See the Lord!

See the Lord!

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

[14] Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. 

There is a call upon every life that lays claim to knowing God. It is one thing to know about God and be able to speak about Him; it is a completely different thing to be known and backed up by Him. The Bible is full of stories of men and women at different stages of their lives who handled God one way or the other and got the consequences their actions deserved. We read of these men today and we are made aware of what God's expectations are for us. He leaves us in no doubt as to His demands, and we will not have any excuse for not living up to His standards. He will also not demand from me that which He has not first supplied sufficient grace for, but be sure that if He gives you, He will demand an account. As I live my life daily, I have to be conscious of this fact. I am not living to please anyone else, but the only One whose opinion counts. 

His minimum standard is holiness, because that is His nature. He demands that from all who claim to know and seek Him. How can I call on someone whose demands I do not respect or heed, and expect Him to do for me all I ask Him for?  How can I choose my own life's pursuits and priorities, and then somehow expect God to rubberstamp my ideas? Submission means a complete break from the old life, and taking on and living by the instructions of a new master. It cannot be half of both, or a little here and a little there. That is being lukewarm, which, as the letter to the church in Laodicea lays out clearly, God would have no use for that kind of person. You cannot sit on the fence of indifference, as there is none. Claiming to be indifferent is in itself a choice. Knowing who I am defines for me what I am required to do. Do you know who you are?

Following peace means knowing who peace is. Peace is first a person, before it can become a lifelong commitment. It is also not surprising that there is a combination of peace with holiness, because you cannot separate the two. I cannot pick up one attribute of God and reject the other. I cannot break God into parts and try and fit Him into convenient parts of my life. I can either let Him into every area of my life or just lock Him out of every area. When God says no man shall see him without being holy, please take it very seriously. Have you ever proven God to be a liar in any way? Is there any word from Him that you have proven to be false? If there is none, then be sure that this one too will not fail, fall or falter. God is true to His Word, and as He made clear to Jeremiah, He is watching over His Word and will perform it. If I will see Him, I have to live like Him. Again, grace is available for all His demands. God's time of favour is here. 

Stand the Test!

Stand the Test!

James 1:12 AMPC

[12] Blessed (happy, to be envied) is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive [the victor's] crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him.

The world's standards are quite different from those of God. The natural man will resist  anything that makes him uncomfortable or inconveniences him. The natural man will choose the path of least resistance, because that is how it is built. If given a life of utmost convenience and tough times, who would willingly choose pain? It is not a wonder, then, that the natural man cannot inherit eternal life because it is not possible for that which leads to eternal death also inherit eternal life. It is also in line with God's purpose that the natural man gives way to the spiritual man. It is the spiritual man that sees trials and tough times the right way, which is God's tool to bring about His divine purpose and plan to pass in the lives of all who submit willingly to Him. It is not given for everyone to see it this way, but if you get it, the verse above calls you blessed. That is definitely not the way the world will sell it. 

The man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation has come to understand something important: in the hands of God, any trial is a learning opportunity, as well as a chance to grow in my knowledge and experience of God. Think of this: how would I know my capacity to withstand pressure, if I never face pressure? How do I resist the temptation to compromise, if I have not first seen the value of standing with God, and seeing Him come through for me in quite amazing ways? In fact, the verse says that such a man is to be envied. You have to wonder why? Such a person is on a journey of discovery; he is not concerned about men's motives and intentions, but focused on God's purpose behind the pressure. The man who sees God in every situation and season of his life has understood that life is not a race with anyone else, or a comparison with anyone else, but a race to accomplish God's divine and personal purpose for him.

