Expectant!

Expectant!

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. Psalm 126:5 KJV

Context:

The writer of this psalm started with a lovely recall of the mercies of God in the past. There was a time that Israel had been punished for its sin. The people had been dispersed to other nations as captives, which again proves the point that has always been made: God has no favourites when it comes to sin. It does not matter who you are or what good you have done in the past; God's eyes are too pure to behold sin and he will surely punish unconfessed sin, no matter in whom it is found. My first and foremost duty is to check my life to see that there is no sin in me. Have I been to Jesus for his cleansing blood? Am I washed clean, set free from the power of sin, and empowered to live holy? Nothing less than this standard will do. 

The writer recalled God's gracious dealings in the past and called on God to do it again. He had shown mercy before, when he turned around the captivity of Zion, and the writer was sure God could do it again. Is there anything I have been told is impossible and beyond redemption? Until God says it is over, it is not yet over. Man's views are limited to his experience and reach, but God is not limited by time, space or circumstances. He can do all things, and he is the One who can change any situation, no matter how dire or terrible it is. Today's extract relies on that truth. 

Message and Response:

For the one who seeks to sow, there must have been a time of gathering the right seed, preparing the ground the right way, and making materials and time available to pay attention to the seed. It has to be the right seed, sown in the right ground and given the right nutrients to enable it grow to full maturity and fruiting. The time of preparation is not a time for frivolities, but a time of focus. If I will ask God to come into my life and change my story, I must be ready to pay the price for his intervention. 

The one who seeks to sow knows the time and effort required to generate fruit, and is willing to do the work. There is no guarantee that the seed sown will bear fruit, yet the sower goes ahead to prepare the ground and then sow. Fear or expectation of failure is not strong enough to discourage the work of sowing. That has to be the attitude of a believer: if I can pay the price, God is able to give me the prize. I may not see the full picture on this side of eternity, but I know that God is all-powerful, and he is able to bring about the end that glorifies him. 

Why the tears? As I wait for God to intervene in my affairs, how is my heart? Am I seeking him for what I can get from him, or am I all about how it makes me feel? Am I seeking to glorify God, or to draw attention to myself? The heart of sowing is a heart of expectation. There is no pretence; no hypocrisy; just plain trust that God is able to take all that I have done, and bring about praise and glory to his name. 

If the heart is right, the results will be right. If I do not like what is happening to me right now, and I am seeking God's face for a change, my heart is the window into my expectation. How can I be casual and flippant about eternal things, unless I do not understand what is at stake? God wants to do mighty things in me, as well as through me, but he cannot go against the exercise of my freewill. If I seek him, he promises that I will find him. Joy lies at the end of all the pain. If I can only pay the price now, there is a lot of joy to look forward to. How's my heart? Is it one that is under God's control, subject to his leading and inspiration, or is it its own master, claiming independence of its creator? Whatever it is I want, my heart and its focus, pursuits and priorities will reveal what I consider important. His time of favour is here 

Aligned!

Aligned!

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26 KJV

Context:

Ezekiel speaks here of a message that God spoke to him about concerning Israel, the people chosen by God. One theme that runs through the entire passage is the effect and consequences of sin. It does not matter what you may have heard, or what you may have convinced yourself about: God punishes sin, no matter in whom it is found. God has no favourites and does not show partiality when the issue of sin is concerned. Whatever he calls sin deserves my attention and hatred, if I will truly experience all that God is. 

The people of Israel were in exile in other nations. They were there because they had rebelled against God and rejected his ways. Even as they went among these other nations, God says that they brought shame and disgrace to his name. If I read the earlier verses before today's extract, it is hard to see the basis of joy, but in the midst of all the bad news, I read today's extract and my heart rejoices. 

Message and Response:

The first reason for joy is that it is God who is initiating the process of restoration. There was nothing Israel could offer as a reason for God's intervention, but God considered his name and acted. If God were to mark iniquity, which of us can stand before him but by virtue of the death and resurrection of Jesus, we have freedom from sin, a new lease of life down here and eternal life with God. God did not wait for us to be worthy of all these; he simply made us worthy all by himself. 

The second reason for joy is that he is the only one who can make beautiful poetry out of broken strings. He can take the rot, pain and pressure and turn them all into his own pleasure. He can take that heart which the devil can manipulate and turn it into a useful vessel that he can use. He can take the old and make it new, as I become a new creation when I surrender my life to God. Same external container, but a whole complete new package inside. 

