He is Coming

Have you noticed how, when you set a date, the day always arrives promptly and surely. No matter how far away it is, one day, that day you set will be here and it will not miss.

Jesus is coming back again and on that day we will all behold him, surely and certainly. This painting gave me the shivers of deja vu because it's just like a vision of what will be.

Mark 13:26-27 At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.

We need to prepare for his coming because He is Coming!

When the Music Fades

I love this song by Matt Redman and also sang by Michael W. Smith. I believe God is pleased when we go beyond the theatrics of a song and actually touch His heart

When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless Your heart

I bring You more than a song
For a song in itself is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You It's all about You,
JesusI'm sorry Lord for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You
It's all about You, Jesus

King of endless worth
No one could express
How much You deserve
Though I'm weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Every single breath

Called to be like Him

It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians. (Acts 11:26) Why? They were so much like Christ that it was unbelievable. In character, in words and in power, they lived just like Jesus. They did not call themselves Christians, the non-believers did!

How different this is from our generation. Today, we call ourselves Christians but the unbelievers do not believe. They hardly see the character of Jesus in us; they hardly see the power, they hardly see any difference.

I am not saying that we are not different: we are! But they do not see it and if they don’t, then how will they come to embrace the salvation of God. It is so sad, that some of us are comfortable with being worldly. Today, unfortunately, some Christians give and take bribes; steal from their employers; flout the laws of the land; get angry without restraint; fornicate; look down with pride on those that God has by His grace lifted them above; all without a second thought.

The world looks and sneers. How sad! Some Christians even join the world to make fun of others!

Many times I wonder how God feels. No one is perfect, but He has given us the power to live holy lives. Most often the decision on how we live day by day is ours.

Let us remember that Jesus called us the light of the world. If we don’t shine, the world cannot see Him. God forbid that our character or way of life should be a stumbling block to those who would otherwise have found Christ. Amen!

But Jesus did get angry...

True.

I also had to reconcile this in my mind as i studied the times that Jesus exhibited anger and this is what i discovered.

Jesus' anger was never to defend self. He was insulted, doubted, persecuted, spit upon, crucified but he was never angry for these personal reasons.

But He really got upset when anyone offended God. Like the traders who decided to set up shop in God's holy temple, or the pharisees who gave the people impossible laws to follow, or when the mother of James and John lobbied for a heavenly seat for their son. He spoke harshly to the pharisees when they blasphemed against the Holy Spirit.

Most of the reasons we get angry are selfish. Sometimes it can't be avoided but then it must be put aside immediately and it must be resolved before the sun goes down.

It will do us good to follow Jesus' example.

Ousting Anger

I have often heard an angry man (or woman) justify their anger by quoting the scripture in Ephesians 4:26 that says, “Be angry, but sin not…. .

But did God really give us this scripture to promote regular bouts of anger. I think not. Anger is an emotion by which we show how much we are displeased with a person or a situation. It easily gives birth to raised voices in heated rebukes and abuse; physical attack; hate, malice, and even murder. With this kind of offspring I believe that God would want us to do away with anger completely. Hear His word….

Eph 4:31 –Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice

- Clearly, God does not support anger

Col 3:8 – But now, you yourself are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice…

- This is a commandment

James 1: 20 – For the wrath of man does not promote God’s Righteousness

It never does

Prov 29: 22 – An angry man stirs up strife and a furious man abounds in transgression.

Anger translates to sin. Simple!

And lastly the full rendition of our text…Eph 4:26 Be angry and do not sin, do not let the sun go down on your anger.

How easy is it to be angry and not sin?

How easy is it to put away your anger before the sun goes down? Especially if you become angry by say 5p.m. in the evening.

So let’s put away anger completely especially if you want to stay away from sin and if you want to promote God’s righteousness alone.

What's your Networth

Luke 12:15
And Jesus said… “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses

I read this yesterday evening and almost did a double take. If I wasn’t sure this was a direct word from Jesus’ lips I would have glossed it over and turned to the next page. Rather, I kept my finger on that page, closed the bible and stepped into thought land.

I would have thought otherwise, a person’s life does seem to consist of the things we have.

Don’t we wake up in the morning, with one thought in our heads of how we are going to make more money; build a new house; buy that classy car or get that new job? And once we achieve that level don’t we begin to desire the next salary raise, a better car, a larger house, the latest mobile phone. Don’t we respect those who display abundance of wealth without any regard for how they made it? Don’t we cut down on church fellowship and daily bible study because our work demands more of our attention? Don’t Christians sometimes lie, cheat and stab a close friend for the sake of some more ‘possessions’.

This is underscored by the story of a young man who decided to leave his lucrative joy and follow God’s clear leading into full-time Ministry. His Mother could not shed enough tears. She felt that in spite of her prayers her husband’s family had finally gotten through to her son’s star!
The way we go about it, it does seem that the more we possess, the more life we have. The more money the more power; and power can be sweet..

If the value of our lives is not based on the things we possess as Jesus said, then what should our daily priorities be? Should we take another look at how to calculate our networth?

What do you, think? I'll like to hear your views

The Best Offering

Imagine that you have the option of a Fatty Lamb without Blemish and a basket of fruit. You decide to give an offering to the Lord and you wonder which one….

That was the dilemma that Cain and Abel faced in chapter 4 of the book of Genesis. Cain did give the basket of Fruit and Abel gave the lamb without blemish.

God accepted Abel’s offering which was made up of the firstborn of his flock and their fat; but rejected Cain’s offering of fruit.

How can we know the will of God? How do we take decisions that will please him?

It is instructive to know that about 2000 years later in Lev chapter 1-3, God gave detailed instructions on the type of offering acceptable to him. You guessed right - The flock and the fat: V.16 specifically says – all the fat belongs to the Lord.

How did Abel know, even before the law was given?

I think it had to do with his heart. His heart was right and he wanted to please God regardless of his desires or what anyone thought.

Cain’s first and only consideration was himself.

The follow up events prove this. When Cain’s sacrifice was rejected, he was angry and at the first opportunity he killed Abel and became the first murderer on the earth. So obviously, there was a problem with his heart and his desires.

Beyond the actual sacrifice God looks at the heart. What you have left after you have given is more important than how much you give. God loves a cheerful giver rather than a grumbling giver.

Are you agonising over a decision, you just don't know what to do. When our heart is right we become open to hearing and receiving His instructions on what to do and what decision to take. Especially if our whole desire is to do His will not ours.

Keep On Living For Him

Elizabeth and Zachariah had obviously given up hope of having a baby. She was probably about 60yrs and so what was the point of continuing to believe.

But they both kept on loving God and living blamelessly for Him. Zachariah diligently kept at his priestly duties. And one day God showed up while he was serving. God's angel came in Lk 1:13 and said:

"Do not be afraid, Zachariah, for your prayer is heard and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son..."

And 9 months later, they did have a baby.

The key lesson to learn here is that God is not limited by the passing of time. As we diligently do his work, he will surely reward and we can keep on believing that He is able and willing to do exceedingly more than we can ever ask or think.