Dwell 2!

Dwell 2!

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Joshua 1:8 KJV

Context:

Moses the man of God was dead. He had walked with God for years, seen God do mighty things and had been used to impact history. Here was a man that God himself said he spoke with face to face. That was a relationship at its best; God finding expression in a man, and man being able to touch God and see him at work. What kind of relationship do I have with God? Is it the type where God has to really press me before I can create time to hear what he has to say, or have I deliberately set out time for me to seek him, so he can speak to me?

Then, a little problem of anger cost him entry into the promised land. It was right at the edge of Canaan; at the final tip just before the victory. Never think that the devil will give up on you simply because God has built a hedge around you. Sin is such a monster that it does not ring a bell when it wants to visit. I must be very careful about my daily pursuits and priorities so that I don't open myself up to the devil. God wants to preserve life; the devil wants to take it. What I consider important, and the things I pursue, will show whose side I am on. Today's extract tells me how to achieve this.

Message and Response:

1. This book of the law. It is not a book of suggestions, or options, but of the law of God. If it is law, it is not subject to my choice, but demands my obedience and alignment. If it is THE book, it has only one true copy and all others are pretenders. It refers to a specific book, of which Joshua knew precisely what God was talking about. Do I consider God's Word as binding upon my life? Do I take his Word as the law over my life or have I found other 'viable' options? Eventually, it is that which you trust that will work for you.

2. Not depart out of your mouth. We see the mouth, but nothing about the process that leads to the mouth. For my mouth to keep the book of the law, I must go through the process of preparation, processing, planning and production. Good food does not occur automatically; it is the product of commitment and dedication. I will go to the market, purchase food that lines up with what I want to eat, and then process. There are some that will require cooking, some frying, some roasting, some eaten as purchased. In the same way, God's Word has different applications: doctrine, reproof, instruction and training in righteousness. I must submit myself to the full works if I will enjoy the food of God's Word.

3. Day and Night. I cannot rely on one good meal for the rest of my life. As soon as it is time for the next meal, I have to go through the whole process again, in line with what I want to eat. That is why I have to meditate on God's law day and night. What served me as good food in the morning today will have to change or be prepared again for tomorrow morning. Most times, we love some foods so much that we try and preserve it for as long as we can, but the effect of time on food is usually felt in the taste. So is it with the book of the law: you keep at it. You read it daily, you strive to know what it says about your life and situations on a daily basis. Samson relied on how he had handled the past, and he paid a steep price for it. Joshua was warned not to become complacent and as long as he heeded that warning, he was fine. As it was then, so is it still now.

4. Careful to do according to ALL. It is not enough to be a good reader; I must also strive to be an obedient reader. In all of God's Word, the first step is always about the reading or listening. The next essential step is the doing. There is no blessing attached to just reading if you do not intend to obey. I cannot pick and choose only that which makes me comfortable, or that which does not demand anything from me. Total obedience is the key to unlocking all that God is and has.

5. Prosperity and good success. If God speaks about good success here, it means there is a bad version. We all claim the promises of God's prosperity; we want to see his best, but are we giving him our best? The world has its own version of success too, and it is quite a popular one, even if it is a confusing one. It relies on images and symbols, not on anything of substance. It is never static, but always changing to suit the current narrative. God also has his own version, and it is tied to his Word. I cannot start from the end of the verse and work backwards; I have to fulfil the conditions if I will enjoy the benefits.

How do I handle God's Word? Is it my most prized possession or is it just one of the many options I juggle? If God is not my first and foremost consideration, it means that the suggestions of the world has a place in my heart. May the Word of God be my constant companion, a joy to my heart and a continuous desire. That is the secret to the blessings I seek. His time of favour is here. 

Together!

Together!

That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

1 Corinthians 12:25‭-‬26 KJV

Context:

Paul speaks extensively about the body, both the natural and the spiritual body. The natural body of man has different parts, each with its defined function and role in the body. No part is built to do the work that another part was formed to do, as the eye cannot chew food on behalf of the mouth. God has so designed each part of the human body to carry out specific functions, and one fundamental lesson learnt from this is: the beauty of the body isn't in each part working very well on its own, but that each part is working together with other parts for the good of the entire body.

This generation has raised the value of one part of the body over and above the whole body. We look at some gifts, and because they are visible and audible, we are tempted to think that this is what makes them more important than the other parts. If you do not function as a body, you don't get to be called a body. It is the sum of all parts working to a defined end that makes a body one, not that one part is very hardworking.

