Thoughts for another day

Aug. 30, 2013.

Today's verse: 1 Pet. 3:12. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further.  Thanks)

The Lord loves those walking in His path of commands, His eyes are upon them as our Scripture tells us today, so these people will enjoy the continual blessings of His hands and bask in the glory of His countenance from which comes all Grace and strength which not only helps to be in line with God’s ways, but also grow in stature before other men.  One can never know the cumulative and effective power of a man who is righteous, for God’s power is with him.  All he tends to do is successful and his every action bears fruit, for the awesome might of God is running the engine of each action.

Because the man is right in God’s sight, he isn’t confounded by evil in the world, or stung by the darts of the evil one for Grace flows like a river within him, blunting those darts; rather, whatever he endeavors to do sees the light of the day.  There’s never any dryness in the man for God is able to satiate every thirst he may feel.  His prayer rises like fragrant incense before the nostrils of the Most High and is wished speed in its answer.  God has His sights upon Him and He also strengthens him for his heart is committed to the Lord.

It’s time we did a reality check in our relationship with God and find out what we really are before Him.  Do we place Him above all others?  Do we spend time with Him and follow His bidding?  Do we place His interests above all things in our lives?  Does the very mention of Jesus kindle our hearts and enlighten out burdens?  These questions we must answer in the silence of our hearts and correct if there’s any wrong with the help of His Grace which He freely gives.  If we don’t do this, then perhaps we may have to face the frightening prospect of His face being against us; and who would want that?

Thoughts for another day

Aug. 29, 2013.

Today's verse: 2 Thess. 3:3. But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further.  Thanks)

Tired of sinning and falling into the clutches of the evil one, there’s just one solution: Adhere to the Lord and His Word for then you’ll stop sinning, maybe not all sins but substantially.  David says, ‘Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.’  Yea that’s the way to go about it my friend for then you’ll be able to resist the fiery darts of the evil one.  By your own efforts you may be able to do much in the physical realm, but in the unseen world of the spiritual, there’s not much you can do and be sure the evil one is out to get you although you may think this is a farfetched idea.

The world is reeling with evil today:  look around and see what’s happening; in every area of a man: where there has to be sanctity, there’s disrepair.  Take families, never has been the dissension and break-ups greater in families around the world than now.  Take the human factor, there never has been a time when hatred for one another has been greater than now.  Around every bend there’s something sinister waiting to pounce upon you.  There’s a drug pusher waiting to peddle his wares and tell you how wonderful you can feel if you just take it once.  There’re numerologists, tarot card readers and such kind of vermin who say they know the future, promising to make it rosy for you.  There’re black magic healers and other godmen who tell you how effectively they can banish the evil from your life, while piling you with evil that just will not leave you.  There’re people out there who will plunder your wealth at the least opportunity; thus have people lost their hard earned savings and their little wealth they kept for the not so good times.  If anyone thinks that it’s not so, then he is prime target for lurking around is just someone who is aware that you trust the world. 

Now what’re we the children of light to do with the menacing evil in the world…We need to be steadfast in our faith in God and sit at His feet surrendering everything into His massive power.  When we do this, the faithful Lord works in our favor and establishes us in our offices, our communities, etc.  He keeps us from all harm and we find that His Grace keeps us from sin too.  So just put on the cloak of faith in God and be firm.  Nothing will happen to you that is evil.

Thoughts for another day

Aug. 28, 2013.

Today's verse: Ps. 141:3. Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further.  Thanks)

Imagine the power of our words when we talk – they can build up and they can destroy.  There’s so much power in the tongue and often if we say something with our tongues, it does happen.  This is alluded to by what is said in the Book of Proverbs, 18:21, ‘The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.’ God gives us much power in our Words; even to command to things and they shall bid our command for God Himself, utters the Word and: it comes to be and obviously so shall it be with us when we have God in us hundred percent.

But what a waste of power we see happening in the world!  We use our tongues for ill effects more than for good.  There’re lies spoken, curses given, rumors peddled and evil things brought as a fruit of our lips.  There’re hardly any which talk blessing and growth and even if they do, there’s so little of it.  The words we speak reflect us, for they come from deep within us.  If our hearts are good, then out of our mouths proceed good things; and vice versa. 

Therefore, it’s important we guard the gates of our lips so nothing untoward will come out of them that may destroy people or even us, because of the evil we speak or the utter nonsense we say.  But the tragedy of the matter is in what St. James says, 3:5, ‘Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things.  Behold how great a matter a little fire kindles!’  Imagine the destruction caused by the tongue – families destroyed, relationships gutted, friendships demolished and what have you.  So we must pray the Word of Scripture today whereby the Lord will give us the Grace to place our tongues under His surveillance and by His might, avoid the evil it can spew and use it only to exhort, bless or edify and above all to praise and worship Him, who is good, the Lord God.

