Stand!

Stand!

1 Corinthians 16:13 AMP

[13] Be on guard; stand firm in your faith [in God, respecting His precepts and keeping your doctrine sound]. Act like [mature] men and be courageous; be strong. [Ps 31:24]

We read of Paul, the man who was inspired to write this letter to the church in Corinth, and we see the grace of God upon his life. He was not always the man used mightily of God in the early part of his life, but by the grace of God, he became an instrument the Lord could use to bring the gospel of Jesus to the Gentiles at the time. The past does not always have to be a burden or a curse; in the hands of the Most High God, the past is just the foundation for the amazing things that God is able to do in a life that is totally submitted to Him. The fundamental question then is: "Am I totally surrendered to God? Does He own and hold all of me?". Until you are sure, there is no guarantee of an eternity with God. There is no way a man can stand the right way, if there is no help from God. 

The verse above lays emphasis on the help that only God can give, to enable a man take hold of that which he cannot get by himself. It is critical to be on your guard, but you can only plan and prepare for that which you know is coming. If a man is prepared for a thief, the thief will not succeed in his evil plan. Asking me to be on guard is a clear indication that there is danger all around me. Asking me to stand firm in the faith is a clear indication that there will be threats to my confidence in God. The devil is smart, and knows how to make alternative options look attractive. When I am firmly rooted in Christ, it is not possible for the wind and waves stirred up by the devil to uproot me. Like the wise man who built his house on the rock, the winds and the waves will definitely come. How I survive will be determined by the quality of my roots. 

I must spend time on the things that matter, and help to deepen my knowledge and experience of God. How would I respect His precepts or keep His doctrines if I do not take time to read, study and personalise them? It is what you have that you can draw on when the demand is made. You cannot give what you do not have, and you cannot fake it till you make it here. When the verse above charges us to 'act like mature men and be courageous; be strong, it shows that this is a process that takes time, effort and commitment. Fear is the usual, normal process for the natural man; only those who have taken on the God's offer of the supernatural nature can aspire to the ideals of eternal impact. None belonging to, or under the control and influence of the natural man, can ever attain or claim such. Do you know who you are? God's time of favour is here. 

Priorities!

Priorities!

Mark 8:35 AMP

[35] For whoever wishes to save his life [in this world] will [eventually] lose it [through death], but whoever loses his life [in this world] for My sake and the gospel’s will save it [from the consequences of sin and separation from God].

The owner of the kingdom is the One laying down the principles and practices of that kingdom. As always, the choice of responnse is left to every man. No one can make up your mind for you; no one can act on your behalf when it comes to the acceptance and strict followership of the kingdom. That is the message in the verse above. This time, we find Jesus speaking to both the crowd and His disciples. There were times when the message was for those who had chosen to follow Him, and there were times when He had to speak to the crowd to inform them of the available choices. This time, the message was for all: know who you want to follow,  know the eternal life of your decision, and know quite clearly that it is personal. 

There will be times that it is easier to blend in than to stand out. There will be times when it is convenient to just stay quiet and not say anything, so as not to offend anyone. Actually, it does not really matter how I defend my actions or reactions; the God of all Truth knows what my motives and intentions are, and He is able to judge righteously. As long as the earth remains, it is subject to the control and authority of the One who formed it. He is able to make all things work out for our good, if we can but trust Him. Trying smart moves outside of His will only ends up in disgrace. Thinking that you are smart and can outwit the devil, who is skilled in warfare and has been doing this for long before any of us alive now were born, is not an intelligent move. 

The message of Jesus here is direct: what you do with the life you have been given has eternal dimensions. How can I secure a life that was not mine in the first place? How can I secure a life that I know nothing of its beginning or its end? It is quite critical that I find the purpose of God for my life, and not waste the time I have been given in unhealthy comparisons or competitive envy. I am an individual; God sees me as a unique person, and I will do well to focus on why behind the who I am, and what God has gifted me for. That is the basis of reward. No effort by myself can secure that which God alone can provide. Don't think you can outsmart God; if my heart is not right with Him, even the applause of the whole world will not save you. Entrust your life to the One who can save to the uttermost. God's time of favour is here. 

Seek God!

Seek God!

1 Chronicles 16:11 AMP

[11] Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually [longing to be in His presence].

Israel had done something wrong. They had the ark of the covenant of God upon carts, which was contrary to God's express directive on how the ark of covenant was to be carried. It is not a surprise that Uzzah, who was not a priest, touched the ark of covenant, and he was killed by God. The oxen carrying the ark actually stumbled, yet God did not spare the man who touched the ark. God's standards are sacrosanct; He will not lower them for anyone, no matter who you are or what you have achieved for Him. Ask Moses or even the man who wrote the words of the verse above, who is David. When David did wrong, even though God Himself testified that he was a man after His heart, God still punished him for the wrong he did. We learn today not to take God for granted. We strive to know Him as well as what He loves and hates, so that we can please Him. 

