Shine!

Shine!

And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Isaiah 60:3 KJV

Context: This was Isaiah's message to the Jews of his time. They had sinned against God and He had punished them. They had been scattered across several nations, but the message here is: whatever it is I had done to you in the past, I am about to do a new thing. I am about to change your story. The message then is still the same now: God is the One who can do a new thing. It does not matter how long the old has persisted or settled; as long as it is God's will, He will move the heavens and the earth to bring His purpose to pass.

Light: The central theme for the entire chapter is LIGHT. I am asked to arise because the light of God has come upon me. Before I shout at the news, a fundamental question is: is my life the sort that if God's light should shine on it, God's glory will made manifest in me? I note that it is called 'my light' in today's extract, but in context, it is first the glory of God shining on me, which then translates to the Light that shines in and through me. I don't have what it takes in or by myself; it is first and foremost about God. 

God wants to shine in and through me. In fact, the one tested way by which God is glorified is for mortal man to show his forth. Those who think it is impossible for mortal man to please God see the example of a life touched by God, and they are encouraged. And that is the essence of the latter part of today's extract. 

Gentiles and kings: How else can my life attract strangers if it is not different from theirs? If I live the same way the world does, how does my life speak, minister and attract others to the light? Check out the caliber of people who the light in me will attract: people who never knew God, and those who have the power to influence and direct people's attention. As my light shines in my little corner where I have been placed, one person is drawn to the light. As we both shine out, another person is drawn yet again and the circle of influence grows. 

How did the apostles of Acts change their world: one message at a time. But there was an expression in the Bible which puts all these in perspective: The council members were astonished as they witnessed the bold courage of Peter and John, especially when they discovered that they were just ordinary men who had never had religious training. Then they began to understand the effect Jesus had on them simply by spending time with him. Acts 4:13 TPT. The encounter with Jesus had left an indelible mark on the disciples and men could see it just by looking at them. Can the same be said of me and you? 

Rise Up: if I truly know who I have believed and received, I cannot keep quiet. I note that kings are to be drawn to the brightness of my rising, not my compromise it my blending in. I get nothing by trying to be popular or accepted by men. I gain nothing by being ashamed of my allegiance and confession. You don't light a lamp and keep it under a bushel; you place it where its brightness can reach the farthest. The world is crying out for help; it has tried things its own way for quite some time but nothing has changed. It is time for those who bear the vessels of the Lord to live up to His expectations of holiness. You can't pass on God if you don't have Him, and you can't shine out if his light is not in you. His time of favour is here. 

Confessed!

Confessed!

Anyone who confesses (acknowledges, owns) that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides (lives, makes His home) in him and he [abides, lives, makes his home] in God. 1 John 4:15 AMPC

There is no other way to emphasise the importance of the message in today's extract than to just say it lies at the core and foundation of all that we are today. The central truth in the passage under consideration is this: Jesus is the Son of God. You see, here is the clincher: we have heard this statement several times in our lifetime, and maybe taken it for granted so many times, yet what I say or believe about it isn't what makes it true. It is true regardless of what I say or do, or whether I believe it or not. This truth is not subject to my acceptance or manipulation, but it is a truth for all time, and will be the basis of the coming judgment. 

Note: Jesus asked his disciples this question while he was still with them: 'Who do men say I am'. He also asked them: 'Who do you say I am'. The response by Peter to that very personal question is the foundation on which the church is built till today, and which the gates of hell cannot prevail against. It didn't matter what the opinion of the world was; the truth was all that mattered, and it is a truth all who will follow after God must accept, embrace and promote. 

You don't confess something until you have become convinced of its truth. You don't confess something you have not believed and proven. And it matters what you confess: do you take Jesus as just one of those great men who once lived, or is He indeed your Lord and Saviour? It goes deeper than the usual mouth confession, but a heart profession that finds expression from my life's external manifestation. As men come in contact with me, does that confession shine out? Can men read my allegiance from relating with me? Can men make out my confession? 

