Foundations

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is. He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rocklike: But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.- Luke 6:47-49

I read the above three nights ago and I knew this was meant for me
It really sounds simple when someone says if you want this you have to do this
Simple?
There are so many of us who profess to be followers of Christ yet we daily stray from the path
Daily we let Him down
Daily we repent
It is sometimes difficult to be Christian in word and in deed
Words are easy to say
Action is not that easy
I’m taking stock at what I do all the time
I always ask myself ‘is this what I’m meant to do? Is it biblically right?”
There’s still so much I need to know about Jesus and being a true disciple
I now fully understand the above passage
It was not said just for the sake of clarity
It was said so that we know where we are as regards the person whom we call our Lord
He is not happy having us hearing his word and not doing anything about it
There’s this trap we fall into many times
The trap of knowing that we can repent
True repentance is not just saying sorry
True repentance is saying sorry and not committing that wrong act again
Then, we can be said to be growing in Christ
The foundation that the Lord wants us to have is the foundation of works
The building of it is with words
It is easy to preach the word and people see that you know the Bible
But how easy is it to live the word?
Let’s re-look at our foundation and see if the building we’re so proud of can stand the coming storm

Controversy

We got to be discussing a bit about the character of Jesus with some colleagues
An interesting word came up - controversy
He was a controversial person
He did not what people expected and did what was not the norm
He was no respecter of people when you really look at what he did
His tone likewise is something we consider harsh
Look at the tenth chapter of the book of Matthew
Here He was sending off His disciples. He told them whither to go.
He told them what to expect and what they should do in every circumstance.
It was straight forward – for such a situation this is what you do. If they do not meet such standards this is what you do. No middle line, no grey areas.
There was no room for slack on either side.
What got my attention are the lost sheep of Israel that they’d been sent to gather
These sheep belong and someone’s being sent to look for them where they’re scattered all over. The interesting bit is where these sheep are to be found
Amongst wolves
Who would have associated lost sheep with wolves?
What were they looking for amongst wolves?
And why were the wolves not preying on them?
Look at the current situation
Are we not the lost sheep with the disciples looking for us in the wilderness?
They have their lives at stake as they walk amongst the wolves to win us back to our shepherd
I think we’re too hard on those who try to win us to Christ
We forget that they need us for their upkeep
We forget that they’re not meant to beg us to come to Christ
We forget who sent them
We forget who we are
We forget where we are
We forget where we’re meant to be
May today be a reminder that as lost sheep someone is looking for us so that we go back to our Shepherd
If we tarry too long, the wolves may turn on us before we are herded back to safety.

How free are you?

I’m reading John Bunyan’s book The Intercession of Christ and I love the way it’s put that it’s his view of Christ’s mediating work. I’m now on the last chapter and thought I’d share this valuable snippet on faith and freedom in Christ.
The man who has come to God through Christ is referred to as someone who is tame as he has the law as his guide. He is compared to the free man who runs wild. The man under law is like a bird in a cage who is looked after by his owner. He does not need to forage for food but gets it delivered daily. The caged bird has some treats which the bird in the wild cannot access. The caged bird is taught to do new tricks and sing new songs that the bird in the wild cannot do. Oh! If the two birds were to converse one day the free bird would want to be in the same cage with the tame bird. The free bird roams the wild freely daily. But what perils it faces on a daily basis. It is low on the food chain and still needs to look for food daily. It’s daily supply is not guaranteed. It has to make do with whatever worms and maggots it can come by whenever they can be found. So it is with the man who has come to Christ. They are no longer free to do as they wish and run wildly as they now have someone they account to. They are now tame and have a keeper who ensures their daily provision. They have principles to abide by and yet they still feel secure in this new environment. Oh! I wish the tame would converse with the free as often as to invite them to the new life without cares of the world.
‘he hath put a new song in my mouth”