David also learnt this the hard way. It took the death of Uzzah for David to do the right thing. He knew the ark of the covenant of God was not to be treated carelessly, and that specific people were mandated by God to offer service in relation to the ark. David then took firm steps to ensure that those who should be there were appointed to serve and minister. He even built a tent for the ark, as it was the case in the wilderness. I reflect on this, and note that I cannot treat the work of God with levity, neither can I afford to be complacent with His standards. Men were put in place to offer service, with David leading by personal example. What corrective steps do I need to take today, in order to align with God's clear instruction? What changes do I need to make in order to make my life, and all I offer, acceptable to God? 

The counsel in the verse above is to 'seek God'. This counsel will not work unless the benefits make the effort worth it. David knew the value of the presence of God, just as Moses, Elijah and many others did. There is strength, grace, help, provision, protection, and sustenance, amongst many other things, that are made available to me, when I am connected to God. In God's presence, there is fullness of joy, and at His right hand are pleasures forevermore. He is never late or too tired to attend to our requests, as He is not man who is bound by human limitations, and there is no searching of His understanding. Before eternity began and long after this earthly phase will cease to exist, God will continue to be God, and no one can unseat or dethrone Him. This is the God that men like David knew and followed, and we still talk about them today. Do not let the weight of the worries and cares of this world keep you away from the benefits and blessings that come from this God. He waits for us. God's time of favour is here. 

Kept; Secure!

Kept; Secure!

Psalm 23:5-6 KJV

[5] Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. [6] Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

David wrote the words of this psalm, and whilst we do not know the context of the song, we know the direct application of the message in the song to our everyday life. I read the verses above, and I cannot but cast an eye on the verses that come before the ones above. The psalm starts with this very direct message: 'the Lord is my Shepherd'. It has to be the start of any conversation about safety, security, provision, protection and guidance. How would I place a demand on resources that I am not entitled to? How can I claim benefits of a country of which I am not a citizen of?  Any attempt to claim anything from such a country will amount to fraud, and the consequences could be imprisonment or even deportation. 

As it is in the physical, so is it in the spiritual. God also has a Kingdom, of which there are loyal subjects who can lay claim to all the benefits and blessings of that Kingdom. In this Kingdom, there can be no fraud, where someone uses deception and lies to claim what s/he is not entitled to. The Lord has to be my Shepherd, if I am to take hold of what sheep are entitled to get. Am I part of His sheepfold, or am I still my independent contractor, subject to no one and under the direct control and influence of the old man? It is quite clear that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, so coming to God has to be on God's own terms, not mine. He has made clear what terms and conditions for engagement apply, and also supplied the grace of access, so I can come in. Why not walk in? 

A few of the benefits of walking in are listed in the verses above. It does not matter what the quality and quantity of the opposition against me are; as long as God is on my side, I know victory is sure. In fact, right in front of the opposition, He prepares a table before me so that all men may see. He anoints my head with oil to show that I am His own, equipped with all I need to make impact and change lives. He not only secures my present; He also has a guarantee in place for my future. His Goodness and mercy follow me down here on earth, all the way until I get into eternity with God. With all that I am entitled to get, what excuse do I have not to come to Him for salvation? He is able to save to the uttermost all who come to Him. Come as you are, and take hold of that which He is and has. Your eternity will be glad you did. God's time of favour is here. 

Give Him All!

Give Him All!

1 Peter 5:7 AMP

[7] casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].

Peter, a disciple of Jesus and the leading spokesman for the apostles, was writing generally to both Jewish and Gentile believers, who were living in exile, scattered across several cities outside Jerusalem. Just reflect on what this meant for these people: in distress due to their faith in Christ, and unsure if they would ever be able to return to their familiar environment. This gives a picture of the discomfort and inconvenience that may sometimes arise as a result of faith in Jesus. At no time does God promise that we will have perpetual blue skies; He warns us to prepare for tough times, but He adds the ever amazing comfort: He does not leave us alone at any time. We have the abiding presence of God as a bulwark and anchor for our souls, when things are really going bad. Does Jesus know you as His own? 

Peter was now addressing elders of the church in the chapter from where the verse above is taken. The mandate was the same as it was to him. All who will identify with Jesus must be ready to suffer for Him, in order to also reign with Him. Peter was there as Jesus was treated as a common criminal. As Jesus hung on that tree, there was a prayer He prayed: "Father,  unto thy hand I commit my spirit". He understood clearly that only in God was He truly safe and secure. This has to be my default setting too: i have the perfect example to emulate; I now have the foundation on which I can build my present and my future. I have a Father whose love and concern for me comes from a place of firsthand experience. He bore all my sin, so I could bear His nature. 