And the reward or consequence linked to my confession is also clearly stated: my life becomes a place of residence for God to dwell in. It says: 'God MAKES a home in that person. It is like God brings all the things that make him comfortable, so He can live in there. He cleans it up, puts in all that I require for life and Godliness. It is not a temporary arrangement, only good for some time until a better place comes along. It is permanent residence; a home. It also goes both ways: "God lives in the man, and the man also lives in God. Its like a perfect relationship where you can't get to one without getting to the other.

And the offer is open to all men, no matter the origin or the present location. It is open to ANYONE. It does not matter what the past or the present looks like; this is a matter that goes to the root of where I am headed eternally. I must address my present if my future will be anything like God has said it would. The offer is open now, but we also know from God's Word also that it will not be open forever. The door of grace is open now, but judgment will come. We can't leave it until it is too late to decide for God. While there is time, a decision has to be made: confess or perish. As harsh as it sounds, those are the options. What is your own choice? His time of favour is here. 

Filled!

Fliiped! 

For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk 2:14 KJV

As I read today's extract, I cast my eye over the words of the verses just before. God had pronounced punishment on various people, and it was on sin: sin of pride, covetousness, murder, greed, deceit, amongst others. As it has been said before, let it be repeated again: God will punish sin, no matter in whom it is found. God has no favourites when it comes to sin, and He does not treat or view it lightly. As He demanded right living from Abraham, so did He from Habakkuk here and Paul. We must do the same, if we will live to please God.

In the midst of these dire messages, I read today's extract. In fact, just after the beautiful words of today's extract, I read yet another pronouncement of woe by God. What then would the words of today's extract mean in light of these words by God? For me, this is it: no matter how bad things get, God always has his way. No matter how hard the devil tries to stake a claim on the earth, it does not belong to Him, because clearly, as seen from the account of creation, ALL things were made by God and answer to Him. Today's extract sets it out in clear, unmistakabe terms: it SHALL happen. It is not a negotiation, or an appeal to let it be; it is a statement of fact, truth and certainty. 

And what would the earth be filled with: the knowledge of the glory of the Lord. How would the earth know God if He has not already made Him known by the mighty and awesome things that surround us? Recall what Romans 1:20 says: God's invisible qualities, both his eternal power and his divine nature, have been clearly seen; they are perceived in the things that God has made. So those people have no excuse at all! As I take in all that God has made, I realise that He is indeed the Lord of all I can or cannot see. His wisdom shines through all that he has done. His power is made manifest in the amazing world that we see every day. For all who are careful to observe, what you see must move you to acknowledge the power of God and make Him known. Men around me must know that God is Sovereign, and my life must testify to and support that truth. 

And one final truth: God separated the waters below the firmament into one place, and gave the seas their boundaries. Till today, except for man's attempts to disrupt the balance, the seas have largely stayed within their boundaries. Nothing in creation goes against the divine order, and if anything works out odd, it is because God allows it for a reason. If the seas could stay within their boundaries, then know that the earth too will take in and accept the glory of God as a matter of natural course. 

You can accept it now as a matter of course, or you can still watch either way as it happens. Whatever you choose, it will happen. It is not subject to negotiation or my acceptance, but it is proof that God reigns and rules over all He has done. Would you let him in now by choice? His time of favour is here. 

Consistency!

Consistency!

Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages). Hebrews 13:8 AMPC

An introduction to the subject of the discussion is important here. He is Jesus Christ, the One called the Messiah. Why is this introduction necessary? So many people had stood up in the past, claiming to hold the keys to the eternal kingdom, and promising what they could not deliver. So many lives had been led astray by the deceit and the falsehood, and none of these pretenders is around to defend his/her record. 

But we have the One and Only Jesus Christ Himself, the Messiah, whose words from creation still ring true today, just as they did so many years ago when they were first spoken. So do not settle for any other truth except the Truth Himself. Why should Jesus be trusted, you may ask? At least, one very key thing is His consistency. Right from creation, the things He says He loves haven't changed, and the things He also says He hates haven't changed. He is not like man, given to emotinonal blackmail and flip-flops, but right through the generations, His Word can be trusted to be true, no matter the generation or the situation. 