It is also not an error that the word STAND is used here. It shows readiness to do whatever God leads me to do in every situation. Like Joseph, the right stand, when confronted with Potiphar's wife, was to flee. The right stand for Jesus was to give his life willingly, so you and I could have and hold on to the hope of eternal life. Whatever the demand, God leads His own to make the right stand, which is either to flee all appearances of evil, or to take a stand and confront evil in whatever form it presents itself at the time. The reward at the end also makes it worth it. The crown of life is promised to all who love God, and who stand for and with Him. I note that there are no joint efforts recognised here; everyone gets his or her reward based on his or her personal walk with God. This crown is worth looking ahead for, and as God has never be found to be a liar, He will do exactly as He has promised. May He keep us in His will, keep us standing in and for Him, and give us the victor's crown at the end of our stand. God's time of favour is here.

Run 2!

Run 2!

1 Corinthians 9:24-25 AMPC

[24]  Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but [only] one receives the prize? So run [your race] that you may lay hold [of the prize] and make it yours. [25]  Now every athlete who goes into training conducts himself temperately and restricts himself in all things. They do it to win a wreath that will soon wither, but we [do it to receive a crown of eternal blessedness] that cannot wither.

Like all human races, there is an end goal in view, which is to win the ultimate prize. Men and women put in years of effort for a race that may not even last up to half a minute. You also find people who are put under pressure to deliver the prize and they go into fraud and performance- enhancing drugs, just to give them an edge over other people. You do not show up for a race that you have not prepared for, and you do not also show up on the athletics field if you have practiced and prepared for basketball. You come to run the race that you have been registered for. As it is in the physical, so is it in the spiritual. For all of us on earth, we have been called into a race. You may not admit it now, but being born into this world means being given a role and an assignment to impact the world you have been placed in. I cannot really start the journey the right way until I know what that role is. Do you know why you were born?

We all get onto the racetrack of life, and we are required to run our own race. Unlike the world's standards, this is not a race where you reward only the top 3, because it is not a race of who is fastest. It is a personal race to the finish line, whenever that may be for the one running. Some will run it as a dash or sprint, while for others, it is a mini or full marathon. This is not a race in which you compare your speed to the person standing next to you, because both of you do not have the same terms and conditions, and you do not have the same/exact assignment. Indeed, you may find yourself in the same environment or mission field, but God will be using the different skills and gifts He has given everyone to achieve His purpose. I have to be content to focus on what I have been asked to do, and do it to the best of my abilty, in line with the supply of grace that God has made available. 

The race has rules. God expects me to run right so I can end right. I run as someone who has met the One who commissioned my race and has laid down the rules of engagement. The prize has also been laid out, so I know what I am denying myself for, and what I am looking forward to. There will be self-denial and sacrifices made; people will come into my life for a season or for a reason. I must know which one applies and not hold on to the props of men. Men can only offer me what they have, which is, at best, a crown that will soon fade away, or a record that is only good until another person breaks it. God promises me a crown of eternal blessedness that can never wither, because its source is not limited by time, space or circumstances. You know you cannot share one crown; you have to run the right way so you can receive your own crown. There is enough for everyone, because no demand on earth can exhaust the resources of heaven. Run right; win the crown. Help is available from the One who has called me to run. God's time of favour is here.

Run!

Run!

Hebrews 12:1 AMPC

[1] THEREFORE THEN, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us,

Again, the audience defines the expectations. God wants us to be His representatives; to be His eyes, ears, hands, feet and heart to the world around us, but He cannot place the same expectations on all of us at the same time. He knows those who belong to Him, and those who are yet to make up their minds about making a full surrender to Him. For those who are truly surrendered, the expectation is that they live in a particular way that shows that they belong to God. All who come in contact with them must also know who they are, and where their allegiance lie. Does this describe me in any way? Do men know who I am, and who I belong to? Now, it is possible to deceive men down here on earth, but would I think it is possible to also deceive God, who can see into the hearts of men and knows their deepest desires and motives? 

