Sunday 26 September 2021
Thursday 2 September 2021
The Substance, Hope and Evidence of Faith: In a PANDEMIC?
NOT business as usual... certainly not for some time to come!!!!
Sat, Mar 21, 2020 at 11:07 PM
Greetings Brothers and Sisters in Christ
May the peace of the Lord be with you and your loved ones
People in this country, and by extension this region, seem to think we can continue with business as usual. Up until now, CXC has not given any clear indication that exams CANNOT continue as usual. May they awake from their slumber to the truth!
The US, with all of its vast resources CANNOT cope with COVID-19. Why are we in this region still delusional about this pandemic? As the numbers (confirmed infected, sick and dead) continue to dramatically rack up around the world, consider what is MOST important in life. NOT money, job, education or TOILET PAPER 😀😵😡😱!!!! Health, family and FAITH in Christ Jesus are the truly important elements of life. Without good health we can't be economically productive anyway! Without faith there is no hope anyway!
What is truly sad is that people don't seem to appreciate the reality that the worst of COVID-19 is yet to come. If only the US had listened! I think we are making a similar mistake! May we all awake from our self-induced slumber before it is too late!!!
Stay healthy... extended to you and your family.
OBee
OOW
2020
______________________________________
COVID-19 the Final Warning???? Perhaps for many.
Sat, Mar 28, 2020 at 6:24 PM
Greetings Brothers and Sisters in Christ
May the peace of the Lord be with you and your loved ones
The world is still experiencing a decades-old pandemic in the form of HIV/AIDS which according to the WHO, has killed 32 million people since the beginning of the epidemic (pandemic is not the word used by them for HIV/AIDS) out of the 74.9 million who have been infected (roughly 43 percent) globally. Moreover, of the 37.9 million people living with HIV today, just over 770,000 died in 2018. HIV/AIDS is largely a lifestyle/sexual-related disease and should be recognized as a pandemic.
COVID-19 was quickly labelled a pandemic by the WHO (and rightly so). It is a highly viral infectious disease. So too is HIV, which (as you know) can be transmitted through the following channels: certain body fluids—blood, semen (cum), pre-seminal fluid (pre-cum), rectal fluids, vaginal fluids, and breast milk—from a person who has HIV. Notice, both are highly contagious and deadly. HIV/AIDS has been with us for decades as a warning to change our sinful ways. Humanity has largely ignored this warning. COVID-19 came as a global shock; bringing with it sudden devastation. It has literally caused people to stay away from each other! Think about that and what it could mean going forward.
The point is this, the world should have learnt from HIV/AIDS. We needed to recognize our need of God and stop the blasphemy! Instead, humanity chose to deny His very existence and live in wanton abandon of spiritual and moral principles. Apostle Paul explained it well (Romans 1:18-32). Now we have to deal with COVID-19 and the most brilliant minds of this world CANNOT grapple with its destructive impact. Are we going to learn from this or must something far worse than COVID-19 come upon this world in the not to distant future?
What lessons have you learnt and are learning from this? Share your views and let's encourage each other to strengthen our faith in Christ Jesus. Remember, Bible prophecy is being fulfilled in our generation (Matthew 24). Preach the truth of God's word wherever you are. People may scoff, ridicule, curse, and or deny the facts but God's truth remains forever! Consider the HOPE offered by Christ in these words:
"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14, NIV).
The end is coming my friends. Let us encourage others in our communities (family, work, social contacts, business contacts, church, educational settings, etc.) to prepare as the wise virgins did (Matthew 25) for the return of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Time is definitely running out! It CANNOT be business as usual going forward!
Stay healthy... extended to you and your family.
OBee
OOW
2020
__________________________________________
COVID-19: a time to refrain from embracing (Ecclesiastes 3:5)
Sat, Apr 4, 2020 at 4:38 PM
Subsequent Presentation: (virtual assembly)
On the occasion of Third Year Assembly, Wednesday, February 16, 2022
(Term 2, Week 6)
May the peace of the Lord be with you and your loved ones.