And when I consider today's upheavals and uncertainty, you want an anchor for your soul, something that keeps you sane in the midst of the turbulence going on around you. You want to be sure of a place to go for safety and guidance. The testimony of the past becomes the anchor for the present. The things He had done in the past become the foundation of the things I am trusting Him to do in the present. 

And of course, He has clearly said that things will not always go on like they do now. No matter how 'comfortable' He makes me now, this is not where it will all end. He tells me that there is an eternal future, a place to call Home permanently when all of this present life is over. How do I trust these words? Because He died in the past to secure that future. He promised to go and prepare a place for me, and then return for me. And if He has been able to keep other promises made, it becomes easier for me to trust that He is able to keep this one too. If He has been true in the past as well as the present, I am assured that He will come through for me as promised. 

That is the foundation of my assurance and confidence in God. I serve a God of consistency; not one given to fickle emotions, or can be swayed by anything. He is One for the ages, called the Ancient of Days. He is good for all time, called the Way, the Truth and the Life. So, whatever it is that is the worry, let the One who transcends time deal with it. Trust Him with your life; there is nothing you can do to secure it on your own. He is ready, willing and able to keep that which has been entrusted into His hands. His time of favour is here. 

Response!

Response!

But instead be kind and affectionate toward one another. Has God graciously forgiven you? Then graciously forgive one another in the depths of Christ’s love. Ephesians 4:32 TPT

As always, when there is a BUT in a sentence, it is good to take a step back and see what came before it. The verse before today's extract says: Lay aside bitter words, temper tantrums, revenge, profanity, and insults. For me to fulfil today's extract, there has to be a taking off or a laying aside of other things. It appears to me that you cannot combine these two verses in the same human vessel. Pray, tell me, how does one person engage in revenge, profanity and insults and can still be kind, affectionate and forgiving to other people? 

There has to be clear and visible evidence of my allegiance. I cannot claim to be one thing, when all the physical evidence from my life points in the opposite direction. This passage is addressed to people who had been sealed by the Holy Spirit for the day or redemption. You can't have the Holy Spirit in you and still produce fruit that lines up with the godless nature. You cannot drink of the Holy Spirit and not have works or fruit that aligns with your ownership status. I just need to check again: who is in charge right there in my heart? Who is ruling and directing affairs?

You know, you can't force it. I don't have to shout about it in your face; the evidence will always speak, because it's proof is seen in how I relate with people around me, not ghosts. Why am I asked to be kind, affectionate or forgiving to other people who share the same faith and belief system as me? Because when we all get it right, we become a loud message that cannot be ignored. The world sits up and takes notice because it has seen something unique and different from itself. If I do what the world expects, how do I show God off? If I blend in with the world, how would the world know it needs help?

And we have the perfect example already; the One who loved us so much that He gave us His all. He held nothing back, and He demands that all who claim to follow Him must do the same. The world will not be challenged by mere words, dogma, principles or rhetoric, but it will be affected by lives that show off the grace, mercy, power and love of God. His love is the template. His Spirit is the seal. His life is the example. We are his visible army, and the world awaits our manifestation. If I don't stand out, I am being untrue to the One who called me out of darkness into His marvellous light. What are you and I waiting for? Shine out. His time of favour is here. 

Acceptable!

Acceptable!

Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. Romans 12:2 AMPC

As I read today's extract, one thing sticks out: God will not do for me what He has empowered me to do. He will supply grace, but there is a role for me to play if I will not take the grace of God for granted. When the Bible says: Do not be conformed, it is telling me that it is my responsibility to ensure that I am bent out of shape to behave according to socially acceptable conventions or standards. As long as it is popular by the world's standsrd, it cannot be in line with God's standard. The early apostles turned the world upside down because they weren't doing the usual or the normal.