How would I ever think that I can play both sides: do God's bit when it is convenient, and also blend in with the culture of the world around me, when convenient? It is dangerous to live like this, especially when you consider the lives of the people that the Bible clearly lays out for us. The verse above refers to a great cloud of witnesses who have borne testimony to the Truth. These are people we read about in the Bible; men and women across different walks of life who met, walked with and worked for God with all that they had, and whose lives have now become examples that we can learn from, or in some instances, avoid the mistakes they made. One of the many reasons why the stories of these people are written down the way they are is so that we do not think they are superhuman. They are like us in every respect, but they met this God who changed their lives, and they walked with him until they crossed over into eternity with Him. 

As it was for them, so is it for us today. As they ran their own race, so do we have our own race to run. We have examples to learn from and be inspired by: men and women with weaknesses, but who trusted in the God of all grace to strengthen and help them, and He did. He is still the same God; grace is available for all who will seek Him out. Let us throw aside every weight that seeks to hold us down, and the sin that so easily entangles us, so we can run the race before us the right way. Again, God will not demand from me that which He has not first supplied grace for. It is also an individual race; nobody can run on your behalf. You will meet others on the race, but you have to stay on your course. Do not let anyone or anything distract you;. The cloud of witnesses is cheering you up. As they did succeed, so shall we all, even as depend on God every step of the way. Are you running your race? God's time of favour is here. 

Shine!

Shine!

Matthew 5:16 KJV

[16] Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

The words above were spoken by Jesus at the first Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus sat with his disciples, and there was a crowd at the foot of the mountain. Throughout the life of Jesus, this was a constant phenomenon. Everywhere Jesus went, people followed him. Whether it was out of curiosity, or a desire for a miracle, or a sincere search for meaning, he always had a crowd of people following Him everywhere He went. For all of us today, there is a need to define who we are, what we are and where we are headed. That clarity of identity will define my pursuits and priorities. At all times, there will be disciples, and there will be the crowd. There really can be no middle ground, where a man is neither a follower of Jesus or a follower of the world's system. You will always have to choose between both extremes. Which one are you: a disciple or part of the crowd? 

Jesus was speaking to disciples here, and making reference to the Light. The light has been personified for us, which means that it is first an individual walk, before it becomes a public testimony. It is YOUR light, taken from your personal interaction with the Light, that men will see. If I do not know the Light, how can I have or share Him? If He is not in me, how can my life reflect Him? If He does not know me as His own, how can I represent Him the right way? This is a relationship that is first and foremost personal and intimate; you really cannot touch light as a tangible object, yet when it is not there, you will definitely feel its absence. Its availability is taken for granted most times, until it is no longer there. The value of light is seen in its public impact, and this is why the light has to shine before men. How would the world know the value of Jesus if my life does not show Him off? 

How would people in the world know that living right and holy is possible, if I am not the living and breathing proof that it is? All sorts of people will come my way, and life will also place a demand on me to provide proof of my identity, focus, connections and commitment. If I do not have the right content, what value can I give to the world around me? God is seeking to show Himself strong in the lives of all men and women who are fully submitted to Him. He does not force Himself on anyone, or go against the exercise of my freewill. I have to let the light in me shine out before men, by my words, actions, relationships and attitude. I have to smell right, so that men can be attracted to the fragrance of God's Presence in me. Men will glorify God when they see His representative. Men will glorify God when they are touched by the influence of His power through my own life. That is the call of God upon all who claim to know Him. Do you know Him? God's time of favour is here.

Motivated!

Motivated!

Acts 20:24 AMPC

[24] But none of these things move me; neither do I esteem my life dear to myself, if only I may finish my course with joy and the ministry which I have obtained from [which was entrusted to me by] the Lord Jesus, faithfully to attest to the good news (Gospel) of God's grace (His unmerited favor, spiritual blessing, and mercy).

Paul had gathered the elders of the church in Ephesus, and was reminding them about the important things to focus on. Here was a nan with a rich history of both the good and the bad; he had persecuted those who belonged to the kingdom of Jesus, and now he was promoting the principles of the same kingdom he had been persecuting. The church in Ephesus had seen firsthand the impact of the ministry of this man, and here he was, addressing the elders for the final time before heading to Jerusalem where he knew trouble and tough times awaited him. As God calls, equips and places men in our lives, we have to know that there is a time and a season for these interactions. One day comes when either we or these people will have to move on to other assignments, and when that time comes, can it be said of us that we focused on our assignment, and did our best with the grace that was supplied? 

