Give 2!

Give 2!

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

Yesterday's devotion was taken from the old testament, and for those who may wonder if the new dispensation has a similar message, the verse above is the answer. Irrespective of the generation or the dispensation, giving has always been at the center of God's heart. He would not ask me to do something He has not first done; there is no way a mortal man can outgive an immortal God. He gave his one and only begotten Son as a gift to pay the full price of sin for the whole world. If He could do what He did, He has laid down the perfect example of the attitude and ability that are needed from those who claim to know and follow Christ, when it comes to giving. The first expectation, therefore, is to sort out my identity. Does God know me as His own? It is critical that this be sorted out, as the commands of God are for his disciples and citizens. 

Paul was indeed writing to the church in Corinth, and as he would always do, he defined his audience: to the assembly of God, and to all the people of God throughout Achaia. The audience will always drive the expectations. The people of the world also know the value of giving, and there are several schemes that support those who do acts of charity. Even governments know the value of  giving, and would provide tax breaks to people who are known to give regularly. If the world knows the value of giving, how much more should those who know God be even more willing to give. One other quick lesson from the verse above is that the value of the return is defined by the value of the giving. Just like Christ who gave his life for the world, look at the billions who have now been saved, and are still being saved, through the act of giving that happened many centuries ago. 

You cannot give what you do not have, but let it be that whatever you have is a tool that God cam use to bless the world around you. God will not demand from me that which He has not first supplied grace for. The heart with which I give will also define the scope and depth of what I get in return. If I do not create space in my room to receive more, I cannot get more. If I do not move things out first, I cannot move things in. Only in God do you find the command to first give in order to receive. The world will lay emphasis on how much it can keep from what it gets. The Word of God lays emphasis on the heart with which I give as the basis of what I get. Forget the monetary value; the widow who gave two copper mites gave more than those who threw in large sums of money. Sow the right way; watch God return the favour with abundance. God's time of favour is here.

Give 1!

Give 1!

Proverbs 19:17 AMPC

[17] He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and that which he has given He will repay to him.

In a world of inequalities and poverty, the verse above speaks to those whose hearts have been taken over by God, and who have an understanding of who they are, what they are and have, and why they have been gifted and placed wherever they are. God does not make mistakes; the fact that one is wealthy and the other is poor does not always mean that the poor is lazy. You can work hard and still struggle, and for another, just one very bright idea brought to reality can change the story. This is why God's Word is critical to this discussion. Whatever my present situation, as long as I am alive and well, there is no limit to what God can do with me. He can decide on the timing of what He wants.me to have; He can decide the quantity and size of what I get as well as the channel by which He provides it. This is what makes God who He is; He has total control over all He has made. 

Whatever my current situation, there is something I have that is a blessing and an answer to prayer for another person. It is deeper that just monetary terms. I am careful to note that food is important and could be the most important need to be met before other things can be heard, but being poor is wider than just not having food. As you read one of the parables of Jesus in Matthew 25, you see other things that matter: I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me: sick, and ye visited me: in prison, and ye came unto me. These were the actions that distinguished the sheep from the goats. God, in His wisdom and sovereignity, has so designd it that therre is no one who has everything in this life; I will have something that is of value to someone else, and there is someone who has something that will be of immense value to me. 

What is critical is to seek to apply what I have received the way God would want me to. For those under new management, they know quite clearly that their lives, as well as all they have and hold, are God's, and He has the power to command and direct them as He pleases. When I do as He pleases, the verse above says I am lending to the Lord. It is a bit odd to say you are lending to the One who owns it all in the first place, but it shows that I recognise the power and purpose behind such an investment. God does not owe a man; whatsoever you lend Him is returned to you in multiple folds. He will place people on my path that He wants to bless through me, and He will not demand from me that which He has not first supplied sufficient grace for. Nothing I do is wasted, good or bad. The results will definitely follow. If I do not like the current results, maybe it is time to change the direction of my investments. God's time of favour is here. 

Help!

Help!

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭121:1‭-‬2‬ ‭AMP‬‬

[1] I will lift up my eyes to the hills [of Jerusalem]— From where shall my help come? [2] My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.

A search on the internet reveals that some of the mountaintops that are in or around the Old City of Jerusalem are Mount Zion, Mount of Olives, the Temple Mount, Mount Scopus, Mount Herzl, Mount of Rest, Mount Hotzvim, and Har Nof. Whoever the psalmist was, he must have lived in or around Jerusalem and seen the peaks and mountains, and was able to appreciate the protection and safety they seem to provide. That is both the challenge and the reality of physical measures. I am required to lock my door at night, yet I also understand that locked doors do not always keep out trouble. I can take the best of safety precautions, yet they may not be able to keep me truly safe in the day of trouble. 