Thoughts for another day

Aug. 27, 2013.

Today's verse: Matt. 7:14. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it. (NRSV – copyright ack.)

(Pls. read the above before you read further.  Thanks)

I have realised and I believe you too would have, that to do and keep doing the right things, there’s much effort required.  Let’s take a simple thing like getting up in the morning – no matter how much sleep we’ve had, we still don’t want to get up and would love that five more minutes or even two more minutes of sleep, isn’t it?  So it is with church services, many fail to go saying they’ll go the next time and so on and so forth.  It’s only when absolutely necessary and we see some kind of penalty if we don’t do a particular task, that we tend to do it, even if rather disinterestedly!

It’s indeed surprising that any good thing you need to do, doesn’t just happen; on the other hand, what’s bad just happens.  If you eat more, you automatically tend to put on weight and get fat.  Interestingly, we humans always want to eat more – not less.  If we work in offices, we always want to be assigned easy tasks to do and those that take less time, but at the same time we want to be paid equal wages, no?  We always want to take it easy, but also to be rewarded largely, even if we’ve never been instruments of great work.  But it’s an established fact that we always veer toward ease. 

Then we wonder, why Jesus asked us to move in into His Kingdom through the narrow gate and the hard road which He says leads to life.  It’s because as we move through such a gate, we’re tried by fire and pruned to be real instruments of His, walking in the light of His will.  It does mean a life of difficulty but also: absolute faith in our God.  It’s a path, strewn on which, are stumbling blocks at every turn and bend.  That’s where our faith in God will be tested and that’s what will increase it and we’ll find our God neither forgets nor slumbers in His task of taking care of us.  In it we’ll also understand how to live in heaven on earth and be pleasing to Him, Who is in control of our lives beyond this one and then will we be made ready for eternal life of bliss.  Yea, and while the worldly road is easy and many walk in them, the end thereof is destruction and dismay.

Thoughts for another day

Aug. 26, 2013.

Today's verse: Eph. 2:4, 5. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further.  Thanks)

There’re two essential qualities of God that we see and feel often in our lives; but mind you it’s for those who’re tuned to God’s wavelength, because if you’re not, then there’s nothing you’ll ever feel or know of God.  And these two are – His love and mercy.  Today, if you but raise your eyes and look at the Cross, It gives proof of God’s love for you and it fills me with awe because I can’t understand how God, so big, so awesome, could come down to earth becoming so small; and die a miserable and wretched death for us.  But no matter, what I feel, the proof is there on the Cross and will ever be for every generation of man, that they may pause to think of the Man of Galilee, who walked to the Cross and stretched His arms to show His immense love for His choice creation - man.  

Then there’s the other aspect of God that’s eternally etched on the earth – His mercy.  See, no matter how much sin has tarnished the beautiful earth He made, He still sends His rain and other things that we men and other creation, need.  His sun still shines in the sky and all effects of the earth, like rotation, etc. keep happening, so no untoward thing may happen which could destroy earth or mankind.  His hand reigns over all and rejuvenates all.   His mercy enables us to go on with our lives despite the impending shadows waiting to shake the earth.  And even if I sin today, I know His mercy takes over in forgiving it, not that I continue to sin, but that I know His mercy is forever: In fact, even before I sinned, His mercy has taken my sin to His Cross and annihilated it!

So much and so effective is His mercy that even when we were dead in sins, He has made us alive by the blood of His Son Jesus Christ.  He has quickened us together with Christ and given us abundant Grace so we’re saved for eternal life and let it be known that Grace is unmerited favor, one can never earn it or demand it but seek it humbly.  A mere approach to God is necessary to obtain the Grace he gives us to live and it’s impartially given to all who seek with a sincere heart.  Get now up and enter His domain with hearts rent in humility to be a part of His Grace, even to eternal life in His Kingdom of bliss.

Thoughts for another day

Aug. 23, 2013.

Today's verse: Pr. 23:7. For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further.  Thanks)

To get anything from God, whether riches or long life or a powerful Ministry, or anything else for that matter, it’s essential to ‘think’ like a man who has got it.  To ask for those things that you know deep within are yours because God put it in your heart.  This may sound strange for look at you now… you’re nothing, yet, whenever you’re in prayer with God, you ask for something that really has no way of being a part of your life, but by His power.  When you step back, pondering on this, it takes you by surprise as well…how can I be asking for such a humungous thing? And so there might be many thoughts that come in your mind which may be like, am I able?  Am I worthy of such a great blessing?  Am I the right kind of person for this position?  And so on.  But it’s these reasons that amplify the power of God in our lives for were it not God, it will not be.