COVID-19: a time to refrain from embracing (Ecclesiastes 3:5)
For millennia, biblical references to leprosy and other related skin diseases came to symbolize the state of ritual impurity and punishment for sins. For example, the LORD punished Miriam with leprosy for criticising her brother Moses because he married an African (Cushite) woman. In modern medicine, differential diagnosis (having multiple possibilities) of similar diseases might include the following: scabies, seborrheic dermatitis, syphilis, and scarlet fever, just to name a few. The strict regulations Moses issued to the Levitical priests, which he received from God, serve to illustrate the proactive measures adopted by the ancient Hebrews to limit the spread of infectious diseases among their communities, divided into twelve tribes. Thus, anyone (male or female) suspected of having a defiling skin disease was immediately examined by the priest, who, in addition to his religious duties, performed the roles of both general practitioner and public health inspector. If the result was positive for infection, the person was required to self-isolate for a minimum of seven days―Leviticus 13. Surely, this was an ancient representation of ‘social distancing and being placed in quarantine.’
In the New Testament, Jesus, confronted by the naysayers (critics) of his own hometown of Nazareth, charged them with this sobering reminder: "And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian" (Luke 4:27). At that time, there was a leprosy epidemic in the region and God chose to heal, through Elisha, one person only―Naaman, the Syrian General.
Naaman was immortalised in "Naaman's song":
There was a man I know.
He was a leper white as snow.
He went to the river to wash his sins away,
And..his..name was Na-a-a-man!
And he dip one dip, and he dip two dips!
And he dippy, dippy, dippy, dippy!
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven...
And he came up clean, clean, clean!
No Jews were healed during this epidemic. Remember, this disease was both highly contagious and deadly. God’s providential will (God's right to act in a way that pleases Him) was at work then, as it is now. We should LISTEN MORE to what He has to say, especially now that this "plague" (COVID-19) is upon us! Some may suggest returning to regular church services, [school] and mass gatherings while still under social distancing and curfew protocols, but if we are to self-isolate and refrain from embracing for a period of time, then we must do so. God is in control! Obey the regulations. Surely, it cannot be business as usual!?!?
v Let us pray together as Jesus has taught us:
v Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, you have committed to parents and educators the care and nurture of children. Enlighten with your wisdom those who teach and those who learn, that rejoicing in the knowledge of your truth, we may worship you and serve you from generation to generation; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
[Mr. Worrell]
OOW
2020 & 2022
__________________________________________
What does unprecedented mean?
Paid in FULL!!!
OOW
2020 & 2022
__________________________________________
Sat, Apr 11, 2020 at 5:08 PM
Greetings Brothers and Sisters in Christ
May the peace of the Lord be with you and your loved ones
“Unprecedented!”
This is the buzzword everyone, from world leaders to armchair epidemiologists, is using to describe the current COVID-19 crisis. However, let us consider what unprecedented truly means.
- For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16, KJV)
- And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. (Acts 4:32)
- Love: Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. (1 Corinthians 13:7)
- But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
- 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.(Romans 8:35,38-39)
The love of God, through Christ Jesus, is the only thing in this universe that is unprecedented (unmatched) and COVID-19 CANNOT compare.
Stay healthy... extended to you and your family.
OBee
OOW
2020
__________________________________________
Looking beyond Nehushtan
Sat, Apr 18, 2020 at 4:13 PM
Greetings Brothers and Sisters in Christ
May the peace of the Lord be with you and your loved ones
God instructed Moses, "Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole; and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he seeth it, shall live" (Numbers 21:4–9). This occurred after the ancient Israelites complained bitterly against Yehovah and Moses following their exodus from Egypt. In response, God sent "fiery serpents" among them and many died. Their deliverance (miracle of healing) came after Moses made the brazen/brass/bronze snake, as instructed by God, and lifted it up upon a pole for the stricken to gaze upon for their healing.
One thousand years later, during King Hezekiah's sweeping reforms, the metal snake, called "Nehushtan," (a brazen thing, a mere piece of brass) was destroyed because it formed part of occult worship among the Hebrews at that time. The people of God had stopped trusting in Him for their deliverance. Instead, they looked to pagan altars, symbols of Asherah and the Nehushtan for solutions (2 Kings 18:4). Who are we looking to for our deliverance during this time of great tribulation? The great scientific minds of our generation are working feverishly to find a medical solution for the COVID-19 pandemic and most likely will. However, the more pressing concern is, who are people ultimately looking to for holistic healing (of spirit, soul and body)? Our response to this contagion will be a defining moment for our generation, considering that other major disasters (both natural and or man-made) are likely to follow COVID-19. Bible prophecy must be fulfilled: "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled" (Matthew 5:18).