Vigilant

This is what I’ve done at some point in different congregations
I’ve classified the people into different groups and made conclusions just by observation
The ones who’ve got the mannerisms of true believers
The ones who look like they’re here just for the sake of attendance
The ones who look out of place, some look like they’re trying to find a place to hide
The ones who know when to shout halleluiah! And amen! as if on cue
The ones who just will not sing along to any song though looking at the hymn book
Those who groove to the music
Those who sing and praise with all their heart
Those who appear to not be able to stop talking during preaching
Those who just want people to notice they’re wearing a new outfit
Those who want to be noticed
Those who don’t want to be noticed
Those who just cannot wait for the service to be over
Those peacefully in dreamland
Those who know why they’re here
Those who cannot locate the Bible reading in their Bible
Those with very new Bibles which remain unopened throughout the service
Those with well covered Bibles with a notebook by the side and beautiful bookmarkers
Those with well worn Bibles and seem to have the Bible reading already marked by the way the owner quickly locates the Bible reading
Those without a Bible or hymn book in sight
Those who know all the songs by heart and cheerfully sing throughout the service
Those who look burdened
Those who look so at home
Those who smile at everyone they make contact with
Those who seem to know everyone
Those whom everyone knows
Those whom no one knows or cares to know
Those who look dirty and unkempt for church
Those who have not dressed appropriately for church
Those who’ve forgotten in whose house they are in
The list is endless
I have made observations and unfair conclusions many a time
It’s only now that I’m asking myself to which group I belong to
I don’t really belong to any
If anything, I belong to all
I’ve been one of those people at some time
Some times by choice, sometimes by ignorance, and sometimes becoz of sin
I look back and I’m glad I’ve advanced from the negative traits to the good ones
I know whose house I’m going to even before the Sunday service and I prepare myself spiritually
I’m aware that there will be confrontation in the physical and in the spirit in each service
Moments mean a lot
We need to account for each moment in our life
Our life is the church we attend daily as Christians
We do not have church on Sundays as Christians
With each waking breath we need to acknowledge that it’s another day at church and someone new is looking at us to see if they can fellowship with us.

Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger. -Proverbs 19:15

For their sakes

but Abraham stood yet before the LORD. And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? Gen 18:23-24

Remember when Sodom and Gomorrah were about to be destroyed. For the righteous few Abraham asked if God could spare the cities. The numbers however did not get to what he asked pardon for. He started at fifty went down to forty, 45, 40, 30, till he was at ten. For that number the Lord had agreed that He would spare the city. Now only four could be found and so the city had to be destroyed. Imagine a city however small and would ten not be a very small number. Imagine what level of sin abounded in that city, that only four people qualified to be saved. Doesn’t imagining it even bring shudders to you when you look at what is happening today? How many even seem righteous in the world we live in today? How much is being condoned as not sin but a way of living these days. Things have changed. But have they really changed? Sin is still sin. However much we wish to dress it up and call it a new way of life or a new perspective, IT IS STILL SIN.
But rejoice for not all is lost. For your prayer, for just your petition, the Lord can and still will save your loved ones from whatever situation that may be around them.

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.-James 5:16

Jehovah Jireh

And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. - Gen 22:8
Reading the story of the intended sacrifice of Isaac by Abraham, one wonders if they were in the shoes of Isaac if they would have obeyed Abraham's commands. Isaac had been wondering what was about to happen and waited until they were alone to ask where the lamb for the sacrifice was. After the answer he may have had doubts but still obeyed being tied up to be made the offering. Isaac only obeyed and trusted his father. Abraham thought that after killing Isaac he would be raised from the dead, thus providing Himself a sacrifice by raising up Isaac. However the real provision was seen by the lamb and Isaac remained untouched.
How many times have we been asked to give our all into something and we have held back? We look and say there’s no way we can part with that which we so love. There is no way of a reversal after giving up everything.
If only we could trust God’s word and wait on Him and say with Abraham “The Lord will provide” or “The Lord will see.”

Psalm 136

"O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:
The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:
The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:
And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:
With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:
And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever:
But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever:
And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:
And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:
Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:
And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.
O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever. "

21 Verses

I'm yet to finally write something over these. For now, ponder with me:)

"For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.
For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?
For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes.
For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen. "

Romans 11:16-36

The four lepers

As was the rule, lepers were kept outside the city and the gates were the closest they’d get to the city. They were kept at bay so to speak. These four considered their position and they chose an option which had the best odds. Their choice had the possibility of human compassion- so they hoped. The Lord had already prepared the way and these were going to be the instruments used in letting the Israelites know that Elisha’s prophecy of the previous day had come to pass. The went into the Syrian’s camp and they saw that there was plenty and no one to oppose them. They collected as much as they could and ate to their satisfaction but amidst all this, they still felt obliged to let others know. They said “We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household.” Indeed it was a day of good tidings and those who came with the tidings were people who had been cast out of the city. They did not feel resentment towards those within the city and becoz of their gratefulness they let others know. They had taken a wager by going into the camp of the Syrians and when their bet had paid off, they let others in on the deal. Likewise today many of us have come across abundance and yes, we do not well by withholding the goods news. On the other hand let us not mistrust the bearers of goods news, let us at least test and confirm their news. God’s promises always have supporting evidence, so come on and let’s explore :)

Selection

I was reading the way Isaac got his wife
His father is the one who’d said where his wife should come from
A messenger was sent to look for that wife
His brief was to get a wife if he’d be allowed to
If not, then he’d come back without one
It seemed a daunting task
Getting someone a wife
To make his job easier the messenger did what we seldom think of in such cases
He relied not on his own understanding but asked for God for help
He needed God to confirm for him if he’d found the right person for Isaac
In His hands………..