You can know the destiny of a person by the way he speaks…if he speaks big things, he will be big one day even if today, he’s nowhere; but that he will be there is for sure for that’s why he speaks thus.  If he speaks small things, he will be what he spoke for he has not in him to be on top but at the bottom.   Our Word is very clear about this aspect which is, what a man thinks in his heart, he is.  The question is, why does a person think in a particular way; (usually people who’re going to be right on top think and convey the content of their thinking to others) this is because God puts it in their hearts and enables them to not only think the way they do, but also become what they think, because that’s their destiny which God has for them.  And by the way, did you realise that the thoughts of our hearts display the girth of our faith?

Check today, what you’re thinking…if you’re thinking to be rich, then you’ll be rich even if you’re scrounging at the bottom of an empty barrel for the pennies.  If you think you’re going to be a great preacher and man or woman of God, take a good look at yourself in the mirror, for you’ll be one and that’s God’s work in our lives for God always honors those who think this way and make God the guarantor of them.  Believe me, God loves a challenge - did He not agree to one with satan about Job? – and when the instrument of His challenge is to give Him glory, it will come to pass for God loves when a man grows big to bring glory to His Name.  After we become big, we must never forget God who in the first place made us big, putting us in the right places at the right time without which we would never be where we are.  Indeed God is great and greatly praised be His Name.

Thoughts for another day

Aug. 22, 2013.

Today's verse: Is. 46:4. Even to your old age I am He, and even to hair white with age will I carry you. I have made, and I will bear; yes, I will carry and will save you. (Amplified Bible – copyright acknowledged)

(Pls. read the above before you read further.  Thanks)

When I retreat to a quiet corner and think of life ahead, there’re many fears that scratch at the edges of my heart: What with my waiting exclusively on God to provide a financial breakthrough! And not having anything like insurance or mega financial savings, the fear is bigger and looms larger and larger.  Imagine a situation for a man who’s about fifty years of age, with no regular source of income, no savings and no avenue of getting any funds; with absolutely no prospects in the job market as he would normally have; what’s the man supposed to do?  What could be going on in his mind and how does he cope knowing that today life extends well beyond even sixty five years of age.  How will he manage his food and other things?  Sharp questions, but real and frightening!  As I sit and ponder on the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob; He reassures me through His Word and He asks me to go back to the early years of my life - how things turned out, despite the odds stacked against me?  Yeah, I ask myself, who turned the tide in my favor and who looked at me with mercy when I most needed it?  Was it not God? 

Many tell me, your spouse works so you have no problem…but if my confidence is in my spouse then I don’t need God for this my situation and so can well stop believing Him out rightly, no?  But NO such thing for me; and such is my confidence in God to raise me up that to people I say, if I die the way I’m now, then stop believing God for if I’ve believed Him really and thoroughly, basing my whole life on His Word; and if He does nothing, then either I’ve not believed or He isn’t; and I know I have believed.  Not that I’m holding Him to provide great riches, just a decent life and a great door to minister to His people, which is His will isn’t it?

God knows that in any difficulty, I run to Him and now, right now; His beauty sparkles on you and me (as you are reading this) and provides us His Word above: “even to your old age I AM He, and I will carry you.  I have made you and I will bear you.  I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”  This is His assurance: And it’s irrevocable and unfailing.  It will be, just as whatever else he says, is and will remain.  So I cast out all fear and embrace Him with tears and surrender myself to His gentle caress.

Thoughts for another day

Aug. 21, 2013.

Today's verse: John 6:27. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.  (NRSV – copyright acknowledged)

(Pls. read the above before you read further.  Thanks)

We all work for something or the other and most will agree that we work for our livelihood and for the upkeep of our families and our dependants.  It’s natural to work for things that concern us in our living and to fulfill them.  But, there’re many who work for riches that are far, far more than that which they need to be content with. 

It’s certainly right to be concerned with work that actually puts food on our plates and other things which we need.  But slowly and rather unthinkingly, we start working on what I call unnecessary and ‘spurious’ things: things that only hold economic value but really cause no benefit to us and are carcinogenic to our spiritual wellbeing.  Usually this is triggered by what we see our friends having.  If they have a three bed-roomed apartment, we too want it; if they possess a Mercedes Benz, we too want that; and so on.  The process of amassing these things gets us into what is called ‘busy-ness’.  You become so busy harnessing these ‘spurious’ things that your whole attention moves from value based things like your health or your family, etc and even God.  I’ve seen people who don’t even go to church once a week yet, during a church fund drive, make their presence felt right in the center of the action and pledge a huge amount so it be known they’re generous and get much recognition from even the pastor of the church, who rather than admonishing them for their lack of presence at church services, praise them for their generosity, which though right, isn’t really the thing that will grant them knowledge of God to their being saved.