The third reason for joy is that the new work done on my inside cannot be kept inside no matter how hard I try. The new work done in me will always shine out. It is a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden. A new heart means new pursuits and priorities. A new heart means a different focus, with new friends and standards. I can no longer hold on to the old, because its senses and desires go against the new nature in me. Can I say, of a truth, that this new nature is already my experience?

The fourth reason for joy is because God does not need my help to change my life; He just needs my surrender. He can't take the stony heart out if I am still opinionated and strong-willed. If I think I know better than him, he will wait until I have exhausted my options. If I think I have my life all planned and figured out, he will wait until I reach my wits end, or I reach out for his help. Either way, he is always there; his spirit ready to take over if I will let him. He can operate on me without killing me; the end of his work in me is a life that is fit for eternity. What could be more important? 

The fifth reason for joy is that none of the above needs the validation, opinion or approval of men for God to get it done. We seek man's approval for everything, thinking that if they like us, God must really like us. Actually, God is the only one who truly loves us; man's love is usually transactional, and he will stick to us as long as there is something to gain. It is God's love that does not depend on me to be true. His love is not like man's; but this is the clincher: it does not last forever for me, on this side of eternity. His love is eternal, because that is his nature, But I do not get to enjoy eternal life with him if I reject his love. 

God wants to do a work in me that only he can do. There has to be that operation: the cutting off of the heart of stone. God cannot work with it; it is of the old nature that has to go, if God is to be able to make use of that life. God will not just deal with the heart of stone, but he will replace it with a heart of flesh, one that is easily influenced by his touch, and receptive to his voice and Spirit. It is a heart of flesh, not one alien to, but aligned with the host. God will not do a work in me that will destroy me, but one that will make me a reflection of his power, grace and mercy. It is a work that I must embrace, and a work that must be done if God is to be glorified in and through me. Can I say that God has done this work in me? Am I now a reflection of his work? While I am alive, I have the opportunity to make changes. A time comes when there can be no more work done in me, and all that is left will be the basis of eternal judgement. May I not have any regrets by rejecting the work that God wants to do in me. May I surrender my life to him totally, so I can be all that he wants me to be. His time of favour is here. 

More Than Enough!

More than Enough!

And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation]. 2 Corinthians 9:8 AMPC

Context:

The long version was chosen so that a full picture of God's mind would be made known. Paul was writing to the church in Corinth, thanking them in advance for the gift they were planning to give. It was not out of compulsion, but a gift given from the hearts of the people of Corinth. As I seek to be a blessing in my generation, what is the motivation: is it a desire to be celebrated and feted, or is it an earnest desire to see God glorified and his work increased?

The context of today's extract is about how I give been an indication of my heart. How I sow is an indication of my reach. If I sow generously, I am not only thinking of myself, but seeking to be a blessing to other people. Sowing generously means I am planning for other people to be blessed by my actions. The opposite too is true: if I sow grudgingly, I am saying that I plan to take care of just myself, and do not take other people into consideration. How can God entrust his true riches into the hands of someone who cannot be trusted to impact the lives of other people with these riches?

Message and Response:

It is the last sentence above that ties into today's extract. We claim the abundance that is promised in today's extract, but we do not care too much about the context of the promise and the conditions to be met before the promise can come true. Today's extract starts with an AND, so we must pay attention to the parts that come before, and join them together with today's extract.

God is a God of grace; there is nothing I could have done to deserve it, but when I have received it, I have to depend on it for the rest of my life, if I will please God with my life. If I claim to know God, I must strive to do all that he has asked me to do, and do them well. It is when I have sown bountifully that I can expect a rich harvest. How can I make a demand on resources that my efforts do not reflect? Don't forget: you can't earn grace, but when you have it, you had better be ready to put in the work to appreciate the grace you have received.

When God sees my heart, he has no problem playing his part of increase. He can take a mustard seed and turn it into a mighty tree, but the effort in planting, watering, weeding and nurturing are my parts to play. I put the seeds in the ground, my efforts in line with what I believe God is able to do. There is no limit to the reach of his grace but his grace wants to meet and bless my labour. We must not promote a God who can be deceived by mere words, claiming promises that we have not positioned ourselves for, thinking that just by claiming it, we can lay hold of it. 

There is also no area that his grace cannot touch. Today's extract makes the case that if I am able to play my part, God is able to make sure that in ALL things and at ALL times (always and under any circumstances and whatever the need), I have all I need to make an impact and to support good and charitable work. That is the touch of a God who wants to impact the world, but needs my eyes, mouth, feet and hands. 