The world has a pattern; a specific way of doing things. Unfortunately, there is nothing permanent about the world's standards, as they are always changing, depending on whose interests it is protecting at that point in time. Would it be a good idea to hang my eternity on ever-shifting principles? Whatever age I find myself, God expects me to stand out, and not to blend in. When there is no noticeable difference in the way I live and the way the world is viewed, there is a problem. When men have to ask me where I stand, because they really can't see a fundamental difference, then I need to check my stand again. 

How do I make a difference? Today's extract asks me to be transformed by the renewing of my mind. How does God do a work of transformation in me without the presence of the Holy Spirit? How does God birth His nature in me if I do not give Him full and free access to my life? It just seems to me that with all the resources of grace, mercy and favour that God has supplied, I cannot blame anyone but myself if I fail to take advantage of what He has provided. I am given the power to choose what applies to me: conform or transform. 

And the benefits of being transformed in my mind are laid out here: I am able to prove what is the good, acceptable and perfect will of God. And by the way, you can't play both sides. You can't be conformed and then be transformed at the same time. You can't sit on the fence as there is none when it comes to a life that God can use. And let it also be known that man's highest discovery is the plan and purpose of God. When you know what God wants you to do, all that bothers you is how to please God. Competition, a sense of superiority or pride cannot come into play, because you know who you serve and where you are going. 

And it will not resolve itself overnight; I must trust God's process for making me what He wants me to be. You prove something by doing it over and over again, watching the impact, seeing the effect and trusting the process. What you have proved becomes your anchor when every thing is going to pieces. What you have proved over time becomes your comfort zone in the midst of distress. And God wants me prepared ahead of the times of uncertainty and pain. He assures me that in Him, I have all that I need and if I will only trust Him, He will help me. He is all that matters; every other thing is temporal. His time of favour is here. 

Firsthand!

First Hand!

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities -his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. Romans 1:20 NIV

Science makes so many claims about creation that it is difficult to keep up. Some postulate it all came from a big bang; others say it all came from the split cell, and that all organisms came from the further development of cells. Whatever position you take, it is obvious that science cannot really tell the full story of how creation came to be. The cell: that basic starting block of creation, how was it formed? How led to the big bang, and how and when did it occur? The Bible gives a different account of how creation came to be, and we can consider God's account, to see if there is any substance to it.

When I consider how the plants grow, how were the first seeds of all these trees planted? When I look at the animals, some of them extinct, how did the first set that led to the numerical growth come about? As none of them fell from the sky or rise from the ground magically, the first set must have been fashioned by a powerful hand. We see mountains and rocks, some of which sediments and history point to existence across centuries, yet man wants to use recent tools and technology to fully understand the things that predate man himself. How does the created ever want to fully understand the Creator and the critical and divine thinking behind his thoughts and actions? 

Yet, in today's extract, a path to understanding God's mighty power is laid out. I may not have seen God physically, but when I consider the world around me, I see the hand of the divine at work. If the Bible account is to be believed, I see a God who speaks and things happen, and no matter what man does, he cannot fundamentally alter what God has done. Man can tamper and try to distort, but he cannot alter or change the course of the divine, unless God says so. As I look at creation, it is obvious that a divine hand is at work. As I consider the wonders of God's creation, I am convinced that God is All-powerful. 

And of course, his standards as laid down make it obvious who He is and what He demands from us. It is His creation, not ours. It is His to sustain, yet He has given us the serious responsibility to preserve and keep His creation ticking. He makes it clear what His priorities are, and I can only live well if I align with His priorities. His Word lays down the priorities, and I cannot know them if I do not read it or hear it or obey it. Now, this is the clincher: God does not need me to be God; He is not God only because I say or agree that He is. He is God in spite of whatever I think, say or do. His creation is a loud testament to His power and might, and I am only brought in by grace to impact his creation on his behalf. I can agree to align and I can refuse to align. The choice, as always, is mine to make but the eternal consequences of my choice has already been laid out by God. There is no valid excuse I can make for rejecting Him. His time of favour is here.