Message and Response:

This is the thrust of today's extract. God has so arranged the human body in a way that no part can be neglected. We have parts we do not need to cover, because it is their role to remain uncovered in carrying out their assignment. There are parts that MUST be covered, otherwise, there will be disgrace. There are parts that can never be exposed, yet we pay greater attention to these parts, while we do not have to pay that much attention to the parts that do not need to be covered. That is the wisdom of God in full display.

It is the power of that inter-connection that makes today's message tick. God knows the way the human mind works, and that if I do not have much regard for something, I won't pay too much attention to it. God has then ordained it that no part of the body can boast in its total independence, but that as each part works, it supplies what the other part lacks, and it gets back that which it needs. I was not made to function in a vacuum, and that is why there can be no schism in the body.

If my eye cannot dispense with the services of the hand, so also in the body of Christ, no part can dispense with another part. The joy of one part is the joy of the whole body, just as the pain in one part is the pain of all the parts of the body. Imagine what a simple ankle injury can do to the whole body; th eentire body will feel the pain. My life must be lived this way, if I will ever be a blessing, not a burden to the body of Christ.

After all, the gifts that I am to contribute to the body of Christ were never mine in the first place. They belong to the head, where control, impact and influence are determined. Am I happy to see other parts do well? Am I cross when others do well, or am I free from self-promotion and pride? Am I fine in my skin, location and function, so that nothing can push me into envy and self-pity? I have no control over the message, the audience, the platform or the response. The only thing I can control is my own contribution to the body, and when I do that well, God is glorified. May the Lord help me to walk worthy of the calling I have received and make full proof of my ministry. His time of favour is here. 

Power in the Word!

Power in the Word!

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalms 119:105 KJV

Context:

The writer of this psalm is not declared, but it is on record as the longest chapter in the Bible. It has a total of 176 verses divided into 22 sections of 8 verses each. All the sections bear reference in one way or another to God and His Word. What is the value of this information to me in this present generation? Of what use is a book written centuries ago to me living in this 21st century? What guidance can a book like this give to me, even though it was not written in my time? 

Message and Response:

The value of God's Word is seen from many dimensions. First you have its source and inspiration. The one who authored the words is the One called the First and the Last, the beginning and the end. Before Him, nothing existed, and there cannot be anything after the One who has no end. He is the same one who existed long before Lucifer became the devil; he still spoke to Adam and the generation after him, and he still speaks to my generation, if we only listen. 

The second dimension is about its effect and Impact. I am yet to meet any life that is not impacted one way or another by the power of the Word, either by the power of conviction for sin or a reminder to righteousness. You cannot meet the true Word of God and have no reaction. You either reject what you have heard or you embrace it; you cannot sit on the fence on this one as there is no fence. You have to decide what your response will be, as eternity lies on it. 

The third dimension has to do with its earthly and eternal reach. Any one who will reign with Christ in eternity must go through the Word. I am yet to see a phase of life that the Word of God does not cover. We read the words like a story, and we sometimes miss the message because we are so caught up in what it can do for us now, that we miss what it actually is supposed to do, which is to both make us relevant on earth and also prepare us for heaven. The Word of God is not a wand to be waved to deliver to me what I want alone, but also to know God's mind for my life. Am I all about what I can get, or do I make room for God to touch my heart with His Word?

This is important because I need guidance, light and direction for my journey of life. Life is too complex to be lived by instinct, education, enlightenment, connections, influence or all the other things the world considers as important. It is first a personal walk before it becomes a public declaration. It is of no value that men call me a child of God when God's Word cannot impact my life. If His Word does not guide my feet and direct my life, what is the point of being called a child of God? A child of God is known to the world by the outward evidence of the imprint of God's Word upon his heart. You can pretend for a while, but eventually, the proof of your control centre will be made known. 

Before I dare to stand before men, have I bowed my head and heart to the cleansing fire of God's Word? Before I stand to declare God's Word, has that same Word taken total control of my heart? You can only give what you have. You can fake it for a while, using high-sounding words and gymnastics, but a life without God's Word would always end up in shame. If God does not guide, how can I end where God desires? 

And it is the feet that represents motion, movement or direction. If the feet are right, the life is right. I am not the one to dictate terms to the Word; it is the Word that is the lamp and light. I am not the one providing the light, God's Word is capable, all by himself, to provide all that I need. May my life be receptive to the guidance of God's Word. May His Word be able to guide and guard my path on a daily basis. His time of favour is here. 

Live; Walk!

Live; Walk!