Delivering through others- for God

“We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.” –Daniel 6:5

This has to be one of the people in the Bible I’d want to meet. No fault could be found in him. The other king’s officials saw that the only way that they could try and find fault with him had to be his beliefs. So they influenced the king to make a decree stopping all people from praying to any God or giving praise to any God for 30 days. With this in mind Daniel went forward and continued with his daily routines. Thrice a day he’d pray as before during the time of the decree. Now the officials had something to pin on him. All things they logically could use against him were now at play and they were now certain of Daniel’s demise. After all, the law of the Medes and Persians was that o decree or statute made by the king could be changed. The king lamented this turn of events and tried the whole day to find a way of absolving Daniel. But the law is the law. That night the king fasted and never slept, all because of Daniel. Daniel’s character and way of life was such that the king believed in the power of Daniel’s God and knew that he could deliver him. Nonetheless being the king he could not go against his officials. Something had to give before he could decree that all people should fear the living God of Daniel as He’s true to His word and works wonders and acknowledged that His kingdom shall never be destroyed. Because of one man’s actions and lifestyle, a person in authority did more than what that one man could do in order for people to follow God. May we live a life that makes people in authority do what we otherwise would not be in a position to do for our God in the positions we hold.

Solomon's shoes

And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour. - Ecclesiastes 2:10

Ah! If only we could be in Solomon’s shoes.
To have had the privilege to do as we wish! To put into action all our whims and pleasures!
To be the wisest person to have ever lived!
Yes! That would be the ultimate. Then everything would be as we wished. BUT, do you know what he concluded after being able to do all he desired and having all that he could ever wish for?

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.- Ecclesiastes 2:11

Blessed indeed he was with wisdom. And blessed he was such that nothing of all he did led to his early death. Instead he was granted life and an opportunity to preach on his experiences afterwards. If that had not been done how many would have listened. In this instance we should learn from his experiences as not many of us have that privilege in God’s light to experience sin first hand and live to tell about it without its scars. Vanity of vanities! Indeed we should just do as we were created for.

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.-Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

Walking on water

"Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" - Matthew14:28-31

Here is the typical us. We seek confirmation that we can be accepted into His family and He answers in the affirmative. We begin the journey towards home and we can see His hand reaching out for us. By and by, we change focus and say we’re still on our way home but the truth is that the world attracts us. We no longer focus. We see what’s around us and start questioning how come we have such abilities. There are so many obstacles around us. There is so much trouble around us. So many things need our attention.
The world questions if we know what we are doing. Our friends ask us if we are really serious doing what no other person they know is doing. Our family challenges us and hold their breath for our fall. We begin to see that yes, we are taking it too far. Why should we be the ones challenging the status quo? Do we really want to get there in the face of what can stop us getting there? How will we face people when we fail. What will we do when what we say doesn’t happen? Do miracles still happen in this day and age? What’s so special about you?
The inevitable happens. We start sinking. We let go of our faith and we do what everyone expected us to do. After all, it was illogical.
Praises be to the Lord!! He still holds out His hand for us when our faith falls so that should we remember where are, we see His hand and hold on. We are forever in his presence.
Today we can still look for His hand and continue that walk of faith. We do walk on the waters despite who’s watching us. Remember, you are God’s beloved.
Will you take His hand?

What goes around comes around-or does it?

"Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee." Isaiah 33:1

Seems 33 is the number for this week. Was on Ezekiel 33 recently and I could say it gave me the push to" get on with it!"
When last did we think of the next person in our life? Do we ever think that we could find ourselves in their shoes one day? How about the repercussions of what we do? Do we think of tomorrow? Do we ever think of judgement day?
Isn't it time we stopped and give a try at what the conversation will be like on that day? Isn't it time we take heed of The Word and understand that there is a reason why we know what we know. Nothing happens by chance. Nothing is unaccounted for. We should account for all our actions. Even what we think is secret will be accounted for. Stop and listen to that inner voice that tells you that what you are doing is wrong. Yield to the unpopular way of life that has freedom in Christ. If you still think it will be hard, try it for a month. I guarantee that your perception of life will never be the same again. You will know what is right and what is wrong and judge yourself.

Just a note

This is for when early in the day I sit and read, and revelation comes, I write. But coz of logistics I'm forced to update in the afternoon but all the same it should be some refreshing word to someone at some point in their day.

In progress

I'm getting there..................
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................................almost there...........


Almost.

Reflections

When all's said and done- there's always that.........reflection.