Category Archives: Christian Life

LIFE LESSONS FROM ABRAHAM – 1

Christian Life, ,

At the end of our journey with Abraham, we can learn valuable life lessons to apply to our own faith walk with God.

Let’s begin with the most significant lesson of all, Abraham’s faith. Abraham’s decision to believe God’s promise of many parts; (a son, a nation, a homeland, and a legacy for the whole world, which God reiterated to both Isaac and Jacob, and ratified with a blood sacrifice ceremony and with the sign of circumcision when he was a barren old man), put him into the state of righteousness with God. This is the same criterion and requirement for everyone who aspires to participate in God’s kingdom.

After his choice to believe God’s promise, Abraham’s standing in God no longer depended on his performance but on the righteousness credited to him because of his faith. He would always have a credit balance in his relationship with God, guaranteed by his faith in God’s promise.

‭Romans‬ ‭4:13‬ ‭NLT‬
[13] “Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith…
[16] So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe.”

God treasures faith in Him and His word more than any other human response to Him.

‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:1‬ ‭NLT‬
[1] “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see…
[6] And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.”

‭John‬ ‭6:28‭-‬29‬ ‭NLT‬
[28]”They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?” [29] Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”

Unbelief is what dishonours God the most because unbelief declares that God is a liar. Unbelief produces all the evil behaviour that reflects rebellion against God’s person and standards.

‭John‬ ‭3:18‭-‬19‬ ‭NLT‬
[18] “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. [19] And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.”

Evil deeds, then, are the fruit of unbelief, and unbelief will bring God’s judgment down on the heads of all who dare to call Him a liar.

It was his standing in grace that Abraham received by faith that brought him into the intimacy of friendship with God. Abraham did not claim this friendship for himself. God drew him into this intimate relationship because Abraham also lived righteously. It was God who expressed His confidence that Abraham would not only live a righteous life but also lead his family to follow his example.

‭Genesis‬ ‭18:17‭-‬19‬ ‭NLT‬
[17] “Should I hide my plan from Abraham?” the Lord asked. [18] “For Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him. [19] I have singled him out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. Then I will do for Abraham all that I have promised.”

What a legacy for those who are declared righteous because of their faith! If every godly parent would follow God’s pattern, God’s kingdom in our hearts would spread and flourish in our communities.

To be continued…

MOLLY AND ME – HAND FED

Christian Life,

Molly loves me to feed her titbits and treats by hand. Apparently, hand feeding strengthens bonds between pet and owner. Naturally, I am the one who has taught her bad habits. You see, we like to share, and she thinks she is entitled to share whatever is on my plate at mealtimes.

Not all “people-food” is good for dogs, so, I have devised a way to skirt the problem. I cook chicken breasts for her, and cut up a few pieces to feed to her “off my plate”. She is perfectly satisfied with this deception as long as I feed the chicken to her by hand. She even chooses to start her meal with her titbits, and then digs into her pellets with gusto.

This is a good arrangement as long as I keep the supply of chicken breasts going, quite a costly ruse, but it works for us and keeps our fellowship sweet!

Did you know that we also thrive when God “hand-feeds” us with His Word? Through the prophet Hosea, God lamented that Israel had forgotten how He had handfed them in the wilderness, stooping down to their level as a parent would feed a toddler. They had forsaken a loving Father for dumb idols that could do nothing for them.

‭Hosea‬ ‭11:1‭-‬4‬ ‭NIV‬
[1] “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. [2] But the more they were called, the more they went away from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. [3] It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. [4] I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them.”

How tenderly God cared for His people, attending to every need as a mother would do for a tiny infant. He describes the same care for “newborn” Israel in Ezekiel 16

‭Ezekiel‬ ‭16:4‭-‬14‬ ‭NIV‬
[4] On the day you were born your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water to make you clean, nor were you rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths. [5] No one looked on you with pity or had compassion enough to do any of these things for you. Rather, you were thrown out into the open field, for on the day you were born you were despised. [6] “ ‘Then I passed by and saw you kicking about in your blood, and as you lay there in your blood I said to you, “Live!” [7] I made you grow like a plant of the field. You grew and developed and entered puberty. Your breasts had formed and your hair had grown, yet you were stark naked. [8] “ ‘Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your naked body. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Sovereign Lord, and you became mine. [9] “ ‘I bathed you with water and washed the blood from you and put ointments on you. [10] I clothed you with an embroidered dress and put sandals of fine leather on you. I dressed you in fine linen and covered you with costly garments. [11] I adorned you with jewelry: I put bracelets on your arms and a necklace around your neck, [12] and I put a ring on your nose, earrings on your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. [13] So you were adorned with gold and silver; your clothes were of fine linen and costly fabric and embroidered cloth. Your food was honey, olive oil and the finest flour. You became very beautiful and rose to be a queen. [14] And your fame spread among the nations on account of your beauty, because the splendor I had given you made your beauty perfect, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

What more could God have done for a nation that rejected and betrayed Him, giving their allegiance instead to gods who were capricious and evil?

Yet God continues to love and hand feed all who trust Him through Jesus, and who willingly receive and thrive on His Word.

‭Matthew‬ ‭4:4‬ ‭NIV‬
[4]”Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

‭Psalms‬ ‭19:9‭-‬11‬ ‭NIV‬
[9]”The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. [10] They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. [11] By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”

‭Jeremiah‬ ‭15:16‬ ‭NIV‬
[16]”When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, Lord God Almighty.”

