The Greatest Gift!

The Greatest Gift!

Now thanks be to God for His indescribable gift [which is precious beyond words]!
2 CORINTHIANS 9:15 AMP

Life is measured by the impact it makes. Life is also measured by its contribution to human existence. By human standards, we speak of men like Martin Luther King Jr. We speak of women like Mother Theresa. These people went over and beyond the regular call of duty and spent their lives on behalf of humanity. We remember them today, not on the basis of their names or talents, but by what they gave. The same principle applies in today's extract.

We also see a reference to a gift, maybe the greatest gift ever given. In the example of Martin Luther King given above, he gave his life in the course of serving humanity; in fact, his life was taken prematurely when he was shot and killed. He didn't plan to die the way he died, but he was human and limited. As much as he did, not everyone liked him. When you look at today's extract, there is also a gift, this time also, of a life, but the big difference is that this gift was given willingly, freely and with love so deep that the recipients can never fully understand it's height or depth.

The gift given is the seal of salvation,  redemption and eternal life for all who accept it. The gift was given willingly, even when the recipients didn't care. The gift is valid for all time, as long as there is time. Through that gift, we can approach the throne of grace with confidence; because of that gift, we now have access to the riches of God's grace and power. By that gift, we can stand before God and request for anything in the name of that gift. No wonder Paul could thank God for this gift, because he himself was a recipient and beneficiary of that gift.

One warning though: every gift by God has conditions. No matter how much I love the gift, it only works for me if I accept Him as Lord and Saviour and allow Him reign and rule in my heart. The gift is eternal in scope, and one day, grace will be suspended and judgment will be applied. That gift will be the basis of judgment. If the Lord were to demand an accounting today, what would be my response to his gift? What would be your response? His time of favour is here.

Victory!

Victory!

O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin [by which it brings death] is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory [as conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 CORINTHIANS 15:55‭-‬57 AMP

Paul used the entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 15 to speak about the life after this present phase. The foundation of the life to come was laid at the point where the perfect life God intended was polluted by sin. God's perfect plan was for man to live forever, without sin and without the law. There was no need for the law because in the Garden of Eden, there was no sin. Man had his mandate - to rule, to subdue, to multiply and to obey God consistently. But as soon as sin came, man lost the original life, and settled for less than God's perfect plan. Now, we struggle in this weak, mortal body, as we wait for the transformation God alone is able to birth in us.

Death was the natural consequences of sin, and death is powerful. It does not respect boundaries, because it does not obey any of man's natural laws. It came with man's disobedience, and it is permanent. Only in Christ is any man free from its grip, and only a person who has tasted the kind of life available only in God can say the kind of words in today's extract. Death has a finality about it; when it comes, it pay no attention to your feelings or desires. All who are subject to the law are subject to the consequences, which is death. If I will be free of the consequences, then I have to be inside God, the only one through whom total victory is sure, certain and guaranteed.

Indeed, I can only thank God for what he has done. Nothing I did could ever secure the life I have now, and nothing I do now can secure the life I now have. God secured it for me, and asks me to only trust and depend on Him daily. I thank God because he didn't wait for me to earn it; he paid the price once and for all. Life has been secured; life is offered full and free. One day soon, that life will speak and demand an accounting. Can it be said that indeed, I have true victory? Am I still relying on good works, charity or morality? The only thing that works is Jesus, and he is the only One  that secures life. Am I saved and safe? His time of favour is here

Benefits

Benefits

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.1 John 1:7 NIV

My identity cannot be established outside of the One who loved me well enough to die for me. If I claim I am a Christian, then I derive my identity, my functions, my heart, my life and my pursuits from Christ. I must go beyond the drama of mouth confession and move into the realm of life profession.

What are the benefits of my identity in Christ?  First of all, as today's extract establishes, I walk in light. When I have Christ, I cannot walk in darkness. His presence guides and guards. When the road seems long, hard and unsure, he is there, providing leadership, guidance and direction.  Secondly, fellowship with other believers will make sense, because there is a connecting sense of purpose. I realise I am not alone as I run my race; God keeps bringing in people who will encourage, bless and build me up as I work. The connection is the blood of Jesus, by which men of all tribes and colours are united in the kingdom of God here on earth.

