Peace!

Peace!

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Matthew 5:9 KJV

Context and Charge:

This is part of the first sermon of Jesus. As was always the case, he had a crowd of people following him everywhere and hanging on every word he spoke. But as was always the case too, Jesus had some words for the crowd and some for those who had stepped out of the crowd to follow and obey him. The distinction here is quite important, as it defines what to expect from each category of people. It is easy to get lost in a crowd; to just blend in and go with the flow, but it is another thing to make the decision to follow Jesus instead. One takes no commitment; the other, a lot of commitment. One needs no major sacrifices; the other, a lot of sacrifices and self-denial. Which category do I see myself in? Am I a part of the crowd, or a follower of Christ?

If I am truly a follower of Christ, today's extract speaks to me. It is one of the attributes and character traits of those who follow Christ. I note that what today's extract speaks on is an attribute of Christ. I will not be required to produce character traits that are not in line with the nature of Christ that I claim to know. If I do indeed belong to Christ, men must see his imprint upon my life. If men would not have cause to doubt the honesty and sincerity behind my pursuits and priorities, I must be sure and certain of my identity. The attribute in focus here is peace. In a world seemingly focused on self-destruction, the message today is clear: all who are in Christ must live by different standards. How would the world be attracted to Christ, if there is no difference? 

Conviction and Conclusion:

Today's verse calls peacemakers blessed. To be a peacemaker is to have a heart that sees the best of other people. No matter how dire the situation or how bad things have degenerated, I must be able to introduce peace. Now, this is the thing: there is no guarantee that the warring parties will listen, heed and change, but what you do not do is to make the situation worse, fan the flame of hatred, bitterness and division or take sides. The only side that matters will be the side of truth; truth as laid out by God. After all, I am a representative of the God of peace, so my presence must promote and entrench peace. When I reach out with that which is God's in me, I am blessed. I am God's ears, eyes, hands, lips, feet and heart. Whatever I say, do or think must celebrate God and make Him known to the world.

Of course, the world knows its own, but it also knows those who are different. The last part of the verse for today reflects the view of both God and man. If I seek, pursue and promote peace, I am a child of God, known to Him and the whole world too. I do not have to wait until the rapture or death in order to enjoy all that is on offer. This earthly life is God's platform for the manifestation of His person, power, plan and purpose. Would you not want to enjoy the fullness of the riches of God's grace and favour? 

Seek after that which is God's and see him bless you beyond your wildest dreams. Live as He would live, and see how He makes your life the generational blessing it was created to be. I am a child of God, and my life's daily decisions reflect this. God's time of favour is here.

 

Taught!

Taught!

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans 15:4 NIV

Context and Charge:

What are the benefits of repetition? Why do we have written records of accounts and history? Why do we seek the wealth embedded in the years of experience of the men that have worked and walked before us? We depend on these resources for earthly life, and indeed, a lot of the world's achievements, as well as detriments, are directly attributable to the actions and inactions of the people who came before us. We do have a choice to repeat the mistakes made in the past and of course, re-live the results of those mistakes, or we can seek out the benefits and blessings of the past and re-shape the present and the future. As always, the power of choice remains within the exclusive preserve of human beings. 

For us who have the privilege of access to the words and actions of people from the bible times, what are we doing with the information? What lessons are we learning as we read and listen to these words and see their lives on display? What changes are we seeking to bring about as a result of the lessons we are learning from these people? God does not waste resources and experiences, and whatever He allows has a purpose and an end in view. That which is in the past holds great lessons for the present and the future, only if we are prepared to listen attentively, and be committed to obedience. What steps do I need to take today to personalise the lessons from the stories of these men and women God used in the past?

Conviction and Conclusion:

As is also seen in today's extract, that which is in the present is also built to teach me patience and endurance. The Bible is an account of various lessons and experiences tailored to teach life lessons, and if I can submit to the process and procedure, I will learn all that God intends and become all that God intends. After all, what is my life worth if God cannot impact it by His Word? What value would my life add to the world if God's word cannot birth and sustain hope in me? No matter what has happened in the past or what lies ahead, the hope that God is in charge of the world, its people, circumstances and events puts my heart at rest that nothing happens without his consent or approval. That is power. 

