FORGIVENESS

The Lord’s Prayer mentioned that God should forgive our sins as we forgive the sins of others. We cannot hold on to the sins of others and expect God to forgive us of our sins. It works hand in hand. The story of the parable of the unmerciful servant explores further how we should forgive people of their sins so that God will also forgive us of our sins. A servant owed his master 10,000 bags of gold. He pleaded for mercy, the master had pity on him and forgave cancelled his debts. As he was going home, he saw a fellow servant who owed him 100 silver coins, he grabbed him and begun to choke him. He wanted his money back at all cost. The master heard the information of what had happened. He called him a wicked servant, and said; I had pity on you and cancelled your sins, shouldn’t you have had pity on your fellow brother as I had on you?  He called the jailers to come for him and torture him until he pays his money back. Jesus concluded, this is how your heavenly father will treat each of you if you do not forgive each other from your heart. (Matthew 18:21-25).

NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF INVENTION

A man’s kids were sacked from school for non- payment of fees. He didn’t know where to turn to. He prayed to God to settle the school fees for the kids. The money for the fees was not coming. He felt God has unanswered his prayer. His kids could not go to school for three weeks. He unexpectedly had money to pay the fees. The duration of not getting the money was so long that he had already started homeschooling the kids. That was the birth of a great school. When he wanted money to pay fees, the money delayed and his talent that was hiding was unearthed. God gave him a better option.

Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that will prevail. (Proverbs 19:21).

TURN YOUR SHAME INTO A NAME

You had a sexual affair with your friend’s wife and everyone thinks you are a bad person. You made a mistake and you cannot let go of that past and you feel so ashamed. There are issues in life, which are weighing you down. You do not understand why you are not getting pregnant after ten years of marriage. Has the good Lord that you serve left you barren? The promotion at work that will lead you to your big financial break is not forthcoming, you begin to wonder why.

When you are ashamed of your past or worried about your unknown future that is when you can find God. In that moment, where nothing seems to work for you, you sit in a quiet mood most often. It is in that quietness, that you can hear the spirit of God which is gentle and true.

When we cling to God through those trying moments, we find our purpose in life. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:9, but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

 We are all uniquely created and our journeys may be different. One thing for sure, we are all partakers of God’s grace, if we let ourselves go and let God in. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.  For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it”. (Matthew 16:24-25). Jesus has already taken your shame and pain away by nailing it on the cross. When you embrace the cross, He gives you a new identity. You are now a new creation, old things have become new. You begin to live the life that God predestined for you to live.

WILL YOUR OIL RUN OUT?

The parable of the ten virgins signifies that when God gives you a task you are supposed to put your all into it. When you are faithful with a few things God entrusts you with. He entrusts you with more things and you share in his happiness. He again offers you rich rewards freely because you have done your part.

When the bridegroom that is Jesus appears, will your oil run out? Or you will have enough oil to wait for his arrival? How do we make sure our oil does not run out? The answer lies in 2 peter 1:5-8 to confirm our calling and election . For this reason, we should make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;  and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;  and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.  For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

LA CASA DE DIOS

When you are in a house, you are protected against all kinds of weather; rain, storms, snow, sunshine. When you leave the house, you are weather beaten. The weather affects you badly and you suffer the consequences of leaving the house. Being in the house is like being under God’s care, where you are protected from all kinds of evil. How can we stay in God’s house to secure our protection? When we put other’s needs before ours and keep His commandments, we love God. When we love God, He rescues us from the weather and we are safe in God’s house.

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
  I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name”. (Psalm 91:14)

THE SERVANT IS THE GREATEST

Jesus washing the feet of the disciples was a pure act of humility, which as servants of God; we should all emulate this great act. Jesus is Lord and Master, He never lewd His authority over His disciples but rather demonstrated a great act of lowliness.

A lady lived near a man who was sick and had been shunned by his family and friends. She willingly took care of this man who had a nauseating and stinky smell. Eventually the man was healed of whatever sickness it was. The man in return gave her a house in an urban area that she never asked off and was not even expecting. This lady was humble enough to engage in this act of compassion. Her deeds paid off in a surprising way. Her house was in foreclosure and that was exactly what she needed. An act of humility and kindness was the way to go for her.

Proverbs 29:23 A man's pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.

VOILA!!!

Whilst studying for my PhD degree, I had an assignment to submit and the deadline was approaching. I needed to read a book to be able to do the assignment. My funds were so low so I could not buy the book. Hey! I had an alternative, I was going to surf the net whether I could get a free copy to download. I searched fruitlessly! I could not get it. Then, I remembered I had a father in heaven. So I decided to tell my father about it in prayer. The next day, I lay on the couch in the hall. “Something” prompted me to search the book on my phone again. The first search I did, there it was, and how it got there I have no idea. Finally, I could do my assignment. The lyrics of the song “What a friend we have in Jesus” make more meaning to me now.

What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear,

What a privilege to carry,

Everything to God in prayer,

Oh what peace we often forfeit,

Oh what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in Prayer.

When we do not carry EVERYTHING TO GOD IN PRAYER, WE BEAR NEEDLESS PAIN and we do not have peace.

THY KINGDOM COME

Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.” (Luke 17: 20- 21). But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ( John 14: 26).

Are we ready to let ourselves go for God’s kingdom to take over our lives? By praying thy kingdom come in the Lord’s Prayer then we are ready to submit ourselves to the Holy Spirit, by giving up our will for His will to be made perfect in our lives.  Ephesians 6: 12 says that; for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Even though there are other rulers, authorities and powers, God’s kingdom is all you need.   We need to submit to God’s rule for us to be under His reign that is by submitting to the Holy Spirit in our midst.

A WONDERFUL ESCAPE

A friend’s wife was critically ill whilst pregnant. We prayed about it all the time. Somehow we were scared that she would not make it but we kept hope alive. For in Christ our hope is always renewed and we are also strengthened. A week before her due date, she was induced and she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. A baby girl she has always dreamed of having. We were all so happy and she was overjoyed. We were all relieved and happy that she made it. In a sudden twist of events, she got critically ill again three days after giving birth. .She was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance our hopes were dashed again. What went wrong we asked ourselves? Did we not pray enough? Is there something we should have done that we did not do? We were filled with questions, obviously without getting answers. Her health deteriorated and she was on life support for two days. She passed away sadly and left a week old baby behind. The post morterm report stated that she died of hepatitis B. The husband was so devastated; he thought God has not been fair to him. Sometimes, death is an answer to our prayer. The answer to our prayer lies solely with God for just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life; even so the son gives life to whom He is pleased to give it. (John 5:21).

The righteous perish ,and  no one takes it to heart ;the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. (Isaiah 57:1)