One great benefit of fellowship is that I do not need to know where you have been, or what you have done before. By the connecting blood of Christ, I share in this amazing bond that nothing on earth can explain or sever. I am a part of something divine and powerful; a relationship whose foundation and function is based on eternal life.

Are you a part of this Kingdom? Have you been washed in the blood, and become a part of this family? Do you have the light?  Have you been cleansed from sin, and walking in the fellowship of imperfect people made perfect by the perfect Master himself, Jesus Christ? Am i a part of the great movement of ordinary people made great by their connection to an extraordinary God? Remember, every decison, whether to accept or reject this free gift, will reverberate through eternity. His time of favour is here.

Great Hands!

Great Hands!

Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all. In Your hand is power and might; and it is in Your hands to make great and to give strength to everyone. Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name. 1 CHRONICLES 29:12‭-‬13 AMP

It always matters in whose hands anything is. If I were to handle a tennis racquet, the best I could do is a comedy of a match. Imagine the same racquet in the hands of a Rafael Nadal or a Serena Williams. Men labour to make their hands profitable, but there is a foundation that needs to be laid to secure this.

David got this all down when he penned down the words of today's extract. Here was a man who had just witnessed the people of Judah give freely and willingly for the building project. For David, the understanding was very clear: no man can lay claim to anything in life outside of God. It does not matter how hard you work or labour; you only lay claim to anything God has given you.

Men can run and work hard; men can sweat and strive for anything, yet nothing is assured. Even lions have to chase down prey, and those without God would have to fight for themselves. Those who know God have a major advantage: God already knows their needs before they ask, and only in and through Him are their needs met. They may not have everything they desire, but they have the greatest power in the world at their disposal.

In light of this, praise is the natural outflow from a heart that acknowledges God as the source of all things. If I know who I belong to, and what is at my disposal, my life becomes a natural reflection of grace. So, in whose hands are you? The answer to that question determines your lot in this present earthly life and the life to come. His time of favour is here.

Grace, Grace!

Grace, Grace!

but He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough--always available--regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.” Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me. 2 CORINTHIANS 12:9 AMP

I have the grace to ask God for anything and God has the power to grant all my heart's desires. I do understand that, but when the days of trials and tribulations come, and it appears God is a bit silent, can I still stay sane and faithful? Paul was a man used mightily by God to do mighty things, yet he confessed at a point that God allowed a messenger of Satan to buffet him. He took the situation to God in prayer, but it was as if God was asking him to stop looking at the problem, and see Him as the solution to all of life's experiences.

Indeed, it is human to seek solutions to challenges. There is no man alive who willingly embraces trials without having an assurance of God's help to overcome. What we need is grace from God, not much else. There are trials that money cannot solve, and there will be situations where connections, friendships and possessions will be put to shame. Ask Job, who in one day, lost possessions worth hundreds of millions in one day, as well as 10 children. Life doesn't asssure you that all will be well; only the grace of God can guarantee that assurance.

As long as I have a fallback option, grace will not make sense. God's power is only seen and appreciated when I allow him work unhindered in and through me. It's a privilege that God, the immortal being, wants to express his power, might and wisdom through this mortal, earthly body. There is no room for pride or a false sense of accomplishment; as I rely more and more on God's grace, I realise that indeed, I had no power in the first place. If I know the power of God, I know he doesn't really need my strength or ability; my most important contribution to the fulfilment of God's purpose for my life is my total surrender and availability. Can I trust God by giving him total control? Would I allow him work in me that which he alone can birth and sustain? His time of favour is here.

Finishing Well!

Finishing Well!

