His Love = Our Commitment

One of the best things about getting born again, are the privileges and/or benefits we enjoy. God loves us so much, He has a table of goodness laid out for every one of us. The goodness or benefits laid out are so exciting that they have been successfully used to lure people to Christ; unfortunately though, many such persons have found themselves in the place of murmuring and complaining, which God hates. Dealing with the reality of this salvation which contradicts the premise on which they accepted salvation just got too tough. Some others even quit completely. They couldn’t cope with pain caused by disappointment; disappointment from finding oneself in a place which contrasts very deeply with where one thought they would be. Sadly, some no longer desire the true encounter that precedes salvation because they assume that they already had a taste of it and didn’t like it: of course, they are not aware that what they tasted is not the real thing. It takes an encounter with our Lord and Savior to enjoy the sweetness of this faith, with a knowing and an acceptance of the fact that the privileges we enjoy come at a cost; because man is inherently selfish. It takes a regenerated mind to put others first, esteeming them higher than one’s self.

Philippians 2: 3 “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.”

Romans 8: 17 “And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together, with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.”

The primary reason a man commits to God is a realization that he is a sinner who needs God’s forgiveness and cleansing by the blood of Jesus Christ. He acknowledges his deep need for His sin nature to be dealt with and brought under control so he makes Jesus Christ Lord and Master over His life. Until one comes to the place where He sees his life without Christ for what it truly is, he would not sincerely yearn for salvation. It is an awareness that instigates a complete transformation impacting spirit soul and body. It starts with a longing or cry to heaven for liberty from the filth of sin and control of the sin nature, to which heaven responds with forgiveness, cleansing and appropriation of Christ righteousness amongst several other benefits including access to grace which is an enabling by God through His Spirit to live the life that pleases Him. Until that complete work is done, one is not yet empowered to take on the responsibilities that accompany the privileges that come with salvation.  The Holy Spirit whose presence in a life signifies that this change has taken place, is given by God to also help us effectively accomplish our responsibilities.

Mathew 11: 28 “Then Jesus said, ‘come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens … take my yoke upon you … and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden is light.”

The privilege of being a joint heir with Christ definitely comes with responsibilities. That commitment to Christ is just the beginning and not all that is required of us. God has not called us to an irresponsible life where He does everything and we do nothing but just enjoy the benefits. He requires us to reciprocate His love, goodness, mercies and kindness. Our commitment to Him comes with responsibilities that must be embraced alongside the privileges. Some of the privileges include the fact that we become keepers of God’s precious word and consequently, custodians of mysteries which is in itself, an awesome privilege. The least God expects of us is that we keep that which was committed to us as we should.

1 Corinthians 4: 1 – 2 “So then, let us (who minister) be regarded as servants of Christ and stewards (trustees, administrators) of the mysteries of God (that He chooses to reveal). In this case, moreover, it is required (as essential and demanded) of stewards that one be found faithful and trustworthy.”

Faithfulness is a key ingredient for success as a believer. Until we learn faithfulness and commitment, we would find this faith a little more difficult and without The Holy Spirit, an unacceptable burden. God demands faithfulness from every one of us so that we really do not have a choice as some of us would like to believe. Making commitments and keeping them is the hallmark of true believers. Our salvation involves a commitment to God and the working out of it involves several other commitments. From one level to the next, the commitment required is weightier so that much more is required to keep them but the reward is also greater. We come to God far from perfect but our aim is to be like Him and He knows, so He sends us a very willing and able Helper in the person of the Holy Spirit. We must always remember that He walks with us, keeps records and rewards. What will be found in the books concerning you when all is said and done?

Have You Been To Lo-debar?

I had an exhausting chat with a gentleman a few days ago. He went on about “how tough things have been” (colloquialism for financial challenges) for him; and all this in the same way he has done every time he has visited me in the three years. Indeed he was at his worst this time and understandably so, because his financial challenge is at it’s very worst and he sees no way out or forward for himself. In all the three years or more, he has been and still is, waiting for a major financial boost which he believes is the only thing that will take him forward. This time, he further explained that his “pill of hardship” is even more difficult to chew, because he has lived a “clean life” devoid of sin yet God would not inject the much needed capital that would transform his life. Of course, he forgets that all our righteousness is as “filthy rags” before God. Though he is born again, he acted like one under the law making a list of all the bad things he stayed away from unlike several others whom God appears to be blessing.