Our Scripture today, gives us the clarion call about the right thing to do: work for food that is for eternal life.  It means we need to get off the ‘busy-ness’ seat which can only give us money and more money and get on to the spiritually nourishing bandwagon, wherein we work for the welfare of the people, particularly in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It’s time we did out bit for the body of Christ, the church and that too selflessly without expecting any title, or reward or even recognition for that matter; doing the work as doing it for the Lord and in that will we gather treasure in heaven where neither moth nor rust can reach.

Thoughts for another day

Aug. 20, 2013.

Today's verse: Hab. 2:3. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.  (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further.  Thanks)

Here’s a Word for them like me, who’ve hearkened to the Word, or vision, or sign of God concerning something that’s there in their lives of which God is giving them a prior message through a sign or Word or vision.  For many times, the object of the message isn’t delivered and much time passes by in which time also the spirit of a person is dullened and he wonders whether the vision or the Word or the sign was right and in some cases, whether it was real; as it just doesn’t happen and perhaps we know, ‘Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life’ Pro. 13:12. But just as things of God are mysterious and go beyond the scope of understanding, so too is the coming to pass of a heavenly message for it may take time as we humans see it, but to God, who is outside the realm of time, it’s just the question of coming to the right ‘hour’ ordained by Him, for us, humans.

Therefore, it’s necessary we bear up to the time as in the schedule of God, because remember, there’s no wrong with God and all things are right with Him.  Hence, there’s no wrong time neither right, except His timing is right.  Learning to accept that, is our fundamental duty as it is polishes our Christian living and makes it sparkle.  So what if something that He has shown us takes awhile to come; isn’t He going to give us exactly as He has shown!  So what if we see no sign of it coming in the interim, will it not come to pass as it has been shown for isn’t He the Sovereign Lord and aren’t all things possible with Him.

Yea, today be with our given Scripture, for know that your message of God is for an appointed time and at the end it speaks eloquently and it lasts even to the happening of all things that God ordained that should happen.  It will never be an untruth for it is God speaking to us and God never lies.  We need to but wait for God’s time to the fulfillment of the message for wasn’t it God who gave it to us according to His pleasure in the first place?  So, how can we expect it in what we think is the right time?  Of a certainty, I will say that though you may have to wait for its fulfillment, wait; for it will surely come and in its time as again ordained by God…it will not wait a single moment more after His express command of the time.

Thoughts for another day

Aug. 19, 2013.

Today's verse: Tit. 3:8. This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further.  Thanks)

There are two points here that compel our attention:

One, it’s often a thing of contention among Christians, Catholic and non-Catholic whereby one argues that a person is justified by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and has no need of any other thing for his justification; so therefore, all good works that one does cannot grant him passage to heaven.  On the other hand is the other belief that without good works your faith is dead as James says in his letter, 2:26, says, ‘Just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.’  So they challenge the other brigade in saying, it’s the Bible which says, faith without works is dead and so there have to be works!  

Two, as soon as you believe in God and I mean really believe, you’ll be immediately struck by the need to do works.  Compassion for the other creeps in and the soul learns the art of sympathy and empathy and gears itself to being a little selfless and to reach out to those that’re desperate and in need.  It’s just like when a zebra is born, it’s body is white and striped black, or vice-versa if you want it that way, and it eats grass, by virtue of it being born a zebra.  So too, a Christian, when born again must show the effects of being born again or question whether he is.

To all those who argue stupidly without genuine love of Christ, I’d recommend not to waste time on which of the two principles, ‘faith’ or ‘works’ is important.  To me, it’s faith first and consequently, works; for faith must lead to works or it’s no faith and no faith means no salvation for remember Jesus said, ‘whatsoever you do to the least of My brothers, that you do unto Me.’ Just as Paul says, ‘they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works…’  Similarly, if you have only good works but no faith, that too is useless as it cannot save.  So I tell you my friend, no matter where you were leaning earlier, change and do what’s necessary, lest you cut a sorry figure before Him Who will judge you and in Whom is no blemish, nor a shadow of doubt as He sits in unapproachable light.

Thoughts for another day

Aug. 16, 2013.

Today's verse: Hos. 11:4. I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love. I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them. (NRSV – copy. ack.)

(Pls. read the above before you read further.  Thanks)

If there’s something called love supreme, then it has to be found only in God Almighty.   In no other, will we find this, unless of course we’re suffused with God’s Presence, so much so that at that time we are so much of Him that we’re not and He is – reflect on Paul’s ‘It’s no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me, Gal. 2:20. Yet, even then it’s God; for it’s just our bodies, but His Being and because of His Being we’re so much in love with everything.

Only God can epitomize love the way it should be – platonic, pure and unconditional: A kind of love that really doesn’t exist in the human dimension for who can love someone who always irritates and offends?  Yet think of how God loves us even when we’re in sin, and mind you, all sin is an affront to God, not merely the person we offend.  Scripture says, Rom. 5:8, ‘…while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us!’  In our above Scripture God says, ‘I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love.’  Who’re this, ‘they’?  They’re the people of Israel, unfaithful, unyielding and ever rebellious.  A read through the Book of Kings or Chronicles will reveal the hardness of heart of the Israelites and their wickedness.  It’s simply appalling: they go about their tasks as if God had not decreed any laws for them or for their kindred.