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Galatians 5:25 KJV

Context:

Paul speaks of the strength of both the Spirit and the flesh. He had a personal experience of both extremes, so you could say he was qualified to speak on the matter. It is very clear that both the Spirit and the flesh are two extreme masters; none leaves room for the other to operate. 

If you are under the control of the Spirit, you cannot still please flesh. If the flesh is in control, the Spirit has no room to operate. These are parallel lines that can never meet, no matter how long you draw or try to manipulate them, because they are from two different sources and with different eternal consequences.

Message and Response:

The most important question then that a man will have to answer today is: Who is in charge? I must think and consider very carefully what the reality of my life is at the moment: what are the things able to hold and keep my attention; what are my present pursuits and priorities and who or what is the inspiration behind these?

And I note from the passage that there is no room for being passive; you will have to pursue after that which holds your heart. So that there is no confusion, Paul lays out what are the signs that the flesh is in charge: immorality, impurity, indecency, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, divisions, party spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies), envy, drunkenness, carousing and the like. He then warns that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God, because none of these practices align with the dictates of the Spirit. 

Of course, God would not demand a thing from me without providing guidance on how to do it and what that thing looks like. The thing is called the fruit of the Spirit, and it manifests in various expressions such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. There is no law on earth, made by man, that can make any of the above a criminal offence. 

My life must be a daily walk of faith, in line with the presence and influence of the Spirit. I am not pushing my point of view as the right one, but as I live in line with the Spirit, the proof of his presence will be the loudest message that my life can produce. Even if men do not see my point of view now, as long as it is the Truth of God's Word that I live by, that truth will surely prevail. I do not fight to uphold my point of view; I simply allow the One who lives in me to speak out through me. I do not passively accept heresy; I speak out as led by the Spirit of God in me, but if there is no open heart to receive it, I do not leave room for bitterness, but allow the Spirit of God, inspiration behind the truth of God's Word, to do his work.

That is the message of today's extract. If the Spirit is in charge, my life will reflect that fact. If he lives in me, my walk and work will show it. There is no room for hypocrisy and self-deceit; I cannot fool God with external showmanship that is empty of the presence of God. If God is in charge, it will show. If he is not, it will also show. If I claim to be a child of God, my life must be a visible, daily expression and testament to that truth. 

Is my life's pursuits, priorities and conduct controlled by the Spirit? Note: the response will speak into eternity. I had better be sure. His time of favour is here. 

Rest!

Rest!

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

John 14:1 KJV

Context:

The Word of God was made flesh, and dwelt among men. He came like man, so he could feel what man felt; he walked in our shoes, enduring the cold and heat, hunger and thirst that we all feel, so he could offer us hope that in and by him, we could face whatever challenges would come our way. He is God, yet he left all his glory in heaven, so he could identify with us, offer us salvation from sin and its consequences, and then guarantee us eternal life with him in heaven, when this earthly phase is over. I am not sure that there is an offer that can beat this, or if anyone can guarantee all that the life of Jesus has settled for us. 

It is in that light that today's extract makes sense. You do not get half-measures; you get the full package of all that Jesus is. Today's extract is taken from one of the final words of encouragement by Jesus to his disciples, just before he went to the cross. Of course, the disciples were troubled; how could a man who they had seen raise the dead and reverse the impossible then submit to dying? And not even an ordinary, respectable dying, but a death on a cross, which the Jews knew was a curse. How could the one they called Lord subject himself to that? That is why the way of the cross is foolishness to the natural man; for those who have seen the benefits of the cross, you can only be eternally grateful.

Message and Response:

It takes a heart that is under the influence and control of the Holy Spirit to live in the now. Today's extract is a reminder of that truth. When Jesus told his disciples to set their hearts at rest and not be troubled, they surely had no idea what he was talking about. The events around his betrayal and death show that the hearts of the disciples were certainly not at peace. The bible records that when Judas came with his band, all the disciples forsook him and fled. Even Peter, who later followed at a distance, denied knowing who Jesus was at the time. Are you going through tough and challenging times now? Hear God's Word again today: Let not your heart be troubled.

Easier said than done, right? Situations will arise that will test the quality of your faith in God; at no time does Jesus ever promise that you will have things easy and smooth. However, from today's extract, it is clear that my worry cannot stop what God has planned, and my fretting cannot change that which God intends to use to build me up. If there was no need for fear, Jesus would not speak the words of today's extract. If there was no risk of worry, I would not need the daily reassurance of God's presence. As I read the words, I am reminded that I am better off trusting in God than worrying about the unknown. Worry does not give you any hope about tomorrow; it only robs you of the joy of today.