Now, we have read the past, and it is currently impacting our present. What do we, in this generation, plan to leave as a legacy for the coming generation? What personal lessons from walking with and working for God are we able to document and personalize for those coming after us? Do we just have plenty of words and no action, no lessons to pass on, no eternal value to lay out? God will never leave us to our own devices, and we must not rest until we make God known in this generation. Events around us keep making it clear that we need to go back to the lessons of the bible. The present and the future will be grateful that we played our part. God's time of favour is here. 

Liberty!

Liberty!

For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. Galatians 5:13 KJV 

Context and Charge:

Paul speaks to a specific audience: people referred to as brethren. You are either one or you are not. There is really no middle ground or a fence; you are either all in or all out. It is this claim to neutrality that made Jesus say He was going to spew the church in Laodicea out of his mouth, because they just could not make up their minds who they were or what they were to consider important. If I haven't yet settled my identity, this has to be priority. I do not get access to all the Jesus provides, if I have not first surrendered my life to Him. This is the proper foundation for all that follows in the verse under review. I cannot change the order, as salvation is the key to accessing all that Jesus is. Am I saved? Are you?

There is also a specific message: it is a message of liberty. It is not liberty to live as one pleases, but to please the One who secured that liberty for me. God calls His own children to liberty from the power of sin, sickness and death. You do not get partial fulfilment of contract; if indeed I am a believer, I am entitled to the full package available in the new life in Christ. It is a call by God, so it is not something I can buy with money, or fight for by strength or labour, or simply appropriate to myself by connection or influence. The God who calls us to himself is able to sustain whatever it is he ordains, so I must make sure that the call I heed is the one God makes. It is dangerous if I hold on to that which is not God's. 

Conviction and Conclusion:

There are also specific instructions for the new life I have been called into. There are attitudes and behaviours that align with the new life I have been called into. There are also restrictions that apply to that new life. It is not a free-for-all, where anything goes, but it is a demand for a particular lifestyle. Think of it this way: if you applied for citizenship of another country, you had to commit to following the rules of that country. No country will admit foreigners who are murderers as new citizens. In the same way, being part of the brethren places a demand on me to live in a particular way and to stop anything that does not align with that way.

This liberty frees me to serve without stress or inhibition. It frees me to serve other people out of a heart of love. Indeed, love is the greatest motivation for service. I am able to place other people's interests over and above mine. Love is also an attribute used to describe who God is, so you get the clear picture that I have been called to be like God and to make him known to the world. The world must know this God, and the loudest way is by the full expression of his nature in and through me. Am I free to live like God, or am I freely pursuing my own agenda? The end is important; I cannot afford to miss the mark. God's time of favour is here. 

Life!

Life!

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. John 6:35 KJV

Context and Charge:

In the physical, it is usual for a man to seek to keep that which can guarantee continuous supply. If you have found a secret to unending supply, would you not want to protect, preserve and perpetuate it? As it is in the physical, so does Jesus seek to establish in the spiritual. It is very easy and convenient to focus on that which satisfies hunger and thirst, at the expense of that which satisfies spiritual hunger. Natural hunger cannot be fully satisfied, for as long as I am in the flesh, there will always be a need to eat and drink in order to remain alive. So also does this apply to the spiritual too; spiritual hunger cannot be satisfied by that which the world produces, and I cannot get enough of that which God provides to satisfy spiritual hunger. 

It is therefore clear that both physical and spiritual hunger are insatiable, but there is only one that can be perpetually and continuously satisfied, and that is the one that God's supply meets. For these people, they had eaten the bread and fish, and they wanted endless supply. They thought that if they made Jesus king, it would guarantee permanent supply. Earthly position is not always the answer to earthly provision. Yes, there are things that position and power may give you, but that which the earth gives cannot sustain that which is eternal. Only that which the eternal God gives can truly satisfy the deep hunger of man. Unfortunately, it is that which the world gives that holds man's attention the most. 