Galatians 5:  4 – 5 “For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace. But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us.”

It is bad enough that he was unintentionally working out his righteousness; his attitude becomes even more destructive, because he was obviously complaining and murmuring against God, without intending to do so, which said attitude only separates one from God. Indeed, the bible lets us know that God hates murmurers and complainers. Since he was full of bitterness, thanking God was far from his mind and all because he was at “Lo-debar”; that place where every believer would come through at some or several point(s) in the course of life. Whilst it is true that it can happen suddenly making it more painful, it is easier to embrace it whilst steadfastly looking to Jesus Christ with a deep assurance of faith that the season would pass leaving one with a testimony and their mouth filled with laughter. It is a time to draw strength from God and waste no energy wrestling with life. Though God does not take us there, He allows it for a purpose and is working to bring you to a wealthy place but if you get disconnected from Him how does He then bring you out? You may think you don’t have strength to hold on but that is because you have not tapped into that which is on the inside of you because everyone is strong who knows this God; you need to tap into it.

Psalm 66: 12 amp “You made men (charioteers) ride over our heads (in defeat); we went through fire and through water, yet you brought us into a broad place of abundance (to be refreshed).

Daniel 11: 32b KJV “But the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.”

Lo-debar is that low place where Mephibosheth was. If you ever find yourself there or are there as you read, please tap into that strength that you may hold on. There are witnesses who have been and come through successfully so you will too. Naomi was there and she came through; Ruth was there also like several others. Indeed, Naomi fainted but thank God for grace that sent her Ruth whose strength provided support for her. This is not physical strength but the strength that comes from having a real and true knowledge of God who resides in us. Interestingly, Naomi had known God for much longer than Ruth had. Indeed Ruth’s knowledge of God came from knowing Naomi and her family; yet she got to know Him even better so much so that she became a pillar of strength that Naomi drew support from. This thing has nothing to do with the length of time one has been a believer, but everything to do with how much of Him one wants. God will respond to anyone who seeks Him diligently.

2 Samuel 9: 3 – 5 “Is anyone still alive from Saul’s family... one of Jonathan’s sons is still alive. He is crippled in both feet… ‘where is he’ the king asked…In Lo-debar…so David sent for him and brought him…his name was Mephibosheth.”

Lo-debar is that place where Mephibosheth who once lived in the palace now lived; not even in his own house but with another household and in their home. Who would have thought one’s circumstances could change so radically? But it did and suddenly too. Thank God his response was appropriate. The strength one needs to survive in Lo-debar and respond appropriately when it’s time to leave is not physical otherwise Mephibosheth who was lame in both legs would not have survived and made it out of there; it has everything to do with knowledge of God which is the result of deep hunger for and pursuit of Him as well as a readiness for Him to come so that one can respond correctly despite the difficulties one is engulfed in.

1 Corinthians 10: 10 “And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death.”

Murmurers will most likely miss God when he comes to take them out of Lo-debar because murmuring and complaining impairs vision. It limits thanksgiving which the Psalmist says prepares the way for God’s salvation. How can anyone thank God genuinely if they see no reason to do so. Nobody will take for you the steps you need to take to go forward, God will make a way and grant one the grace to walk through it but it has to be your decision and feet to walk; hence the gentleman has been there for longer than God intended. Of course, Lo-debar is not the most desirable of places but a valley experience that we will all go through if we must become whom God has destined for us to be and accomplish that for which we were saved. Don’t hide from it and don’t seek it: it shall surely come at some point and you can’t be there even one minute longer than necessary. God bless and strengthen you.