But God bore it all stoically if I may say, and He even pardoned them for He couldn’t bear to see their misery. Therefore He bent down and fed them.  He held them like infants close to His cheeks and He nursed their wounds.  My friend, if ever there was something God ever told us to show His love, here it is.  Today too, despite the whole world laden in the utter and dense smoke of sin, He reaches out to us in ways unknown and manners uncommon.  He sends us Grace in abundance to draw close to Him – ask me for I know, how He pulls us back to Him, even when we’ve nothing to offer apart from our sins and our backslidings.  Though centuries have gone by and perhaps, many more may go, God will never change.  Sin may increase in dramatic proportions and men may become as wild as animals, yet will His love linger…over a fallen race, a fallen man, not because men repent, but because He loved us and will always love us.

Thoughts for another day

Aug. 15, 2013.

Today's verse: Jas. 4:14. Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further.  Thanks)

Our Scripture becomes relevant each time I behave arrogant and believe the others are meant to serve me.  I take on an attitude of loftiness and usually others find no substance in what I hold as my base for this loftiness and even I know I’m empty but then my bull headedness takes over and I care a damn and retain my pride.  It becomes relevant and needed when I get into a scrap with someone, for a small wrong that person did to me.  I’m enraged and become even angrier if the person as much as tries to argue and defend himself.  I seethe inside, pour curses on him and say I’ll destroy him and whatever belongs to him and even more.  My voice is raised to a shrill; I’m shouting; my pressure shoots up, yet I’m screaming, refusing to listen to those around, trying to reason with me.

It becomes relevant in many other situations, but most relevant when God calls me repeatedly to Himself.  He says He yearns for me and I must go even as I live so that I may live a rich, full life, but again and again I refuse till I’m near death’s door having traversed the path of life, intoxicated by the lures of the world and their shallow pleasures.  And it may become even more relevant when I’m at my last breath and not having known Him, the One I need to go to, I shudder to know what’s beyond my last breath. 

Yes, my friend, we’re all so fragile.  What’s our life as our Scripture today asks: Just a vapor, a mist in the air and disappearing soon after.  Yet, look at the amazing boldness we display in harming others and doing bad in the world without realizing that any time, we may have to go, a time which no one knows about…a time that comes unannounced and of course unwelcome.  But its reality is absolute and must be faced.  So wake up if you’re slumbering in comfort and reach the feet of the Lord, now; tomorrow may be too late. 

Thoughts for another day

Aug. 14, 2013.

Today's verse: Ps. 126:6. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further.  Thanks)

What’s the fruit of, tears and heaviness of the heart, before the Lord our God who is aware of all our tears: it’s the joy of being able to sing songs of joy and raising the elements of new birth (the sheaves, so to say) that our efforts have borne us.  Indeed, most of our lives are built on the foundation of much work and tears.  Note here that even the expansion of the church was done, not by people living lavishly and donning exclusive clothes, but by people who were in all probability, impoverished, beaten and bruised.  But it’s they who carried the seed of the Gospel to the whole wide world and they were the ones to see the budding branches that their efforts bore by the mercy of Him, Whom they proclaimed, Jesus Christ.

Every aspect of Christian life, if lived well, is fraught with the danger of failure and disappointment which the Lord sends our way to check if our fidelity to Him will last the rough track of life. Mind you, every Christian will come across this, particularly if he or she is living in accord with the ways of Jesus Christ, for the accuser of souls is waiting like a roaring lion to pounce on them and we being frightened, are torn down by him.  Our fright is simply because we’re not grounded in the Solid Foundation, the Rock of ages and therefore we lack root and wither away by the incessant pounding of the evil one.  Sadly, because of our own lack of knowledge of God, we fall prey to the pestilence of the devil and then we blame God.  And we must know that God at every instance in our lives has always told us to come to Him and know Him and rarely do we take Him up on His offer.

Yet, God has mercy and He brings us to a point where we are cajoled by His Grace either of our selves or by someone He sends to help us.  Slowly, the seed that we planted in tears starts sprouting and we know not how, yet it does and within no time, there is a sapling which yearns to grow and soon it bears fruit.  All the while we really do not know how, but God is smiling and His smile says a lot to any of us who would turn our eyes to the heavenly realm and learn the reality of the situation.  Our tears are then turned to joy and celebration and this because the God of Israel, loves to see us happy and does all that we need to remain happy.  Glory to His Name.

Thoughts for another day

Aug. 13, 2013.