The package of life for Christians involve a lot of rough and tough times. Nowhere does God promise that life will be smooth at all times; what He promises is His presence and power to enable me focus on what He has asked me to do. For Paul, that understanding was very clear. He had been told by the Holy Spirit that troubles awaited him, but he also knew that as long as God was with him, he could look ahead with joy to all that was ahead of him. This attitude cannot be birthed and sustained by anything outside the hope and faith brought on by the presence of God. Nobody can give you these; a man can only give you what he already has or holds. How can a man consider his life nothing except he has found the true life that God offers? How can a man remain unmoved by trials, unless he has had an encounter with the immovable, immortal and Omnipotent God, who can make an eternal message from broken messes?

What lies at the end of the journey must be sufficient motivation for all of us. I must do the work in line with the will of the One who calls me to walk with and work for Him. The work is massive; the fields are ripe for harvest and God is looking for people who have an understanding of what is ahead, and who are available as labourers in His vineyard. Again, it has to be noted that God does not call a man and then leave him to fend for himself. All that I need for life and Godliness will be made available by the One who needs to get things done. I have to deal with distractions on my path to the fulfilment of God's divine mandate. With His supply, I can finish my course with joy; with His supply, I can finish the work of the ministry entrusted into my hands. The reward is for faithful service as required by God, not that celebrated by men. What is your motivation? God's time of favour is here.

Seek God!

Seek God!

Psalms 42:1 AMP

[1] As the deer pants [longingly] for the water brooks, So my soul pants [longingly] for You, O God.

The sons of Korah are credited with writing the words of this psalm. It is a song of deep reflection, showing the depths and scope of man's need for God. It does not matter how hard the world tries to convince itself of its self-sufficiency or independence; the truth is the world is in turmoil and it is only by a search for, and total surrender to God that the world will know and have peace. The world is in a constant pursuit of a false image of success that has not been defined, and can't really be defined. It is an endless search for meaning and purpose in life, where the goal keeps changing, because those who set it are not even sure of what they are looking for. And men then run themselves to the ground and into the grave, never surrendering to the God who promises and provides peace in the midst of the greatest storms. This is the God the psalmist seeks to introduce to us. 

Life will happen to the best of us. There will be situations and challenges that will stretch us and threaten to derail us. There will be times when it seems that God is far away from us, or that He does not seem to fully understand what we are going through. For the deer in this story, it did not matter what had happened, or the devourers who were pursuing it; it knew it had a place to go back to for refreshment and nourishment. It had a clear idea of its need, and where to go to for help. There are two interesting definitions for the word 'pant': long for or to do something', and 'breathe with short, quick breaths, typically from exertion or excitement'. This is quite a powerful picture: the deer would seek the waters with excitement and longing, knowing full well the benefits and blessings it would derive from the waters. Is there anything in my life so powerful that is keeping me away from seeking God today? 

Like the deer in the verse above, do I know the true source of all that I need for life and Godliness? Am I seeking for God the right way, or am I open to alternative suggestions on how to make things work? Is God alone sufficient for all facets and phases of my life or have I learnt to compartmentalise my life, giving God access only to the areas that are convenient? Or do I only look for Him when there is trouble looming? Let God not become a side-attraction; let Him be the one and only attraction. God does not force Himself on anyone or go against the exercise of a man's freewill, but wherever He is allowed to rule and reign, the difference is always clear. As the word of God says, God is seeking to show Himself strong in the lives of all who are fully submitted to Him. Like the psalmist, my soul is focused on God alone. I thirst for Him; I may have tried other options and they have failed. God has never been known to fail, as it is not in His nature to. Seek Him today; eternal benefits lie at the end of that search. God's time of favour is here.