If He could do this much for me, what else can He not do? If He could leave all His glory in heaven so He could walk in my shoes, what else can He not give up? Why do I have to bear burdens that He has taken on my behalf? Why should I hold on to things He has fully taken care of? Why should earthly, ephemeral things be able to take root in my heart and distract me from seeing God at work? This is the message of the verse above: I have a Father who invites me to lean on Him for everything I need. His shoulders are broad enough to take anything I can throw on Him. His heart is large enough to handle anything that all the inhabitants of the world throw at Him at the same time. He says I should cast ALL on Him, excepting nothing. He watches over me with tender mercies and love. I cannot help myself; He is sufficient for every need. God's time of favour is here. 

Like A Child!

Like A Child!

Matthew 18:3-4 KJV

[3] and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. [4] Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Heaven's recommended solutions to earthly problems will not always align with logic or common sense. The earthly problem here was that the disciples had heard a lot about the glory and grandeur of the kingdom of heaven, and wanted to know who is the greatest in that  kingdom. They may have argued amongst themselves, wondering what to do to ensure that they were counted among the greatest. As with all things connected to heaven, the solution is never in line with man's schemes or expectations. Man seeks glory and honour by position or possession, and can sometimes kill in order to attain to the level of recognition and applause that is at best temporal and ephemeral. The natural man thrives on all things earthly, and there will be a need for a change of foundation and focus, if man will lay hold of that which God is able to do in his life. 

No matter my age, current networth, network and circle of influence, the foundation of all that God counts as important is in conversion into a little child. This image is powerful: it is a little child in focus here: dependent on adults for help, always trusting no matter how incredulous the promise is. This is why little children believe in fairy tales, as well as Santa Claus. When they have established a new relationship with you, they never outgrow it, unless and until they reach adulthood and understand the reasons behind the actions of adults in their lives. They can hardly hold a grudge, as one moment, you may chastise them for a wrong, and within seconds, all is forgotten and forgiven. The image of a little child presented to adults like Peter, or the 2 brothers who wanted positions of glory in the kingdom of Jesus, is indeed powerful. 

This is the message of the verses above. Take all that the world teaches you about how to make it in life with a pinch of salt. Some schemes may make you wealthy, but if the foundation is not built on the principles of the verses above, this would not last. Entering into the kingdom of heaven requires a change of heart, a lowering of demands for earthly excellence and a need for recognition or human applause. The things of the world do not count where heavenly relevance is at stake. Before now, I may have thought myself irreplaceable; the verses above enjoin me to have a rethink and reorder my priorities. I have to humble myself if I am to access the amazing benefits available to all who come by simple faith to Jesus. Like a child, there can be no pretence, hypocrisy or eye-service. It is simple faith and acceptance of all that Jesus has done and given as sufficient. God's time of favour is here. 

Healed!

Healed!

Isaiah 53:5 KJV

[5] But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

The account of the verse makes for a very interesting read. The events described here are presented as having happened, yet the prophet who was given the prophecy lived about 600 years before Jesus was even physically manifested. How could the prophet Isaiah be so sure? This tells me that the death of Jesus on the cross was not a mistake or an afterthought; it was the plan that God would provide a worthy sacrifice to deal with the eternal problem of sin. God knows the problem as well as the fitting solution. No one subject to the same law of sin could provide that solid solution; it had to be one born under the law but not subject to it. Thank God for His power and wisdom. 

The prophecy is presented as concluded even before the vessel of change was born into the world. The sacrifice on the cross was part of God's plan for redemption that was laid out in the Garden of Eden, where the first sin occurred. Reflect on this: the place of the first sin of man also became the place of the first pronouncement of mercy for man. The seed of the woman would bruise the head of the serpent. All that sin brought would be dealt a mortal blow by the death and resurrection of Jesus. As He hung on the cross, remember all that happened to Him; a crown of thorns was placed on His head; he was whipped with scourges; He was nailed to the cross, and even after He had died, a soldier pierced His side with a sword, drawing blood and water.

Men thought they were powerful; God used the actions of men laid out above to achieve His earthly and eternal purpose for man. The wounds He got dealt with our transgressions. We were the natural objects of wrath, but He took our place. The lashes He got dealt with our iniquities. We were the ones who really deserved the beatings, but He went in our place and took the beatings. Now, not only did He take our place, but He also secured something precious and amazing for us: peace with God. Nothing else could have done this: no amount of animal sacrifices or labour under the law could get us what Jesus got for us: healing. We now can claim a blessing reserved for those who come by faith into a new relationship with Jesus. Are you one? God's time of favour is here.