Lifted!

Lifted!

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. Psalms 121:1 KJV

At all times in this earthly plane, there will be physical realities you have to contend with. Part of the structure of the earth are the physical mountains and hills around us. Wherever they stand, they form part of the 'security' around you, as it is pretty difficult for strangers to attack those who live in and around mountains. That is the startpoint of today's extract. Physical 'security' is good, but it is not the full picture.

Jerusalem had these mountains and hills, but it didn't always keep the city safe. That is the other side of 'security': the spiritual. The writer here understood this, when he cast his eyes over the beautiful structures, yet knew they were not enough to keep a man truly safe. Experience has shown that these are no physical guarantees of protection from man-made devices; you are only truly safe when God keeps you.

We all need help; show me a man who calls himself a 'self-made' man and I will show you a selfish man, who has no idea that nothing in him qualified him for where he is.  Men boast about where they are and what they have become; we define impact by position and possession and privilege, forgetting that having the presence of God is the most important factor in becoming who God wants you to be.

This writer knew this when he wrote the words here. Total dependence on the right source of nourishment and sustenance and protection is the way to go. You are not safe until you are in God. You have no real help until you lift your eyes up to God and depend on Him for all of life. His time of favour is here.

Right!

Right!

One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24 NIV

We were built for relationship and close fellowship. The very foundations of our lives are built on the connections that blood births. All of us are products of families; no one fell from the sky or just came into being. We come from families, we marry into families; we are loved all through our lives by families; we fellowship together as families and it is family that will stand by us through all the good and 'bad' times that will come our way.

Yet, in all of these, today's extract seems to warn against fruitless relationships. It seems to me that it is a good thing to be a companion to many people, but it is a dangerous thing not to know the heart of the people you are close to. There seems to be a warning here about unreliable friends; how do you know if someone is unreliable if you are not close to the person or if you have never had your expectations dashed?

The danger with too many friends, especially if they have different pursuits and priorities from yours, is that you get pulled in many directions and you lose your focus. If you need friends to give you validation, then the journey to fulfillment of purpose is still far. You need friends who have the same heart for God as you do, as well as people who will drive you closer to God. They could be few or many; the number isn't the issue, but it is about the impact on your life.

There are people God will bring your way for a reason, for a season or for the whole of your life's journey. You have got to know where each person fits. Some will teach you hard lessons; some will seek to bring you down; others will hold your hands up. No matter what comes, know this: God must be the focus at all times. He knows the right ingredients for my growth, and if I allow him work, He can guarantee a good end. Ask God to bring into your life helpers of destiny. They could be initially disguised as enemies, but at the end, God's purpose will speak. His time of favour is here.

Go!

Go!

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Matthew 28:19 KJV

The command here is to GO; not to fold our arms and watch the world go to pieces. The instruction is to those who are following Christ, who understand their calling, the One who calls, and the necessity of the assignment given. It is not for everyone; God says "How can they go unless there is a messenger? The messenger is the one who has heard the Word of God, responded to it, knows and understands the import of what s/he has heard and is willing to share that message with all to whom s/he is sent. That is the Great Commission.

The assignment is to teach all nations; not the ones that are convenient. If Christ died for all men, then there is no one beyond the grace of God. The assignment is to teach; not condemn. Grace is the message; the blood is the difference and eternal life is the prize. Every other thing the world offers is for this world, and it will pass with time.

And baptism is quite symbolic in this message, otherwise Christ won't teach it. It is an outward sign of an inner change; something that tells the world that you have decided to follow Christ and that you have died to the world and its attractions. Baptism symbolizes the death and resurrection of Jesus, and all who partake in it identify with the same process. It is not the proof of salvation, but a witness to the process and a reminder to you that you now have a new owner.

And the focus in all of these is clear: it must be God all the way. At all times, I must keep God as the focus of my life, activities and hope. Today's extract reminds me of what is truly important: possessions, position, power and privilege are all good, but the presence and pursuit of God are the most important things in this present life. What is your focus? What do you consider key? Are you on assignment or just existing? His time of favour is here.

Available!

Available!

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. Isaiah 6:8 KJV

It is very easy to look at today's extract and seek to respond in the same way. We know God is looking for men He can use and we also want to be used by God, so we pray it and confess it: 'Lord, here I am. Send me'. Before Isaiah here could say the words of today's extract, let's examine some of the things he had to go through.

First, there had to be a clear vision of the One who calls men to himself and commissions them for assignments. If you do not know who is calling you, how do you respond in the right way, and how do you keep sane when everything around you is falling to pieces? The only way you can hold on when you do not even understand what's going on around you is being sure and certain of the One whose call you heard.

Secondly, there has to be a cleansing. God does NOT use dirty vessels. Yes, He will take them, but before He can use, He has got to purify. Tied to that cleansing is an admission of my own unworthiness. If I do not admit I need help, how does God help me? If I feel self-sufficient, how can God reach out and work in and on me? If I will be all He had created me to be, I have got to align with His expectations.

Thirdly, then comes the specific hearing. I have got to wait for God to call and commission and send out. With a new master comes new assignments, priorities and pursuits. It can't be the same old story anymore. God is always calling out; He does not force Himself on anyone. All who will respond to his call must know what they are getting into. It is NOT a life of earthly convenience and comfort, but a call to Holiness and righteousness.