Daniel was a slave, but he died as one of the chief rulers of Babylon. Joseph went from the prison to the palace in one day. God can change a man's story overnight but the work is usually done away from public eye or the applause of men. It is usually done in secret, sometimes with tears and years of slaving and labour, but we serve a God who does not forget. All I do, with the motives, are all laid bare before this God. It is his way to wait for my effort before he blesses me beyond my effort. It is his way to demand something precious from me first before he then opens the windows of heaven and pours out a blessing on me.  

Does the world know and recognise God in and through me? Is my life a reflection of what God can do? Am I, as well as all I have and hold, totally yielded to God, available for his use anytime? Can He make a demand on my time, life and resources, dispensing them as he pleases, so that glory, praise and honour could be his, and his blessings my constant reality? As always, God will play his part; I have to play my part. Earth has no idea what God can do with a life that is fully committed to Him. His time of favour is here. 

Living in the Now!

Living in the Now!

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34 NIV

Context:

Worry is a human thing. Asking someone not to worry is like asking him not to breathe. For some people, it is about where the next meal will come from; for others, it is about where the next paycheck will come from, and if all outstanding bills will be paid. School fees for the children, good clothes on our backs, a roof over our heads, and safety of the few possessions that we have are some of the things that occupy our hearts as we go through life. These are valid concerns and needs, but it appears, from today's extract, that how I approach the concerns makes all the difference. 

Message and Response:

Is there any one of the concerns above that I can change by worry? Is there any one of these concerns that I can wish away simply by focusing all my worry lasers on them? Can I change the outcome of any of these things on my own? If the singular answer to these questions is NO, then it begs the question: why then do I worry so much? 

Since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, man has been deprived of the automatic help of God, and the stressless work that Adam was entitled to before sin came. Now, man has to sit down, plan and set in motion the machinery that should help him achieve his plans. There is no guarantee that any of the plans will succeed, but I must still plan. This is the bit about what God expects me to do. 

I must plan, but leave room for God to tweak it as I go along. What this means is that I cannot worry over something I have no control over, or which has not yet happened. In the day I have been given, there is no guarantee that the day will end before the owner of the life will make a demand for it. If he does, of what use is worry about tomorrow? If I will not see it, why should what it will look like occupy my heart so much that it robs me of the joy of living in the now? 

Food, clothing and shelter are valid concerns. Even Jesus, in his Sermon from where today's extract is taken, recognised these concerns as valid. However, he sets out a scale of priorities, laying out what is really important. If I have all of these things, but I do not have God, of what use will the possessions be in light of eternity? If I have God, I actually do have the most important possession of all. I live in the light of what God is doing in my life right now, sure and certain that his plans for me cannot be thwarted. 

Even if I do not like what my circumstances are at the moment, I am sure and certain that it lies in the power of God to change it, and not in the strength of my worrying or fretting. I can't be worrying about a day I have not seen yet, when I am yet to fully utilise the potential, power and possibility that have been built into the day that God has already given me. I focus on today, asking God for strength, wisdom and grace to identify his provisions for today. When today is over, I thank Him for the full experience of his power, and as I lay down to sleep, I thank Him in advance for the grace that will definitely be available, if it is his will that I see it. 

If only we all could live like that, maybe there will be less heart diseases and failures. If I could only focus on all that God has given me for the day he has placed me in, I can see the possibilities and the blessings that could come my way for that day; not tomorrow, not the next, just today. God's grace is sufficient for each day that comes, and I will only enjoy it to the full when I am able to focus on this grace, and enjoy all that is tied to that day. Whatever is ahead will come, and whatever happens has been developed and designed by God to bring out his best in me. Ultimately, each day belongs to him, not me, and he will make sure that I look back at each day and recognise that his hand has been my support. What more could I ask for? His time of favour is here. 

Guarded!

Guarded!

He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction. Proverbs 13:3 KJV

Context:

Most of the words in Proverbs are attributed to Solomon, the king of Israel, who by God's divine choice, was the wisest man in his generation and after. He was blessed by God with wisdom, and people came from the ends of the earth to listen to him. When the hand of God is upon a man, he will always have a message. It does not matter if he is located in the far side of the desert like John the Baptist; men will leave the city and go to him there, just as they did to John. 

Do I have a message? Well, first of all, is the Message himself in me? Jesus is the message that I must first have and know on a personal level, before my life can then become a message that will speak to the world around me. We focus on the outward, forgetting that whatever my life produces is first a function of what I have spent my life focuing on and storing up. I cannot call on something that I have not first stored up, and I cannot make a demand on an account which is not in my name, or into which I have not made a deposit. If my life will have impact, I need to watch what it takes in, so that what it gives out can look like that which God can be glorified by. 