For the disciples, they had no problem believing in God. The typical Jew was brought up to know God's law as taught by Moses. Maybe the disciples knew about God, but I am sure they could not fathom how a mortal man like Jesus standing before them could claim to be God. We are comfortable around the familiar; we do not like things that we do not understand. God invites us to a new level of experience, where we get a daily reminder of his power and grace, and we get to depend on him on a daily basis for all that we need. We find the answers to all of life's questions in Jesus; just as the disciples had Jesus with them, so do we have the presence of God in us, providing the assurance we need that all will end well.

God can only keep safe that which has been entrusted into his care. He does not go against the exercise of my freewill. If I surrender to him, I get all of him. If I hold on to certain areas of my life, I cannot turn around and blame him for how my life turns out. If I will be free of worry, my heart must be fixed on something else. If it is fixed on God, there is no room for worry. If it is not fixed on God, then there is plenty of room for other considerations. After all, Jesus came to offer me a way back to God. His life secures my own life. His victory over sin and death offers me hope about today and tomorrow. Have you met this Jesus? Does he know you as his own? Have you received the life of Jesus, the life that protects from worry and uncertainty? in Jesus lies the solution to worry. Know Jesus; know life. No Jesus; no life. His time of favour is here.

Refreshed!

Refreshed!

I will fully satisfy the needs of those who are weary and fully refresh the souls of those who are faint. Jeremiah 31:25 NET

Context:

The Lord seems to be constantly reminding us all that he hates sin and will punish unconfessed sin. It does not matter what we may have achieved for God, or how useful a tool we have been in his hands; sin will rubbish all of these and turn us into God's enemy. Yes, we may continue to show off all the signs of people being used, but the final judgment will show the truth about our status, and at that time, repentance will be too late. While there is time to repent, now is the time to check our ways and be sure that there is no sin in the camp. 

Israel and Judah had become complacent about sin, and judgment had come. Nations who could not withstand them in the past became their oppressors. It was hard to find victory anywhere, as God was the one fighting against his own people. However, for reasons best known to God, he decided he was going to restore his people to their own land. There may have been some sorrow for their sin, and maybe some repentance, but the timing of the decision to restore belonged solely to God. I must ask God earnestly for restoration. I must plead his grace and mercy so he can also do for me all that he did for Israel here. 

Message and Response:

I cannot claim good works; if there was no sin in the camp, there would not have been a need to punish and banish the people of Israel to exile. If there was no evil in the camp, God would not be fighting his people. In today's extract, I note that nothing is said about my own contribution to what God is going to do. In fact, the people had nothing to present as good arguments before God. What could a weary and faint soul offer to the Man of War, so that the Man of War could fight on his behalf? 

This is where you know that whatever it is you have is a function of the grace and mercy of God. When you have striven by your own strength and got nothing, it is time to turn to the Strength of Israel. When you have exhausted all the options that the wisdom and intellect of the world teach, it is time to turn to the Wisdom and Power of God. When bank account balances and circle of influence have failed, it is time to turn to the All-sufficient One. As long as I have a backup plan, I cannot fully understand my need and lack. Until I turn to the One who is all I need, I will keep struggling. 

Because he is the all-sufficient One, he really does not need my help to make me all that he wants me to be. His right hand can wrought miracles. After all, where was I when he was laying the foundations of the world? Do I know how he placed the oceans where they are, almost like natural boundaries for continents? If I cannot explain these mighty works, I am better off leaving how he will supply the needs of the weary and how he will refresh the faint to him. 

Now my own part: do I recognise and admit my weaknesses? Do I consider myself helpless and weary, and in need of God's help? That is my own contribution to the whole process: an admission of my inadequacies and total surrender to the God who is more than enough. And I see the word: FULLY in the extract. God does not do half-measures. He is a God of completion. He calls himself the author and finisher of our faith. How can I be expected to trust a God with a nice start but a bad ending? He does not start a thing that he cannot finish, and there is no power on earth that can prevent him from finishing whatever it is he starts. He is the omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent God: able and capable. 

What is that thing that is threatening your peace? Give it to God. What is that thing that is causing you pain and pressure? Hand it over to God. Make sure that there is no secret sin in your camp, and get a word of assurance of God's help from him. That Word is all you need, because the Help of Israel does not lie, and he lives and stands by whatever he says. He is all I need for life and Godliness. He is all I need for the challenges of this earthly phase. Would I allow him work? Would I deal with sin in my life so I can enjoy the fullness of his power and grace? The choice of response, as always, is mine to sort out. His time of favour is here. 

Password!

Password!