But I do not consider my life as something of value or dear to me, so that I may [with joy] finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify faithfully of the good news of God’s [precious, undeserved] grace [which makes us free of the guilt of sin and grants us eternal life]. ACTS 20:24 AMP

Before today's extract, we read of Paul's enviable achievements and reputation. He was a well-read man, having studied under some of the most learned and revered men of his time. He was steeped in Judaism, knew all the law and it's requirements, was wealthy, connected, zealous and young: attributes that were perfect both for good and bad ends. Looking at the entirety of Paul's life, you find that to be true. Unfortunately, head knowledge is limited in its use when it comes to God. As much as man may place stock and value on it, man can only get close to discovering what God intends when the attitude aligns with Paul's attitude in today's extract.

Until I see my life as nothing outside of God, I will struggle to find relevance. Until I see my life as an outshoot of God's grace and power, I will struggle to make impact in my sphere of influence. You see, my life is a journey, with a definite start and a definite end, with definite milestones along the way. I get confused because I do not know all the parts of that journey, so sometimes, I strike out on my own, thinking I have it all figured out. Some other times, when I have been battered and bruised, I go back to God for restoration and renewal. What is very key is that I understand who I am and who I am working for. That understanding keeps me grounded, keeps me focused and keeps me on the right path of purpose.

The greatest blessing is the discovery, pursuit and fulfilment of divine purpose, not monetary acquisitions or popular appeal. For Paul, there was a clear conviction of what he was called by God to do. And for all who claim to know and follow Christ, we all have our assignments. None is irrelevant; all are parts of a unique whole; none is inspired or sustained by man, so the need to please or appeal to man does not arise. None can be determined or promoted by man, so the crave for applause and approval does not bear root. I exist simply at the pleasure of the owner of all life, and I work for and at the pleasure of the Master of the universe. That's the highest call to service, and a reminder that all I do now is a preparation for eternity.

And I go on with joy, because I know the great things that are ahead. I keep at it, knowing that God is glorified by my service. I keep at it, sure and certain that the grace that washed away my own sin and guilt is still very much in place today, free to all who realise their need and take hold of it. I take note of this final bit: the end of grace is eternal life. If I do not take hold of the grace, how do I lay claim to the life? If the path to life is through grace, how can I seek to enter through any other way? Nothing else will work, except what God has laid down, and I will do well to simply listen, heed and come to Him. His time of favour is here.

Children of God!

Children of God!

What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are. But that’s also why the world doesn’t recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he’s up to. 1 John 3:1 MSG

We are products of love. Right from the account of creation and man's stay in the Garden of Eden, it has been one great love story. It was love that made God put man at the centre of His creation. It was love that made everything we see today, and put each thing in its rightful place, and man at the top of it all. Even when man sinned and rejected love, love never gave up. Even though man's spiritual and physical location had changed, the basis of love hadn't changed one bit.

With sin came something the law itself couldn't regulate, which is grace. Grace has no legislative concept, as no one can make a rule about it or dispense it in appropriate measure. That's God's prerogative, and he has made in abundantly available in the lives of all who are his children. Grace is made available for all men, but its blessings and benefits are obvious in the lives of all who have surrendered their lives to God. That's why today's extract is addressed to those called 'the children of God'. Those are deep words; not words to be taken lightly.

What does it mean to be called a child of God? It is about ownership, dependence and assignment. It shows who I belong to, where I am from and my line of inheritance. It shows that no matter how old I get, I am still tied to the provision of my father, and can never run out of supply or dependence. That's why no matter how many years I have known, followed or served God, I never graduate from being called a child of God. It shows who I serve; my allegiances and my pursuits. If I belong to God, then it is only fitting that He is the only one I serve and give my best.

Am I indeed a child of God? If I am, i should not be bothered that the world doesn't like me. It cannot like or understand me, as we do not answer to the same owner. The Word and the world are parallel lines, and can never have a mutual agreement. Both have different earthly pursuits and eternal realities. If I will indeed be a child of God, and enjoy the blessings and benefits of that position, I must be fully in God. If I will follow the world's standards, then I cannot truly follow God. The choice has got to be made, and I must live with the eternal  consequences of whatever choice I make. His time of favour is here.