Message and Response:

The gate into my heart is my mouth. It is there that the quality of my heart's contents is revealed. I can pretend to be anyone or anything; all doubt about my identity will be removed as soon as I open my mouth. It then means that I have to be careful what I allow in, what I spend all my time on, and what fruit I cultivate on a daily basis. 

The choice of words is quite instructive: he who 'keepeth' his mouth. Another version uses 'guards'. The picture is one of a person who has been entrusted with something precious and is asked to guard it with his/her life. That thing becomes the sole focus of the guard, to the exclusion of all other things. Do I even know what is expected of me? Do I understand the gravity of the touch of God upon my life and what it demands of me? 

I must be deliberate and proactive about what flows around me; I cannot leave anything to chance. This is not a lottery where you play all sides, not sure which one will win, but you must be conscious of whatever it is that happens around you. The devil is crafty; he never brings the big stuff early; he first takes away the shock value of the little things before he asks you to compromise on the big things. He wants to convince you that 'it does not really matter', and when he is able to make you see that point of view, he knows that when the big one comes, you will not have any resistance. 

My life is precious to God, and the price of his son's life is enough proof of the value God places on me. I must seek the view of this God and seek to do his will. The one who knows this value does not handle his life carelessly. He is thoughtful and deliberate about his words and conduct. He is careful about his representation of the One who is his Lord and Master. Is this true of me as an individual? Are God's treasures safe in and with me? 

The one who opens his mouth wide is seen as prone to destruction. Why, you wonder. The one without an understanding of who he is speaks anyhow. The one who has no filter is the one who thinks a lot of words mean a lot of wisdom. If I have to open my mouth every chance I get, it would mean that I do not have control over my lips. There is power in words. God is the first proof of that, who made the whole earth by the creative power of his Word. If I am made in his image, I carry the same power too. I would be living less than my full potential if I do not live out God's image in me. I cannot waste words, or speak as I please. My first and foremost priority must be to look, speak, act and relate like the God in whose image I have been made. That is the best service my life can produce, and God will be glorified in me. That is the best service of my life. Every other thing is secondary. May the Lord help me to guard my life, so that my life can make impact in line with his nature and power in me. His time of favour is here. 

Open Up!

Open Up!

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20 KJV

Context:

It is important to note the context in which the words of today's extract were pronounced. These words were not written to ignorant, unsaved people, even though they also apply to them, but they were first addressed to the church in Laodicea. This was part of the body of Christ in the then Asia Minor; a church that, by God's estimate, had become so compromised that it was called the lukewarm church. God could not see a clear path of identity focus or direction; this had become a church that was neither hot nor cold. As I take careful stock of my life today, where do I stand too?

It is easy to point the finger at this church, criticise the target of the message and completely ignore the message and the messenger. The message is not now one of condemnation, but of caution, a call to spiritual self-examination and a change of heart and focus. If God's Word cannot change me from the inside, it may mean that I am truly lost. If God's Word cannot convict my heart about sin, righteousness and judgment, then I may be beyond help. What would God have me know, and what steps does he require me to take so I can be all that he desires?

Message and Response:

The first step must be a realisation of my need for his help. If I do not know that something is wrong, how do I take steps to correct it? If I cannot admit my helplessness, how do I embrace the grace that the Help of Israel can provide? One of the manifestations of the sin of Adam is pride: the self-sufficiency that is borne out of a desire to prove that I do not need anyone, and can take care of myself. Life has shown that man is clueless when it comes to what he truly needs; I am yet to see anything that is created then dictate purpose and direction for itself; its best service is to listen to and heed the direction of the Creator.  

It is the Creator who stands at the door, knocking. Don't forget: this was a church, where Christ should have been Lord, Master and King, now forced to stand outside, waiting to be let in. Even though this applies to a church, it applies to all the world too. We have asked God to leave parts of our lives alone, because we think we can figure things out on our own. We limit him to Christmas and Easter seasons, or at best when the old year is about to roll out, but on other times, we are masters of our own destinies. How does God control such a heart? How does God inspire such a heart to seek him and allow him full reign? How does such a heart experience all that is God's?