Conviction and Conclusion:

Jesus calls himself the bread of life here, signifying that he is the one who nourishes to the point of guaranteeing eternal life. He is sufficient by himself to meet the needs of man, no matter how complex. There is bread that will satisfy human hunger, but human hunger never goes away permanently. There is nothing you eat now that will cure you of hunger for the rest of your life, but there is a supply that Jesus promises here that is sufficient for whatever need may arise. It is a provision backed up by God as the answer to all of man's needs. If you knew that there was  something you could eat that would never cause you to hunger or thirst again, wouldn't you do anything in your power to get it? 

That satisfaction is Jesus himself; not some theories, concepts or postulations about life. Jesus tells me to believe in Him alone, not in combination with anything else. I cannot successfully combine His sufficiency with another person's inadequacies. Even by myself, I am inadequate, but when I come to and believe in Him, I have all that is required for success and satisfaction in life and ministry. I note the confidence in the words of Jesus, and the use of SHALL means that the end results here are no in doubt. They are backed up by the greatest power in the world, and if He says it is done, nothing can change that, Do I have this life in me? God's time of favour is here. 

 

The Foundation!

The Foundation!

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17 KJV

Context and Charge:

There is power in hearing. The sense of hearing is one of the pathways into the human psyche, as what I hear defines what I become and impacts what I do. For those who have had to raise children, we know the power of positive affirmation for children in their growing years, and we also see very often the danger and peril of negative words on children. It is therefore very important that we review the power of the sense of hearing, but we cannot do this outside of the power behind words also. Words have life, and God is the perfect example of this. By His Word, he created the heaven and the earth. 

By His Word, he spoke all that our eyes see and ears hear into existence, and He continues to sustain them by the power of His Word. It then means that the life force of the earth actually lie in the word of God. It is not so much about inventions and technological advancements, as useful as they may be now, but it is about the power of the Word of the Creator. For me, I must also consider my own life. Who is the life force behind that which I do? What motivates my pursuits and priorities? Is it the Word of God, or the applause of men? Do I seek after what men say at the expense of what God has to say? 

Conviction and Conclusion:

Now, faith is a major ingredient in a man's walk with God, and today's extract further buttresses the importance of hearing. How can faith be birthed in a man who has no time for the God whose word can change his life? How would you know a God you do not seek? Faith catches and holds God's attention, because it is proof that you know and believe in Him. You would have heard of Him and his exploits, and these must have encouraged you to seek after Him. Please do not rest on just hearing about God; let that which you hear push you into accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour. Faith in anything or anyone else is a waste of time, as that which cannot save itself cannot save another. 

God has consistently shown himself to be powerful and mighty to save, and it is He who calls men to Himself. What I need from God for this life is a word from him. If His Word is able to sustain the earth through all these centuries, then He is able to sustain any life that has been surrendered to Him. What are the mountains that are standing in my way today? What are the things that seem to be shouting into my ears, trying to block God's Word from coming into my hearing and impacting my heart? What are those tough times that are screaming for attention, trying to draw me away from God? I hand them over to the God who, by His Word, can do the miraculous with the mundane. His Word is powerful, and can be the change that you need in a world that is slowly but surely going down the path to destruction. God's time of favour is here. 

Mercy!

Mercy!

But I will sing of thy power; Yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: For thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble. Psalm 59:16 KJV

Context and Charge:

David knew God on a personal level, and this personal experience always showed in the words of his songs. Here, we see David singing about a time Saul sent men to watch him, so they could kill him. Here was an anointed king, trying to kill another anointed king, out of jealousy and envy. First lesson is quite clear: being sure of your direction, inspiration and dedication does not in any way stop temptation and trials. The fact that I am sure I am on assignment for God does not in any way stop the devil from trying to upset your equilibrium. This is where the power of choices and responses becomes clear: what do I do when the road seems rough? 