Today's verse: 1 Tim. 4:10. we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further.  Thanks)

In whom do we place our trust as we walk along in life?  In Ps. 20:7, David says, ‘Some trust in chariots, and some in horses’; which means the strength we have at our disposal.  These people, at the hint of trouble, muster all their strength before their enemies in a show of massive strength and hope to intimidate them enough into running away.  Then there’re others who trust in men having authority or power to help them.  When tribulation strikes, they fall if necessary, at the feet of these people and request help and once they agree, they go challenge the objects of their tribulations with the names of these powerful people in the hope of striking terror in their hearts.

Rather infrequently will you see a man, bold enough to tread the path of trials solely with the help of the Lord. The logic men employ in trusting man is, ‘God Himself, does not come to help isn’t it; He sends someone to do it for you.’ And so they find an excuse to talk to men for help while God is just secondary, taking the form of a passing reference when in conversation with their friends as they request prayers for themselves as is the custom to do; but their trust is firmly etched in men; And though they believe only men can help them, their thinking is, ‘what’s the harm if someone prays to God too!’ 

But as far as we’re concerned, we the chosen of the Lord, have no one else but God to go to when in trouble.  Now whether the trouble is great or small, doesn’t matter, it gives us immense joy in trusting the Living God, the Savior of all men and particularly of those who believe in Him.  It may be difficult sometimes to believe because there’s darkness everywhere and God just doesn’t seem to be listening.  But that’s the challenge God puts before us even as He remains silent…to believe in Him.  When we do, He is greatly happy and His blessings fall on us, as no man can ever think of blessing, and as we would never dream to be blessed.  God surely is wonderful and great, praise His Name.

Thoughts for another day

Aug. 12, 2013.

Today's verse: Lk. 6:45. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further.  Thanks)

Goodness flows out of goodness and evil out of evil: this is the message for us today, amplified by Jesus Christ, the Omniscient and He gives us this Scripture to say, no matter what a person seems to be, if he is good, then goodness comes out of him because inside of him is the treasure of goodness; so only goodness can flow out because a man can only provide on the outside what he has in the inside.  And the converse is true too viz. if a person is evil from the inside, he will only produce evil. 

Jesus says that a man is recognized by the fruit he bears: a good man will always bear good fruit and an evil man, bad fruit.  It cannot change and will not change for that is the principle of life which is seen in nature too, where a good tree only produces good fruit and a bad tree will bear bad fruit.  We may try to build facades in our dealings with people in the short term since we know them, but eventually, the truth comes out; the beans are spilled, so to say.

When someone new comes to the church we welcome and greet them and after the service is over, we try to surmise what kind of people they are by the kind of attitude they showed us. At times, we jump to conclusions about them and in our hurry to judge, we say they aren’t friendly because we found them a little snotty, a trifle snobbish and uncultured.  But later, it is they who come to help us in our time of need and our opinions of them are turned on their heads.  Mind you we had never seen what they were like inside before we opined what they were and so we erred.  But they being good gave proof of their good.  As Christians, we must never judge; rather wait till the people show their fruit and then we will know what they are.

Thoughts for another day

Aug. 9, 2013.

Today's verse: Philip 3:10. That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further.  Thanks)

In our Scripture today, there’re three thoughts Paul acquaints us with.  We take the middle one first; that of fellowshipping with Christ in suffering.  If you look around and see what’s happening with the Christian faith today, it’s not primarily that Christ came and died so we may be saved, but more, the material benefits, etc. and then, by the way, salvation for our souls.  Most preaching is about material benefits, comfort and luxury.  A simple question we need to ask is, did Christ die that we never suffer from sickness or that we have fat bank balances, etc.  Rather, Jesus said, ‘If you wish to be My disciple, take up your Cross and follow Me.’  In doing this, we have meaningful fellowship with His sufferings and are converted from our frightened selves to being bold in the face of opposition to deliver His Gospel, no matter who opposes us.

The next thought is being conformed to His death.  In baptism we die with Him in our sins and rise as clean souls and that’s the beginning of being conformed to His death.  Later, as we seriously follow His commands, we’ll have many other situations, where we’ll be conformed to His death.  Living a Christian life means dying to self each day and it is so that we may live with Him; and believe me, this dying a little, isn’t easy, if you know what I mean and if you have been walking on that path.  It means ‘I must decrease and He must increase’ at the cost of humiliation, threats, accusations, etc.  But still we have to trudge on so that Christ is really seen to live in us and only His Grace enables us to live in His way.

The final thought is to know the power of His resurrection.  It’s the power to be able to endure all for being raised glorious in time to come.  It’s a power that frees us totally, not only by the knowledge that they who kill only the body have no power over our souls and having surrendered our souls into the hands of the One we worship, He will in due course raise us up.  This also applies to the many falls we have while living the Pilgrim way.  In all lives trials and tribulation when we do what He has asked us to, bear in mind that He is with you, near you and for you.  Even if you’re momentarily in pitch darkness with not a glimmer of light, don’t forget He is there and after a brief period, He will intervene and release you.  Then will you give Him glory and bear great testimony to His Gospel and His Name.