The Creator stands at the door and knocks. He does not give up easily, even when he is ignored and pushed out. This is the basis of the grace we all enjoy, that we have a Father whose love is not as fickle or transactional like the love of man. He knocks, waiting for the exercise of my freewill to open the door to him. He does not force himself on anyone; he will not impose his will on anyone. My heart must seek him of my own freewill and submit to Him. That is why the other part of today's extract is equally instructive: God would not keep quiet or keep away; he will continue to knock and call out. For anyone who hears and opens the door, God promises to come in.

What is the benefit of Jesus coming into my heart? Only eternity will be able to provide the full response to that, but from the earthly experience, it is obvious that if my life will make sense and be a blessing, it needs the personal touch and control of its creator. It is not enough to hear his voice; I have to open the door. It is not enough to just enjoy listening to his words; the complete change is only possible when he is in. Don't be content with just listening to or hearing his word; make sure that he has a permanent home in your heart. Don't give him temporary residence; make it settled status. God does not do half-hearted devotion; it is either all or nothing at all.  

Someone who is able to come in and eat with you is more than just a friend. He is one who you are intimate with, who knows the state of your house and all its parts, and can help where required. I also seem to note that the feeding is reciprocal: Jesus comes in to sup with me, and I can also partake of that which he is, has and offers, which is eternal life. I am not called to just give up all that I have for nothing, but what I get is good both for the present life and the life to come. Jesus will come in and take all that I offer him, but also give me something I could not get on my own, which is all that he is. When I have God, it does not really matter what else I do no have. If I do not have God, at the end of my life, it would not really matter what else I was able to acquire. 

All that the world gives are only good for this world alone, and will not follow me into eternity. I also note that when Jesus comes in, he is not asking me what he can get from me, but what he can offer me. He is not about taking, but first about giving. When I have his life, I have everything I need. I do not have what it takes to survive this earthly phase; I need the help of the Creator of the universe on this journey. His help is available; it has always been available. He just needs me to respond to his voice and knock, and open my heart to him. He will do the rest: sort me out on the physical and spiritual sides, and also guarantee me eternal life with him. What else could matter? His time of favour is here.   

Done Right 2!

Done Right 2!

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Colossians 3:17 KJV

Context:

In a world whose standards are always changing, it is hard to define what is the right way to do anything. We measure our lives by standards that are defined by men like ourselves, which means it is difficult to determine what is right over a long period of time. As long as it is the world that is defining terms, the world will hold sway over your life. As long as it is the world that is directing traffic, you will always end up unsure and uncertain about what God really wants. 

It has to be noted here that today's extract is addressed to people who are defined as the 'elect of God'. They are not their own masters, but subject to the dictates and direction of the God they hold allegiance to. That distinction is important: if I am the elect of God, my life and its pursuits and priorities must reflect my ownership. What kind of a child deliberately brings disgrace and dishonour to his parents for no just cause? Am I God's elect, or am I my own master and lord? What is today's extract trying to get me to know and understand?

Message and Response:

The basis of my words and actions must be a clear understanding and knowledge of who God is and wants from me. God does not leave any man in doubt as to his expectations. His Word, as well as nature all around us, testifies to the power of God. I cannot be inactive or dormant or passive; God's nature in me cannot be kept hidden. Men come to know God by what his representatives and ambassadors do, and if I am indeed one, can I say, with a measure of certainty, that I am reflecting God? Can God be proud to call me his own, and to recommend me to the world around me?

And there has to be harmony between my words and my actions. It is rank hypocrisy to say one thing and do the very opposite. God refers to himself as faithful; his words can be trusted because he is a God who does not and cannot lie. If he says a thing, no matter how many years pass by, his Word can be trusted to do what he has said. That is the least that is expected of me, if indeed I am his child. Can the people I have been placed with trust what proceeds out of my life? Can men stake their lives on the product of my life? Am I consistent with my principles, or are they for sale to the highest bidder? 

And there is an attitude that best celebrates all that God has called me to do and say, and that is by giving thanks. My life must be a reflection of all that God is, and men should learn the right response based on what they see in me. God cannot be viewed by the naked human eye, but his grace, mercy and favour will be made manifest by what I do. Can men give thanks to God on my behalf? Am I myself a giver of thanks to God, and can God's heart be glad that I am alive? 

It is a two-way street; I give thanks to God by the way I live, and men are moved to know and praise God because of the example of my life. I am a city set on a hill; nothing I do escapes attention. I am made in God's image, created, gifted and located to bring God joy and praise. Am I fulfilling that purpose? It is never too late to discover this; it is only too late when you are dead. Before death comes, I must make sure that I live out all that God is. My generation will be glad I came around. His time of favour is here.