Be Sober; Be Vigilant … For your Adversary …

I am blessed to attend a church where “unpopular but godly sermons” are often preached: very simple details of our faith which are often overlooked for the seemingly bigger and catchy things that seem to attract more people. These details, though mundane, remain some of the hallmarks of Christ followers; those things that people see and they know for certain that these are disciples (a.k.a fanatics) of Christ. This past Tuesday, one such sermon was preached at our mid-week service – a reminder of the fact that we must be sober and vigilant. Peter, (a follower of Christ and one of those for whom the word ‘Christian’ was coined for the way they faithfully adhered to Christ teachings), having successfully lived as Christ disciple; lets us know that sobriety is a must for a successful Christian life.

 

1 Peter 5: 8amp “Be sober (well balanced and self-disciplined), be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion (fiercely hungry), seeking someone to devour).

James 4: 9amp “Be miserable and grieve and weep (over your sin). Let your (foolish) laughter be turned to mourning and your (reckless) joy to gloom… in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. (He will lift you up and give you purpose).

Sobriety, unfortunately, now almost sounds like a bad word which it isn’t. It sounds so bad that even believers disdain it, which may again be another trick of the enemy. It seems to suggest that one is boring, dull and maybe, even sorrowful; which is everything but what it really is. To be sober is of course a state of mind with an outward expression but it is having a well-balanced and/or measured attitude of mind. Indeed, without sobriety, one cannot have a heart of thanksgiving because it would be tough to see beyond one’s circumstance when life is tough; for our God doesn’t always reveal His goodness in ways that are immediately acceptable. Sobriety is an attitude of mind that allows us weigh our actions as we should and be measured about our responses to the things that life throws at us. Without it, one’s judgement is bound to be impaired. It is the attitude of mind that James describes when he counsels wrong doers to be sorrowful for their wrongdoing so that they may thereby set in motion a process that will eventually move God to lift them again.  

Ecclesiastes 7: 3amp “Sorrow is better than laughter, for when a face is sad (deep in thought) the heart may be happy (because it is growing in wisdom).

1 Corinthians 10: 23amp “All things are lawful (that is, morally legitimate, permissible), but not all things are beneficial or advantageous. All things lawful, but not all things are beneficial or advantageous. All things lawful, but not all things are constructive (to character) and edifying (to spiritual life).”

At some point in our walk with God, we don’t really struggle with the obviously bad. Our struggle becomes more of ensuring that one does what is right to do and at the right time. When we cross these fine lines, we may get into the “flesh” making it easy for our enemy to successfully attack.  It is often said that “the line between our flesh and Spirit” is very thin so one may unknowingly and without intending to, cross it. A sober attitude of mind however, prevents such mistakes. Jokes for example are good; they make us laugh and the bible says laughter is good medicine; but despite its goodness, there is a line that when crossed, the jokes may become uncomfortable for a believer. Sobriety lets us know when it’s time to stop before the jokes become “foolish jesting” as well as when we are devoid of a sense of humor and stiff; which has made many unwell with sicknesses that defy medical cure because laughter is the cure.  

Ephesians 5: 4amp “Let there be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse (obscene or vulgar) joking, because such things are not appropriate (for believers)”

Proverbs 17: 22 “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.”

Satan takes advantage of people who are flippant and leave carelessly. This sobriety does not in any way suggest that one is sorrowful; if anything, it ensure that one is not sorrowful. It is a hallmark of the prudent and ensures that our lives remain that living sacrifice that gives God a fragrance that is pleasurable to Him. If you have a hope of a glorious end, then sobriety is that attitude of mind that helps you measure your life to ensure that you are walking the path that will take you there. If we want to live our lives as vessels unto God whose desire in all things is to give Him pleasure ensuring that He takes all the glory; then, we need to live with a sober attitude of mind because our flesh desires for us to live carelessly giving it room to facilitate our living for ourselves even without intention to do so. It is impossible to give God “the stage” if one is not sober; you will compete with Him for that stage even without meaning to do so.