Thoughts for another day

Aug. 8, 2013.

Today's verse: Heb. 7:25. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further.  Thanks)

Who do you think Jesus is: Just a figure-head God who sits there in the heavens beside the right hand of God and does nothing for us Christians?  Do you think Jesus is so sick of us that He has given up on us because notice as you will and you will see we’re clothed with sin all over and yet more sin besides?  Has Jesus, having founded His holy church, now denounced us and said, ‘enough, you unchangeable and miserable wretches, I’ve had enough of your complaining and murmuring and back-sliding and sinning.’  Has this very Jesus who had compassion on the widow of Nain, so much so that He commanded her son to rise and he rose from the claws of death that had clutched him; not have compassion and mercy on us who though misled and sinning awhile, are yet somewhere at the edge of His realm, not completely outside for as He knows, we know not what we do!’

Don’t think my friend that all is lost because you have now come to know of your many sins and sick as you are, you may think it’s your sins that have pulled you into the mire of defiant sickness and you are as good as in the grave for the Man of Galilee has failed to recognize you as His servant, unfaithful as you are, nevertheless, His servant.  Perhaps right now the pain is rising so much in you that tears blur your eyes and you remember your Lord and you think, ‘Lord, if I had but one more chance I’d make it up to You; I’d become Your best servant and give my life for You.  But yet, you hear not anything other than silence.  And then someone has led you to read this and its time I told you:  Jesus is real and alive and He is there right beside you.

Not only that, He hears you and He is your Most High Priest before God the Father, the Throne of all Grace and power.  Therefore, look not with a resigned shrug thinking you’re not going to get out of it for truly you will as even our Scripture today says, He is able to save you to the uttermost; you who come to God through Him because He lives to intercede for you before His God and your God, His Father and your Father.  Take heart my friend from what He tells you and rise, leave the sepulcher of doubt and call out to Him.  He will hear and answer your prayer. 

Thoughts for another day

Aug. 7, 2013.

Today's verse: 1 Cor. 3:16. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further.  Thanks)

Our bodies are not just flesh and bones and blood, but they’re also the abode of the Holy Spirit of God and thus they attain a status that’s beyond human comprehension because the ways of the Spirit of God are beyond understanding.  But see how we treat our bodies or for that matter the faculties God has given us to use for our sojourn on earth, it’s with disdain we use them and chiefly to satiate our carnal desires; which of course we term as essential and necessary.

But as to what is there in our Scripture today, we know that we house the Holy Spirit, the Awesome Third Person of the Holy Trinity who is the force and the power of God the Father; Who has the power to shatter the earth and also the power to pour the water in the seas into a river basin for the Holy Spirit is power and power.  And when He resides in us, He gives us the power, yea really, power to live full and joyful lives.  We know all He can do for us but the most important thing He does is, give us an intimate knowledge of Jesus Christ our Savior.  In fact, what delights Him most is when a man looks up to Him and tells Him to give Him the Grace to know Jesus and there the Holy Spirit is up with a bang introducing you to things of Jesus which you have never known. 

In the heavenly realm, there are a lot of mysteries and Jesus used to explain some of them to His disciples, like for example He said to Philip, ‘He that has seen Me has seen the Father…’ Jn. 14:9b.  And now the Holy Spirit reveals them to us who are also Jesus’ disciples who have believed in Him through His Word in the Bible.  It’s indeed a fantastic privilege to know that we’re the temple of the Holy Spirit and it’s important to bear in mind that He, the Holy Spirit gives us the mind of Christ, 1 Cor. 2:16, and also enables us to know Christ when He appears to us (even if we’re not able to see Him) and fall prostrate before Him in worship.  Indeed a privilege as it gives us knowledge of our Savior and will one day, also by His Grace, enable us to be in front of Him in heavenly portals. 

Thoughts for another day

Aug. 6, 2013.

Today's verse: Ps. 119:81. My soul languishes and grows faint for Your salvation, but I hope in Your word. (Amplified Bible – copy. ack.)

(Pls. read the above before you read further.  Thanks)

When I look at Job in the Bible, the man whose tribulation came unannounced and suddenly for plausibly no reason nor any wrong thing that he had done; I feel, sometimes, there’s no sensible reason for our suffering and yet it’s there and it gnaws at us and eats us.  There’re people, some I know, who remain in this suffering condition for years and death to them is such a relief.  What might Job have thought about his predicament?  We get to know in his conversations with his three friends; and his constant refrain is that he is innocent, although they’re confounded as how that could be possible for all they know is, that kind of suffering cannot come to a righteous man.