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. Psalm 100:4‭-‬5 KJV

Context:

The whole chapter 100 of Psalms is dedicated to the praise of God. It emphasizes the attitude with which God expects all who seek to come near must have: joy. You do not get it by paying a huge sum of money for it; you cannot get it by killing for it, or robbing others who have it. This is not something you can labour for by virtue of strength, network, net worth or intelligence; it is the product and evidence of the indwelling presence of God. Joy is part of the package called the FRUIT, not fruits of the Holy Spirit. You cannot pick and choose that which catches your fancy; when you get God, you get all that He is. If you do not have Him, it really does not matter what else you have. 

We have a God here who seeks men who will seek him, not for what they can get from him, but who know and understand who he is and what he can do. A personal question for me: have I met this God, or have I been following the wrong version? This is a God who introduces himself as 'Spirit' and all who will worship him must do so in spirit and in truth. Flesh cannot understand this need to fully submit to a God that is not visible, yet is all-powerful and omnipresent. The human nature in us seeks independence and self-promotion, but if my life will make any sense, it has to discover the God who owns it and then live life under the authority, control and direction of this God. I ask myself again: have I met this God?

Message and Response:

Think of a King in whose domain you dwell and whose authority you have accepted. Would you not do all that this king demands, if you wish to retain your residential status? If he lays out the terms and conditions for access into His presence, and you know that access gives you privileges and blessings you could not get otherwise;; would you not be quick to align with the terms and conditions? If this applies to a mortal, earthly king, imagine how much more relevant it is for an immortal, heavenly king, in whose hands are the riches and treasures of the whole world. If an earthly king can demand such total obedience, how can we imagine that it will be different for our heavenly king? 

He lays out the terms of access: Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise. I do not rush in like an armed robber or a stranger with no knowledge of the customs and traditions of the land I am seeking access into. I do not come in like an ungrateful child, only after the tokens of the kingdom, and not the joy of a personal knowledge of the king and ruler of the kingdom whose riches I am seeking to enjoy. I come into his gates with the attitude that guarantees that I will be welcomed in. I come into his courts with a heart that is tuned to the acknowledgement of his power, might, grace and awesome mercy. My heart bursts with thanksgiving because it knows all that it has received in the past and is still receiving.  

When I read the words: Bless His name - I could almost wonder how a mortal man can bless an immortal God, but then I realise that blessing God can only proceed out of a heart that is fully aware of the fact that all it is and has comes from this same God. I cannot out-give God; all that I already have or plan for can only come from him. My blessing God is adoring, worshipping and giving him all the praise and appreciation that is due Him. I acknowledge my helplessness in the face of the awesome power of God. I confess my inabilities, shortcomings and failures, and receive the enablement that only He can provide. 

The reasons for all I have been asked to do are also laid out in today's extract: For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting. By default, God is good. That is his nature. He does not do evil, even if the effects and consequences of my sin lead to evil. He cannot produce that which does not align with his nature, even though he may allow evil to happen, as a result of the exercise of my own freewill. His nature is mercy, and his mercy is eternal, just like he is. The problem is that, for mortal men, mercy expires. It was mercy that brought Abraham to the hall of faith, and it is mercy that has brought me also into faith. It is not about what I did to earn it, but all about what God did to bring me in. He has brought me in; I have the responsibility to embrace that mercy to the end, so I can get all that his mercy intends for me. 

His truth endureth to all generations. Of course, He is also the Way, the Truth and the Life. Anyone who makes any claim to any of these would be a liar. Truth is also his nature, and as it has been established earlier, God cannot produce what is against his nature. He does not lie. If he calls something a sin, no amount of bleach or human opinion and support can whitewash it. If he desires to bless a man who walks in his ways, no human opposition or support can influence him to change his mind. From generation to generation, mortal man has learnt that God's standards do not slip. Dispensations may differ, and the application and access to grace may mean different things to different people in different generations, but one thing is quite clear: the standards of God are like him: immovable and unchangeable. That is why he must be feared. That is why he can be trusted. That is why his judgement will always be based on truth, not deception. 

Now that I know who this God is, and how he desires to be approached, my best offering is to live in line with his expectations. If I have now known who this God, it will be folly to persist in my past ways which brought no profit to me. Ignorance may have worked at a time, but now, God makes himself known by the things that are happening around us. Financial structures, long-term plans and well laid out and fool-proof measures all fail; only God remains the same forever: faithful and true to his word. He can be trusted; I am safe with him. Does He know me as his own? Am I willing to pay the price for permanent access to his residence? The benefits of that access are eternal; there will be no regrets for the man who finds God. His time of favour is here.