Loving Him Cost Something

Araunah owned a field which King David wanted but Araunah preferred to gift it to the King. David however, would not accept it for free because he wanted to build an altar for God on it and he had purposed not to give God anything that cost Him nothing. It’s easy to assume that living with that attitude of mind is easy; but if it is, a number of us would easily be described by God as “a man after mine own heart” which is not the case. David loved God and was mindful of Him. He sought always to give Him the best and at his own expense. He didn’t always do right but his love for God was always right so that his heart was described as perfect toward God. He loved God so much he trusted Him greatly so that if he had a problem, he could never accuse God; he instead, sought to know what was required of him so the problem could be fixed. Indeed, true love is not selfish. Love is not love until it esteems the other and the deeper the love, the greater the esteem and trust. No matter how much we claim to love, the depth of that love is tested by the extent of our trust and David’s love for God passed the test.

Acts 13: 22 “About whom God said, I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart.”

1 Corinthians 13: 5Amp “Love… is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not easily provoked (not overly sensitive and easily angered)”

True love is costly. It believes the best. Those who love God believe the best of Him. Believing the best of anyone is not something we work at; it flows naturally from the amount of love we have for them. If we love God, then we just know, even when things are obviously not going well and life seems to be working against us consistently; that though He permitted it all, He’s intentions remain good and He is working good. Hence Job struggled with cursing God as his wife counseled him to do. Through pain and great difficulties, he could not think or speak evil concerning God. Job could not accuse God. I believe his wife may have loved God too, but not enough to remain on His side as their lives seemed to evolve in ways they did not understand or appreciate and seemingly, without an end. Her love for God was not deep enough to impact her perception of God unlike her husband whose love was so deep he could not look away from it enough to curse God.

Isaiah 41: 8b “… Abraham my friend”

No wonder! Though He calls us friends generally, He calls some “my friend”. This is that level of friendship that makes one believe that no matter how bad things look, His thoughts toward them are good. No matter how much we want to believe we love, our trust level gives us the true picture. You see all the seemingly wrong things but you remain steadfast believing the best. If you are quick to blame and/or accuse someone you claim to love so deeply, whether directly or indirectly, then you may not love the person as much as you may like to believe. If your relationship is about you, what you are going through or He has done to you or the cost to you and such like, then you may not love Him as much as you think. Of course, the fact that you desire to give Him suggest a level of love but this is about that love that is special and qualifies one to be “special friend”. How dare you suggest that you are special when you know you are the focus of the relationship? Neither selfishness nor self-centeredness exist in a truly loving relationship. Real love is selfless to the point where it naturally “believes the best.” Unless and until we love God, we cannot truly love another. I guess this is why people think they love so much they kill the one they love out of jealousy but that is not love.

1 Corinthians 13: 7 “Love bears all things (regardless of what comes), believes all things (looking for the best in each one), hopes all things (remaining steadfast during difficult times), endures all things (without weakening).

Unless and until we love God, we cannot truly love another. I guess this is why people think they love so much they kill the one they love out of jealousy but that is not love. It is only to the extent that we love God that we can love others and our knowledge of God impacts on our love for Him. You have to know Him to love Him. If you love someone based on what you see only, you have a problem; you need to know them enough to interpret their actions correctly and so it is with our God. Love is real; it is not built on fantasies.  The people we love are not loved because they are perfect; we love them because we are saved but the depth of our relationship with them is tied to the extent to which we understand and accept them which comes from engaging them. Our love for God is deepened only as we engage Him. Otherwise, that love remains elementary.

2 Corinthians 5: 17 “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The person old life is gone: a new life has begun.”

To love Him is to present ourselves a living sacrifice which definitely cost something, simple as it sounds. A yielded life is tough especially because we have minds and a right to make choices and/or decisions. Every decision for God is a decision to die to something you would naturally want albeit wrong. It cost something to unlearn and learn so we would rather add knowledge to what we knew but that is not what God requires of us. He demands that we unlearn or empty ourselves that we may learn or be filled up. The unlearning process makes one look silly, but when He fills us, we are numbered amongst the honored. Our God rewards every sacrifice and or labor of love and yearns for it. He cares even more when it cost you something hence the story of the widow’s mite. Please think deeply, when was the last time you gave of yourself such that it cost you deeply? Think on it that you may judge your love for Him correctly.