Job endures it all and even in that situation doesn’t curse God.  His only stance toward God is to explain the enigma of his suffering and also reveal that he hasn’t done anything deserving of such repulsive punishment.  Deep in his heart there would be the Word of our Scripture today for we know that even in that situation, Job knows God can redeem him and therefore puts his trust in Him; which we could infer as ‘trusting in God’s Word’ and I would dare to add, trusting in God’s faithfulness too. 

While we live, we find at times our situations are also disconcerting.  Above the pain they cause is our tearful plea before the Lord to release us from the trial and take us to a higher place for the place we’re in, is surely dreary and distressful.  Agony is the property of that place and it makes the heart heavy.  Tears are the bread we eat and pain is the water we drink.  Yet, we must keep our eyes focused on Him who has the power to release us from our trying situations and we must hold that we wait for our salvation, though our soul languish and grow faint, because we’re those that have put our trust in His Word.  Eventually, His Word prevails.

Thoughts for another day

Aug. 5, 2013.

Today's verse: 1 Sam. 17:45. Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further.  Thanks)

When David the ruddy shepherd boy decided to combat the giant Goliath before whom the best of the army of Israel shuddered and dare not be anywhere near him, he did not shirk for a moment in his zeal to face this huge enemy.  His confidence was primarily in the God he worshipped and served and also that he had killed both a lion and a bear.  But his readiness to accept Goliath’s challenge was entirely because he ‘knew’ God.  Now for a moment imagine David facing this huge man, brass helmet on head, a coat of scale armor; all accompaniments to face any enemy, with even a spear, huge and imposing like a weaver’s rod.  Before him stood David, young and fair, a tad lanky; with just five stones in his bag and a sling in hand.   Now what’s that before an armed giant of a man? 

But what David had was more than enough to face even an army of Goliaths: He had the company of the LORD of hosts, Who had chosen to be the God of the armies of Israel; which of all people in Israel, David alone knew.  And imagine the scene, the young shepherd boy runs toward his adversary and before anyone could lay a thing in mind, the giant is on the floor his head cut and the shepherd boy gleefully shaking it holding it firmly by the hair, even how with helmet girded.  The armies of the Philistines and the Israelites both freeze for a moment then both surge with energy – one to run as quick as their legs could carry and the other to pursue and destroy them.  What a victory that was for the Israelites given by the Master of the universe, called Yahweh God, the LORD of hosts. 

I now take you to the goliath-like problems in your life. Never forget that the LORD of hosts, your Father God is beside you, and face your problems with His strength and He will help you prevail, no matter how huge your problem or how impossible your situation seems.  Always keep in mind that for Him, nothing is impossible and He loves you and you are precious to Him.

Thoughts for another day

Aug. 2, 2013.

Today's verse: Job 29:3. when his lamp shone over my head, and by his light I walked through darkness; (RSV – copy ack.)

(Pls. read the above before you read further.  Thanks)

In the darkness of the world there’re good chances that I’ll be swamped for the foolishness inside of me, isn’t too different than that in my first father, Adam.  There’re times, the darkness, without even my knowledge, goes around and envelopes me tight in its grip.  It’s only when it's too late I think of it and I realise the mess I’m in.  To tell you the truth, it’s me who’s responsible, for had I not fallen for the enticement of the deceiver, that despite the alerts He, the Man on the Cross gave me, then I wouldn’t have been in the situation I was.  But there’re times when the enticement is so beautiful, like in a sale where junk fit for the bin, is hyped as celestial adornment and lapped up by gullible people, so too in the cacophony the enticement evokes, one succumbs and gets lured only to discover the perpetual gloom it soon causes.

You may perhaps, not understand the kind of shadows I’m talking about, but ask, a drug addict or an alcoholic or those that work flesh deals and they that have HIV/AIDS by being involved in illicit things and they’ll tell you how dark their life has become because of what they willingly got into by the deceiver’s enticement.  They too are as strong-willed as us and as up to the mark as we are, yet in that moment of indiscretion when they let caution fly in the winds, they fell into the dark ghetto of oblivion, living on the dregs of life.  How can they ever be saved? How can they come into the realm of Him who has created them too; how can they ever be back into the life of a proper human being? 

The clue is found in our Scripture today…at the outer edge of the darkness I grope in, shines a lamp - the lamp of our Savior God.  When He was on the Cross, He saw my distress, for I, because of indiscretion had preferred darkness.  He saw me struggling in the junkyard of existence and He shone His light for me to see, for He was seeking a-one as one seeks a lost sheep and His light reaches me and I’m able to get up, despite the dimness my eyes have got accustomed to, and I walk in His light through the darkness and eventually toward the bright light of His countenance and into His arms to be washed clean by His blood; and now look, how clean I am: Set free and sparkling like a choice jewel in the Kingdom of my Lord and my God.