Indeed, we need to look elsewhere for the FINAL solution: "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:14–16). Remind others to look beyond Nehushtan (medical, economic, social or environmental solutions). Truly, Jesus Christ is the answer!
Stay healthy... extended to you and your family.
OBee
OOW
2020
__________________________________________
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb
Sat, Apr 25, 2020 at 6:13 PM
Greetings Brothers and Sisters in Christ
May the peace of the Lord be with you and your loved ones
Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed through His infinite mercy,
His child and forever I am.
("Redeemed, How I Love to Proclaim It!" by Frances "Fanny" Crosby, pub.1882)
During the ruling of the Divine Supreme Court in the case of Heaven vs. Humanity, following the Fall of humanity from grace into sin (birth of humanity's sinful nature ― Gen. 3 & Rom. 8), God adjudged and apportioned blame to the three guilty parties involved ― Adam and Eve, for their disobedience when they ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden and the serpent for its role in the Fall by tricking Eve to eat the forbidden fruit. Still, this was not the end of all hope but only the beginning. God had a long-established plan (the woman's seed shall bruise the serpent's head ― Gen. 3:15, Jn. 1:29, 1 Cor. 2:7-10, Gal. 4:4-5, Eph. 1:4-5, Rev. 13:8).
These disclosures in the Bible of sinful humanity inheriting redemption and eternal life in Christ (Messiah for Jews) is unique to the Judeo-Christian faith since no other faith-based teaching speaks of a Sovereign Creator or Enlightened Teacher/One sacrificing himself to save his rebellious creation or followers. Such revelations of selflessness and unmerited love is not found in the actions of Amun-Ra of ancient Egypt or Baal of the Canaanites, Marduk of Babylon, The Great Spirit/Wakan Tanka of Native Americans, Huitzilopochtli of the Aztecs, Viracocha of the Incas, Itzamná of the Maya, Jade Emperor of China, Zeus of Greece, Jupiter of Rome, Odin of the Vikings, Buddha of Sanskrit (Indo-Aryan/European) cultures, the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Catholic Church (chosen mother of the Christ child, not Co-Redemptrix) or the Prophet Mohammad of Muslims (messenger only) and the list goes on and on. The point is, Jesus Christ is the ONLY ONE who qualifies as humanity's Redeemer, Saviour and Eternal Hope ― "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Cor. 5:21, NIV).
Who else can we turn to, especially in times like these? Friends, let us keep our focus fixed on the ONLY ONE who can "redeem us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us" (Gal. 3:13). Surely, "he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease" (Psalm 91:3, NLT). God has bought us for himself with the precious blood of Jesus our sacrificial Lamb and declared not only over Israel but all humanity this sacred promise ― "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jer. 29:11). Let us continue in our efforts to help others find hope in Christ the Redeemer!
Stay healthy... extended to you and your family.
OBee
OOW
2020
__________________________________________
What manner of man is this?: Taking faith to the next level
Sat, May 2, 2020 at 3:24 PM
Greetings Brothers and Sisters in Christ
May the peace of the Lord be with you and your loved ones
In the Gospel of Mark, when the disciples thought that they were going to drown, they frantically cried out to their sleeping Master for help (salvation from the tempestuous storm): “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” To which the now awakened Lord, having quieted the storm (to the extent that it completely disappeared), turned to his bewildered followers and asked: “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4: 35-41). Of course, they were still uncertain of his true identity.
Prior to raising Jairus's (one of the synagogue leader's) daughter from the dead (Mk.5: 35-43), Christ is confronted with a mysterious 'touch of virtuous faith' from an unknown woman, suffering from a twelve-year debilitating case of what is likely to have been endometrial cancer (endometrial carcinoma). This woman, who had spent all her savings on failed medical treatments, was now penniless and whose medical condition had gotten worse, believed with all her heart that, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed,” took the risk of punishment for breaking quarantine protocols by going out into public (something she would have been forbidden to do under Jewish Ceremonial Law). To whom Christ replied: “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering” (Mk.5: 25-34).