For David, his own choice was clear. He was going to sing of God's power and mercy. Sing, in the face of storms? Only a man with a clear understanding and insight into who God is and what He can and has done can react in this manner. Even the things David would sing about gives an insight into what I can also do. David speaks about God's power and mercy. These is the combination that makes me wonder: a God who is both powerful and merciful. A God who can kill and bring to life, and also dispense mercy to people the world will refer to as most undeserving. The same God rejected Saul as king, yet kept him as king for more than 14 extra years. Isn't that power? 

Conviction and Conclusion:

It is this combination that also makes God to be feared, in a good way. He can change any situation, no matter how dire, or he can also choose to leave me in that situation, and then provide sufficient strength and grace for me to remain strong and standing through all the experiences. No matter what He decides or where and how he leads, it does not change who God is or what He can achieve with my life. Hd holds the blueprint, as well as the plan for how my life will turn out, and the best use of my life. On my own, I am quite limited, but in the hands of the One who is both powerful and merciful, I am in the best place to be. 

Think of the 14 years David spent hiding from Saul. He knew he would be king, and even Saul knew that too. He even had a chance to kill Saul who had been hunting him down, yet he would not. That is a man who understands the limits of human machinations and schemes, clear in the knowledge that it is only him who God helps that is truly helped. David knew what lay ahead, but he had to be prepared for the future God has laid out. Can I also trust God in my day of trouble? Can i hold on to God with my whole heart, even when I can't see clearly what the way ahead is? God is sufficient as a defence and a refuge, but I must trust God totally, if I will enjoy all He offers. God's time of favour is here. 

Walk!

Walk!

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Galatians 5:16 KJV

Context and Charge:

Walk connotes action. A definition says: "move at a regular pace by lifting and setting down each foot in turn, never having both feet off the ground at once." To walk is to not just sit down, with arms folded, waiting for some magical moment that will sort everything out. Walking is a deliberate action that may involve the use of limbs, a change of position or an advancement in current progress. It gets even more delicate, as it matters how and where you walk, as well as a purpose and destination behind the walking. In today's extract, the walking must be in the Spirit. There is a realm that the physical plane cannot fully comprehend or control, and there is a need for the help of the Spirit of God. 

God makes it very clear in the Word he has inspired what his demands and expectations are from those who claim to know and follow Him. I note that a specific timeline is not stated here, and it means that this walking is not a weekly appointment or an occasional fling, but a daily and regular session. It is not something you switch on and off at will, used only when there is a need, but it is a pursuit of God borne out of a hunger for all that God is. You won't consistently seek after something if you did not know its value. You do not walk on some days and then destroy the gains you have made on other days. I keep walking, because I know the One who commanded, and who will help me arrive safely.

Conviction and Conclusion:

It is the understanding of who the Spirit is that will define how well I walk IN Him. It is IN Him I must walk, not by my own intellect, information or insight. The world's system is too complex for me not to seek divine help on how to successfully navigate it. I also note that both statements in today's verse are very true, but only one can be true at any single time in my life. I cannot walk in the Spirit, and at the same time, seek to fulfil the lust of the flesh. Both are parallel lines that can never meet, no matter how far or long you draw them. You cannot be led by the Spirit of God and still have a strong desire to live for yourself alone. The Spirit of God takes away all those evil desires. 

If you want to live to please the flesh, you do not need the help of the Spirit. God will not abandon you, but He does not condone sin, as He cannot behold iniquity. I must remember that fulfilling the lust of the flesh is also a kind of walk. Both of these walks have eternal destinations, which are not the same place. If I am able to walk in the Spirit, then I have strength to walk away from the flesh. God has made known what His perfect will is, and also disclosed what lies at the end of his perfect will. I will not blame God for the consequences of my actions or decisions. God's time of favour is here.