What, then, is the solution? Do I completely dispense with the need for safely, trusting God to keep me safe, even if my decisions place me in harm's way? Or do I strike the right balance between physical measures, and the clear and simple  understanding that only in God am I truly safe and secure? This is the message of the verses above. As I cast my eye over the physical measures in place, I set my heart on the One who can make all these measures work as they should, whilst also keeping me safe. I am sure the psalmist here must have tried all the other options at some point, and realised they were limited in impact, scope and effect. 

If I lift up my eyes to the hills, and I know that they cannot really keep me safe, it helps me know that there is someone else more powerful than the mountains and hills. The verses above lay it out: the Lord, who made heaven and earth, including the mountains. God will not keep a man outside the scope of that man's heart. If my heart is fixed on that which is visible, I must trust the visible to work at all times. I cannot turn around and blame God for the consequences of my own decision. If God is the sole focus, His promise is that He is able to keep safe that which has been entrusted to Him. Which one is my heart fixed on: the mountains or the Lord? Both have earthly and eternal consequences. God's time of favour is here. 

Right Measure!

Right Measure!

Luke 16:10 AMPC

[10] He who is faithful in a very little [thing] is faithful also in much, and he who is dishonest and unjust in a very little [thing] is dishonest and unjust also in much.

It is amazing how the bible, written centuries ago, continue to provide relevant guidance and information for current affairs. Principles by which the world lives by are laid out quite clearly in the bible, and one of such examples is the focus for today.  This is the area of stewardship and accountability. It does not matter how hardworking a person is; once the issue of faithfulness at work is in doubt, there will be a problem with trust. You can trust a man to put in his best on an assignment, but what can you do once greed or covetousness comes into the mix? It is also instructive that Jesus was speaking to His disciples here, and not the crowds that followed him everywhere He went. The expectation for disciples has to be higher, deeper and greater than that for the crowd. The disciple lives by a higher and nobler standard; the crowd goes with whatever is popular at the time. 

The disciple knows who s/he is working for, and will strive to please the Master; the crowd has no permanent allegiance to anyone but itself. Do I know which one I am? Do my actions and reactions show that I know who I am called to follow and serve? It is this clear understanding that will drive my pursuits and priorities. The size of the assignment does not matter to the disciple; the publicity that is linked to the assignment does not determine the quality of the dedication and commitment applied to the assignment. Whether man sees or acknowledges efforts does not matter to the disciple; after all, man's recognition and applause are not the reasons why the disciple works. All s/he is after is to please the commanding officer. The disciple also does not envy another disciple's assignment because it appears more popular; he simply focuses on his/her calling and seeks to excel in it, to the glory of the commanding officer.

It always starts with the little. Nothing great today ever started great, but is the culmination of several little things that led to the big thing that people recognize and celebrate today. Never despise the days of small beginnings, or think that the little you are doing is not appreciated, or is not contributing to the big thing that you foresee. If I am seen to be faithful and devoted in the seemingly inconsequential, God is able to then entrust the mighty and the amazing into my hands. His work cannot suffer loss, and all who work for Him have to be trusted with the riches and treasures of His grace. Think of the impact of a life that is backed up by God, and also reflect on a life that starts with God, and then wants to finish the work on its own terms. I have to sit down and consider quite clearly what is at stake here: I have made it public that I am under new management. My life's choices must reflect that truth. God's time of favour is here.

Just Pray!

Just Pray!

Philippians 4:6 NIV

[6] Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 

Anxiety is defined as 'a feeling of fear, dread, or uneasiness that can be a normal reaction to stress or pressure. It can be mild or severe, and can manifest physically, mentally, and in how someone behaves'. Think of all that is laid out above, and reflect on the danger that anxiety, if uncontrolled, can cause to human life. We are also told that anxiety can be a 'helpful response to stress, providing a boost of energy or helping someone focus. However, it can become a problem if it is overwhelming or interferes with daily life or relationships'. God, who made us and knows who we are and how we are constituted, knows the danger of anxiety to our human frame. As per his initial plan for man, anxiety about anything was not part of the plan. Sin came and messed up the plan, but the coming of Jesus to die for our sin has dealt with the power and reach of sin once and for all. 

Now, I have access to help from God who tells me categorically not to be anxious about anything and also prescribes the solution to whatever weighs on my heart. He tells me not to be anxious about anything at all, but to pray about everything. Anxiety does no temporary good, because it just robs you of the peace that God wants to establish and entrench in the heart. That is deep. Consider the One who gave such a command, and ask if He is capable of providing the solutions you need for all that you face. Life will happen to all of us at different times in our lives. As we are in this mortal body, there will be seasons of joy as well as threats to the peace of God in our hearts, but we must keep our hearts on the prize that Jesus has secured for us, which is access to the riches of God's grace and the resources of heaven. No demand of earth can exhaust the resources of heaven. 

