His steps? 

The One who God backs up will always command an audience. At the time of this first sermon, there was a crowd following Him everywhere. However, at this time, the message was for His disciples, not the crowd. The demands He was laying down were not for the uncommitted majority, but the distinct few that would choose to follow Him. This is testament to the fact that though the commands and instructions of Jesus are for everyone He has made, they do not place a demand for obedience on everyone at the same time. This is why the passage from where the verse above is taken was careful to note that Jesus took His disciples to the top of the mountain, and taught them. 

Am I one of the distinct few, or part of the uncommitted majority? If I know who I am, and I am clear about my allegiance, then the verse above speaks directly to me. Jesus spoke directly to the disciples, referring to them as His Light to the world. This is clear ownership: I do not represent myself at any level. I do not speak of myself at any level. I am simply the representative of the One who calls me His own, and also sends me out to impact the world in which I have been placed. A little bit of Light is enough to deal with the deepest darkness. Even the light from a phone will make a difference. That is the power and impact of light. 

As light, I cannot be ignored. I cannot be put away in a box, and only opened when the need arises. At all times, I am relevant; at all times, I am in the public eye. Whenever I act or speak, I am putting out indications of who I am, whose I am, and what my allegiances are. The verse above likens me to a city that is set on a hill and cannot be hidden. That city is a beacon that draws men to it. It is a place of refuge for those coming in from darkness and need help. It is a place of comfort for all who have been oppressed and seeking deliverance and safety. Does the above describe me at the moment? Am I truly representing Christ? God's time of favour is here.