Consider the meaning behind feeding the multitudes. In the first instance, those numbering over five thousand. Here, the faith of his disciples was once more put to the test by Christ, “You give them something to eat.” When the matter of the economic cost required to feed the people was more than they could reasonably afford, Christ (as True Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs) bid the people sit in constituencies of hundreds and fifties and fed them, with leftovers to spare (Mk.6:30-44). As you read on, the list of faith-driven miracles is extensively recorded here in this gospel account.
How far are we willing to stretch our faith in Christ to miraculously heal our every disease and land (Yahweh Rapha) and provide for our every need (Yahweh Yireh), especially during this COVID-19 outbreak of global sickness and economic woes? The test of faith is on. The ball is in our court to respond!
Stay healthy... extended to you and your family.
OBee
OOW
2020
__________________________________________
Remember the Poor
Sat, May 9, 2020 at 12:09 PM
Greetings Brothers and Sisters in Christ
May the peace of the Lord be with you and your loved ones
In the gospel account rendered by Apostle Matthew, Jesus' disciples became "indignant" (angry or annoyed) at the actions of a penitent woman who lavished a "very expensive perfume" upon the head of Christ, contained in an equally precious alabaster jar (Matthew 26: 6-13). The disciples, along with others present, said to one another, "“Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly" (Mark 14: 3-9). Christ responded with a seemingly ominous prediction, "“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me" (6-7).
Truly, this is such a time, when we need to remember the poor and offer any assistance we can give. Christ's statement to his critics (disciples and hosts), "The poor you will always have with you" (7) was not said to shame poor people, but a reminder of a social reality that parallels Deuteronomy 15:11, "For there will never cease to be poor in the land; that is why I am commanding you to open wide your hand to your brother and to the poor and needy in your land." The Lord knew this moment (COVID-19) would come, and we would need to render assistance to the destitute among us.
While Christ may not be physically here on Earth with us, "But you will not always have me" (7), we honour him in similar fashion to the world-renowned penitent woman, as predicted by Christ, "Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her”" (9) through our giving to the poor. Consider the prediction and testimony of Christ on Judgment Day:
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’" (Matthew 25: 37-40). Notwithstanding the economic hardships we are all experiencing at this time, let us remember the poor.
Stay healthy... extended to you and your family.
OBee
OOW
2020
__________________________________________
Count the Cost
Sat, May 16, 2020 at 4:33 PM
Greetings Brothers and Sisters in Christ
May the peace of the Lord be with you and your loved ones
As the debate rages on between balancing public health and economic recovery in this new COVID-19 environment, churches (and other religious bodies) are also caught in the middle of a similar dilemma; balancing the importance of assembling ourselves in our places of worship (physical churches) while maintaining stipulated social or physical distancing protocols. Thus, in the absence of a cure, or vaccine, or herd immunity, or a viable pharmaceutical treatment against COVID-19, governments all around the world are faced with the difficult and often controversial choice of removing or curtailing weeks of lockdown restrictions in their efforts to save lives to now allow for the reopening of businesses in order to save jobs. In short, it is a risky negotiation (some argue, 'gamble') between saving lives and livelihoods. Have we, Christians, carefully considered what God's Word says about such matters?
In the gospel account of Dr. Luke, Christ asked his followers to "first sit down and count the cost" (Luke 14: 28, ESV) for practical purposes when making important financial decisions, such as constructing a building. This, however, extents to the 'cost' (personal and spiritual sacrifice) of being a disciple of Christ. The point is well made by Christ, life is about making choices and each choice involves a cost to the one making the decisions and those directly and indirectly affected by those decisions or choices. Additionally, our Master reminds us to take note of this reality, "For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light" (Luke 16: 8, NIV). Hence, the authorities (representing both the public and private sectors) are likely to make decisions largely in the interest of saving lives while maintaining livelihoods. The mandate of the church, however, is greater:
"Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28: 18-20).
The government along with private enterprise may be in the business of preserving lives and livelihoods but the church is undoubtedly in the business of saving souls, "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul?" (Mark 8: 36-37, ESV). While we are warned, "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching" (Hebrews 10:25, KJV), we are also mindful of the fact that there is a highly contagious pandemic in our midst.
We still need to reach "Jerusalem... all Judaea... in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1: 8) with Christ's Great Commission of Love. Certainly, by now, many have adapted to the "new normal" of using more Internet-based communication media than ever before to reach others with the gospel message of God's love (e.g. streaming). Could this be the key? Do we now have to count the cost of blending more online services with face-to-face services in a post-COVID-19 church setting?