It is not enough to just encourage me not to be anxious, but the alternative is provided, and that is to approach God in prayer. The attitude in and content of prayer also matter: would I just come to God and reel off all my problems, without really asking Him to take care of them? Would I just lay all my cares on Him without even remembering to thank Him for being there and supporting me all through the journey of life? Would I focus just on my own problems, and simply ignore all the cares around me which I could help with? Prayer is God's way of reminding me that He is there, and I can come to Him anytime. I must also remember that He is sovereign, and He knows how to meet my needs. All I can do is open my mouth and ask the right way, and also thank Him at all times that He is available and approachable. Lay ALL your requests before Him and leave them there with Him. That is all He asks me to do. In His hands, my life will only turn out great. God's time of favour is here.

Rejoice!

Rejoice!

James 1:2-3 AMPC

[2] Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. [3] Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.

The audience defines the expectation and the experience. James was addressing brethren, who through persecution and tough times, had been scattered all over the world at the time. The message can be tough to deal with, but at no time does submission to God keep you from tough times. In fact, it appears that this is when things get even tougher. The devil has just lost a subject, and he will fight tooth and nail to get the subject back. He will raise issues from the past, or create situations in the present, just to cause distractions, and if possible, get the subject to return to old ways. That has been his modus operandi for all the centuries he has been at work, but there is an even older grace that is available to help all who are totally surrendered to endure these tough times and to be victorious at the end of the pursuit. This is why I have to sort out my identity. I cannot afford to be non-committal about who I am and what is expected of me. 

Speaking from experience, James would have seen firsthand the consequences of his decision to follow Christ. He would have gone through trials too, but there was an inner peace that was greater and bigger than the sum of all the tough experiences. It is the inner presence that defines the outer reality. When a man has God, the world around him cannot explain why he is not weighed down by anxiety, stress and anger. The world cannot understand why he is always joyful, even when his life does not appear to have reasons for joy. In the hands of God, no experience is a waste. In the hands of God, every experience is a testimony waiting to be confirmed. Nothing touches me without first passing through Him and getting His express permission. The dosage and the frequency are tuned and timed by Him to ensure that I can learn His lessons the right way. 

The trials are tests to help me know where I still need help, and the areas where God has enabled me to have victory. I am told to have joy because of all that I am going through, simply because that test has a higher value, and it is to teach and entrench endurance, steadfastness and patience in me. How else can God teach me these virtues, unless the experiences are real. Again, you may ask why tough times are necessary in the first place. How can God trust the quality and depth of my convictions if they have never been tested for high-pressure situations? As long as God allows it, it will end in praise if I allow God work out that which aligns with His purpose. Even when the vision tarries, I will wait for it, because I know whom I have believed. Even when the storms rise, the winds blow and the rains come down hard, I am set upon the rock that cannot fail. Do you know this God? God's time of favour is here. 

This God 2!

This God 2!

Nahum 1:7 AMPC

[7] The Lord is good, a Strength and Stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows (recognizes, has knowledge of, and understands) those who take refuge and trust in Him.

The prophet Nahum is the one credited with the prophecy written as part of the verse above. At the time, Nineveh was a nation that was steeped in idolatry. Like all nations on earth at the time, including Israel, they all had an encounter with the God who hates and punishes unconfessed sin, no matter in whom it is found. It does not matter how close you have been to God, or how much He has used you in the past. Sin will make a mess of you and leave you at the risk of God's wrath. It is good to recall that the wages of sin has been death since the verse in Romans was first pronounced, and the wages remain death to this day. No amount of education, enlightenment, experience, empowerment or earnings can change the wages into anything less than death, unless the sinner repents. Do not joke with sin; its end is not good. Is there any audit I need to carry out on my life today?

It is interesting that it was Nineveh that was being warned here, not Israel. God is interested in every life He has created. Men may write you off, like Jonah did to this same nation, and would have preferred that God destroyed it. God would not let go. He would not hand over the nation to be destroyed without first giving it an opportunity to repent and return to Him. With God, you get limitless mercy but it cannot be taken for granted. With God, you get warnings before He punishes, but you do not know what the consequences of your actions may be. It is also interesting to note that the verse above is placed in the middle of the pronouncements of judgment upon the nation of Nineveh. God is speaking here of mercy, protection, strength and power for all who trust in Him. God is saying here that for as many as would put their hope in Him, not on the false tokens of men, they will experience all that God is and gives. 

What do you think you can get that can beat what God offers here? The verse above lays it out clearly that God is good. Indeed, He is, and that determines what I get. Days of trouble will come, as a result of man's nature, but because I have Him, I have strength and a stronghold that is sufficient. Nothing gets to me without first touching Him. No harm can befall me without His permission, and the dosage and frequency will work for my good. That is what He offers, and it is for those who take refuge and trust in Him. Please do not make a claim on benefits you are not entitled to by birthright. Those who come to Christ come into a new relationship with God, and are now co-heirs with Christ. The Lord knows those who are His; He cannot be deceived by outward piety that is not matched with inner witness of the presence of God. He is stll very much at work; would you put your life in His hand and watch Him work? God's time of favour is here.