If God calls, He will supply grace and strength to remain faithful. If you are struggling for identity and direction, go back to God. He alone can sustain whatever He ordains. If it is from Him, it cannot die or go to waste. Like Isaiah, does God know you are available, or does He have to make you very uncomfortable for Him to get your attention? Does sin need to be dealt with so you can hear God clearly? You need to take the right steps now before it is too late. Nobody is promised forever this side of eternity. His time of favour is here.

Owned!

Owned!

Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own...1 Corinthians 6:19 AMPC

Today's extract starts with a question; one that goes to the root of our ownership and allegiance. Today's generation lays a stake on ownership and personal responsibility, claiming that the body belongs to them and they can deal with it as they like. For one moment, think about the complexities of the human body, its secret workings and the intricate systems for its functions and tell me which part any man could have created by himself.

Even the argument for cloning is all messed up, as you take from materials already made to imitate something already created. And try as much as we have, we are yet to have anyone cloned to look exactly like the man God created, with all parts like the ones God formed, and with the power of free will God gave to everyone He made. We were not made to look like anything else in all creation so we owe it to God to find out the purpose and thinking behind our existence and experience.

When God breathed in man, He made a case for ownership of man. He was saying that no matter how ordinary you think you look on the outside, your true value is who lives in you. God gave of his Spirit to us, not because we had earned it, but because He wanted us to seek Him of our free will, not from coercion or a sense of fear and dread. And it really doesn't matter whether you know or acknowledge it or not, you do not own the template of your life or hold the title deeds to your life. God does, and one day soon, an account will be demanded by the One who owns all life.

Think about it: do you think God would do and give all He's given us without any responsibility on my part to handle it right? His time of favour is here.

Faith!

Faith!

When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. Matthew 8:10 KJV

Let's put today's extract  in perspective: here was a Roman officer, who wasn't  a Jew, so didn't  understand  the fuss about where Jesus was from. All he knew was that there had been stories about Jesus from some of his fellow leaders of that time, maybe Jairus, who had told him about how Jesus raised her own daughter from the dead. This Roman official wasn't interested in following the popular trend; he needed something from God and nothing, not even tribe, language or culture barrier was going to stop him. Therein lies the first lesson: until I learn to ignore popular opinion, it may be impossible  to truly follow and serve God in an acceptable  way.  Never forget: God is looking  for men and women who will trust him completely. Are you one?

Then came the request: my servant is ill. Jesus offered to come and heal him, but the man understood the authority  and power of the one speaking. Too many times, we have allowed familiarity to blunt our expectations of Who God is and what he can do. We think we got him figured  out,  or there is just one particular place and  time He can be found  or sought out. Thank God  He is not like man: limited,  human and weak. This is a God who speaks from and into etenity; who works from the end to the now, whose wisdom, power and grace are beyond human comprehension.  That is  the God calling us into a relationship  with Him. We have got to know who He is, what he wants and  how he wants us to approach, lest we spend all our lives in the desert, ignorant of who we are called to follow, wandering about, not able to get into the promised land.

And the man said something profound: Just say the word, and my servant will be healed. That is the product of a consistent relationship with God. You come to a point where you know God is not a function of where you worship first of all, but who you know. Men go from place to place, seeking miracles and signs, but never taking time to study and know God. Yet, we want God to come through and show himself mighty on our behalf. If I do not even know how he works, how do I know when he has intervened? That man's statement elicited the words of today's extract. Not even in Israel had Jesus found such great faith. Don't be deceived by familiarity or popular opinion; it is faith that opens the door to the miracles and breakthroughs you seek. No matter the culture or environment, seek God for yourself. He responds to the cry of faith, and all men who have ever held his hands for anything, no matter how complex and irrespective of tribe, language or culture have all seen Him act. What are you waiting for? Call him in faith. His time of favour is here.

In The Now!

In the Now!

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. Matthew 6:34 KJV

Easier said than done! Life itself is full of suprises and unexpected twists. We can lay down the best plans and just one simple event will turn everything upside down. Life itself is unexplainable; there are too many parts to it that you cannot legislate on or predict. Yet, today's extract says: 'Do not worry about tomorrow'.

The only way today's extract will make sense is if you are connected in the right way to the right source. What is the right connection: today's extract was addressed to the disciples and those who followed Jesus. The foundation of a life free of worry is a life full of faith. When faith fills all, there is no room for fear. The moment you take your eyes off the One who sustains, you see the ones who are pretenders, who claim they can help you but are themselves powerless.

Built into each day by the One who made the day are the resources that day needs to be a success. That's why the Bible says:
This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24. If you know what power, wisdom and grace have been built into each day that God allows you to experience, you will realise the futility of worry and the importance of faith.

Built into each day also is the 'evil' by the prince of this world. The devil also works to make sure the day has no joy, but then the point is this: what you get out of the day is a function of who you know, follow and obey. When you have sorted out your allegiance, you are bound by the rules of the game. When God is your leader and guide, the day will always turn out good, no matter what the fine details are. When God is your father, every thing required for life and Godliness is guaranteed. Who's in charge? Who do you answer to? His time of favour is here.