Whatever the outcome, counting the cost of following Christ has never been more important in human history. Surely, in this COVID-19 world with all its death, suffering and hardships, many will be asking, 'Where is God?' Truly, this is a period that can be characterized as a 'great test of faith.' Friends, when all is said and done, we must all 'count the cost.' Our lives, livelihoods and souls depend on making the right choices. May Almighty God help us in this difficult hour to make the right choices. Remember, He has promised, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you" and "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful" (John 14: 18 & 27, NASB). Unlike some world leaders, God is trustworthy!
Stay healthy... extended to you and your family.
OBee
OOW
2020
__________________________________________
Sat, May 23, 2020 at 3:57 PM
Greetings Brothers and Sisters in Christ
May the peace of the Lord be with you and your loved ones
Bible texts taken from the Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)
During the transfiguration of Christ, Peter hastily opined in the presence of his follow disciples, James and his brother John, together with the miraculous and prophetic appearance of the ancient Apostles, Moses and Elijah: “It’s good that we’re here, Lord. I’ll put up three shelters if you want — one for you, one for Moshe and one for Eliyahu” (Matthew 17: 4). While the excited New Testament Apostle was devising this plan, the Almighty LORD gave this command: “This is my Son, whom I love, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him!” A reminder of what He said to John the Baptist during Christ's baptism by John.
At the end of this passage in Matthew's gospel, Jesus asked Peter a pertinent question: “Shim‘on, what’s your opinion? The kings of the earth — from whom do they collect duties and taxes? From their sons or from others?” (25). Peter acknowledged that the sons of kings are exempted from paying taxes, a burden borne by others. Christ, however, was not finished with the lesson: "But to avoid offending them — go to the lake, throw out a line, and take the first fish you catch. Open its mouth, and you will find a shekel. Take it and give it to them for me and for you” (27).
At a later stage in this gospel account, the matter of paying taxes arose again. The motives behind this query, however, were intended to entrap Jesus. The full encounter is worth mentioning here: Matthew 22: 15-22
15 Then the P’rushim went away and put together a plan to trap Yeshua with his own words. 16 They sent him some of their talmidim and some members of Herod’s party. They said, “Rabbi, we know that you tell the truth and really teach what God’s way is. You aren’t concerned with what other people think about you, since you pay no attention to a person’s status. 17 So tell us your opinion: does Torah permit paying taxes to the Roman Emperor or not?” 18 Yeshua, however, knowing their malicious intent, said, “You hypocrites! Why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used to pay the tax!” They brought him a denarius; 20 and he asked them, “Whose name and picture are these?” 21 “The Emperor’s,” they replied. Yeshua said to them, “Nu, give the Emperor what belongs to the Emperor. And give to God what belongs to God!” 22 On hearing this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.
What is the lesson? Christ, through his substitutionary or vicarious atonement (Jesus died to save all humanity), paid in full the 'wages of sin' (Romans 6: 23) or 'sin taxes and duties' owed to Almighty God by humanity for the absolution of past, present and future sins. When Jesus instructed Peter to take the coin from the mouth of the fish and pay the temple tax for both of them he was prophesying of his own death, as 'God's payment for sin,' an act of total redemption for all who believe.
Peter represents sinful humanity, the coin in the mouth of the fish is symbolic of the required taxes (or wages of sin) and the fish is symbolic of Jesus, drawn from the waters of humanity and sacrificed (killed) so that we might live.
The lyrics of Ellis J. Crum's aptly penned hymn, "He paid a debt he did not owe" (1977), readily comes to mind. A citation of the first verse must suffice in the interest of time:
He paid a debt He did not oweI owed a debt I could not payI needed someone to wash my sins awayAnd now I sing a brand new songAmazing GraceChrist Jesus paid a debt that I could never pay
Truly, the 'sin tax' has been paid in full. Thus, exempting (freeing) the sons and daughters of the King, Christ Jesus, from paying this humanly impossible tax. We must encourage all who are yet to accept this free gift of salvation, fully paid for through Christ's death and resurrection, to do so without delay, while there is still time.
Stay healthy... extended to you and your family.
OBee
OOW
2020
__________________________________________
What kind of Father is He? God is good and what he has to offer is also good!
Sat, May 30, 2020, 6:20 PM
Greetings Brothers and Sisters in Christ
May the peace of the Lord be with you and your loved ones
All scripture quotations are taken from the Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
Christ told his followers:
7 “Continue to ask, and God will give to you. Continue to search, and you will find. Continue to knock, and the door will open for you. 8 Yes, whoever continues to ask will receive. Whoever continues to look will find. And whoever continues to knock will have the door opened for them (Matthew 7: 7-8).
As long as we have breath in our bodies we have an opportunity, notwithstanding the pressures of life, to unashamedly lay bare our naked and sinful heart before Father God who takes our anxious requests from our altars of continual prayer and thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6) and assures us of a peaceful and expected end (Jeremiah 29:11-13).
Christ added this analogy to paint for us a clearer picture of who Father God really is:
9 “Do any of you have a son? If he asked for bread, would you give him a rock? 10 Or if he asked for a fish, would you give him a snake? Of course not! 11 You people are so bad, but you still know how to give good things to your children. So surely your heavenly Father will give good things to those who ask him (Matthew 7: 9-11).
Still sounds too good to be true? Then consider Christ's parable (an illustrated story) of the 'Unjust judge and persistent widow' (Luke 18: 1-8):
Then Jesus taught the followers that they should always pray and never lose hope. He used this story to teach them: 2 “Once there was a judge in a town. He did not care about God. He also did not care what people thought about him. 3 In that same town there was a woman whose husband had died. She came many times to this judge and said, ‘There is a man who is doing bad things to me. Give me my rights!’ 4 But the judge did not want to help the woman. After a long time, the judge thought to himself, ‘I don’t care about God. And I don’t care about what people think. 5 But this woman is bothering me. If I give her what she wants, then she will leave me alone. But if I don’t give her what she wants, she will bother me until I am sick.’” 6 The Lord said, “Listen, there is meaning in what the bad judge said. 7 God’s people shout to him night and day, and he will always give them what is right. He will not be slow to answer them. 8 I tell you, God will help his people quickly. But when the Son of Man comes again, will he find people on earth who believe in him?”
Do you understand the meaning?
Our love, admiration, adoration, devotion, dependency, hope and faith in Father God will propel us towards a state of unshakable and unmovable commitment to him, no matter what. It is not because of his goodness that we surrender our will to his, as Christ taught us, "I came down from heaven to do what God wants, not what I want" (John 6: 38). We surrender because his way is always the best way. Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, renamed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, respectively, clearly understood the meaning of serving a good God. They respectfully told the fuming Nebuchadnezzar:
17 If you throw us into the hot furnace, the God we serve can save us. And if he wants to, he can save us from your power. 18 But even if God does not save us, we want you to know, King, that we refuse to serve your gods. We will not worship the gold idol you have set up” (Daniel 3: 17-18).
They trusted God so completely that they were even prepared to die a gruesome death (by being burnt alive) in order to please him by obeying his Word:
3 “You must not worship any other gods except me. 4 “You must not make any idols. Don’t make any statues or pictures of anything up in the sky or of anything on the earth or of anything down in the water. 5 Don’t worship or serve idols of any kind, because I, the Lord, am your God. I hate my people worshiping other gods. People who sin against me become my enemies, and I will punish them. And I will punish their children, their grandchildren, and even their great grandchildren. 6 But I will be very kind to people who love me and obey my commands. I will be kind to their families for thousands of generations (Exodus 20: 3-6).
Remember Samuel's good counsel, "It is better to obey the Lord than to offer sacrifices to him. It is better to listen to him than to offer the fat from rams" (1 Samuel 15: 22).
Here is the secret, "God is spirit. So the people who worship him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4: 24). Therefore, armed with the knowledge that the "Lord is God. He made us, and we belong to him. We are his people, the sheep he takes care of" (Psalm 100: 3) we willingly give way to his plans because we were created by him to serve his purpose and not our own. Thus, we can say with full assurance and sincerity of heart, Father God is good and his gifts are also good!
The point is this, our life, indeed our very soul belongs to Father God. They are gifts from God. Nothing makes Father God happier than a person living in total surrender to his will. This is what set Jesus apart from us, "But the world must know that I love the Father. So I do exactly what the Father told me to do" (John 14: 31).
Me MUST follow the PERFECT example of Christ. Nothing else will do!
Stay healthy... extended to you and your family.
OBee
OOW
2020
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)