‭1 Peter‬ ‭2:2‭-‬3‬ ‭NLT‬
[2] “Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, [3] now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.”

‭John‬ ‭6:35‬ ‭NLT‬
[35] Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

The Holy Spirit’s ministry to us is like a mother’s care for her little child, providing everything that the little one needs for healthy growth. So, the Holy Spirit provides the rich milk and fresh bread of the Word for us daily if we choose to follow His leading.

Dear friends, let God hand-feed you with a daily portion of Jesus, the bread of life. The Holy Spirit will teach you all you need to know about Him as you ingest His “flesh and His blood”, a powerful and graphic way of allowing His death to give you life.

Truly, God “handfeeds” us with the most nourishing “food’ in His” pantry” when we choose to feast on the living Word.

WHY DO CHRISTIAN MARRIAGES FAIL?

Christian life, ,

Nowadays, Christian marriages, it seems, are just as vulnerable to failure as marriage contracts between people who have no allegiance to Jesus. Why is this so?

There are many factors that influence the way people view marriage today. Much of the time, marriage is an unpopular state because divorce is anticipated, inevitable breakup is costly, time consuming, and often messy, involving conflicts and heartache, especially when it comes to the wellbeing of children.

So, why get married? If we “shack up”, it’s much easier to go our separate ways if we don’t get on. It won’t involve the legal battles and the cost associated with divorce. And the kids? We’ll try to do our best for them….under the circumstances!

But what does does God say about marriage? After all, marriage is His idea. He set it up in the beginning and told us why we should enter into a permanent and legally binding contract with one person for life.

God’s blueprint for marriage is simple and clear.

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭2:23‭-‬24‬ ‭NLT‬
[23] “At last!” the man exclaimed. “This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’” [24] This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.”

So much symbolism is in this statement!

Hebrew “etsem” means bone, substance, or the same.

The woman, taken from the man, was of the the same substance as the man.

Hebrew “basar” means, flesh, body, person,

The woman has the same body as a man. She is also equally a person.

Hebrew “ishsha” means woman or wife. Hebrew “ish” means man or husband, from the same root.

The wife is of the same essence or substance as her husband.

Hebrew “azab” means leave, forsake, loose.

The man shall loose himself from parental bonds and create a new bond with his wife.

Hebrew “dabak” means cling to, cleave, keep close.

The man shall cling to his wife and hold her close.

Hebrew “echad” meaning one (the same word used to describe the unity between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).

Their purpose is to work at creating a unity that resembles the unity in the Godhead.

These Hebrew words describe the pattern God set for marriage from the beginning. The sexual union is God’s way of expressing and cementing the union that most clearly reflects the nature of God. The seeds sown in a sexual union produce the fruit that must pass on the purpose and pattern of marriage to the next generation.

Above all other reasons for marriage is God’s desire that the bond forged between a man and a woman should resemble and reflect the bond (unity – echad) between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in the godhead. You see, God is a family, an interactive, integrated, harmonious unit of three persons who always love, respect and submit to one another. God’s design for human families is to be on earth what the three-in-one God is in heaven.

Part of Jesus’ mission to earth was to show human beings how to live in union with the Father. The writer to the Hebrews said of Him,

‭Hebrews‬ ‭5:7, 8 NIV‬
[7] “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.
[8]”Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered…”

Jesus Himself testified to His love, trust, submission, and obedience to the Father throughout His earthly life. He also spoke of His intimate connection with the Holy Spirit.

The big issue is, once again for humans, the sin nature with which both husband and wife are born. As new creatures in Christ, it is the obligation of believing husband and wife to put the old nature to death through the power of the Holy Spirit in them. Every failed Christian marriage is a failure to allow the Holy Spirit to direct their lives.

Paul said bluntly,

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:12‭-‬13‬ ‭NIV‬
[12] Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. [13] For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.”

Paul also gave us a simple pattern for every marriage that will grow in unity if both husband and wife understand and fulfil their role in dependence in the Holy Spirit.

‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:22‭-‬27, 31-‬32 ‭NIV‬
[22] Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.
[23] For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, and his body, of which he is the Savior. [24] Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. [25] Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her [26] to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, [27] and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless…..
[31] “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” [32] This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.”

So, dear readers, marriage is not about legalised sex, making each other happy, meeting one another’s needs, creating a family, a covenant of companionship, or any other human reason.

Marriage is about becoming one as a picture on earth of God’s family in heaven. This goal requiress the death of self with all its ugly departments and demands, seeking instead the same goal together in humility and mutual submission, with forgiveness and understanding the foundation of harmony. This harmony can only work if both are committed to same goal.

Any other goal is bound to fail because God only supports and empowers those who choose to do His will.

Imagine what the home and the church would be like if every Christian couple would seriously and purposefully work towards unity. By putting to death their selfishness, and by living under the leadership and control of the Holy Spirit, they would show the world who God really is!

WHAT IS REPENTANCE?

Christian life, ,

I used to think that repentance was about those crisis moments when I came face-to-face with the bad things I had said and done. I was ever so sorry and cried and pleaded with God to forgive me. I felt much better after I had got my sin off my chest, and then carried on with my life until the next episode of “repentance”. Believe me, I had many of those crisis moments. However, that isn’t the Bible’s meaning of repentance.

Repentance may involve those times of tears and regret that but the Bible’s meaning of repentance is much more than periodically acknowledging and feeling sorry for our sin.

Repentance has has two parts to it. The Old Testament meaning comes from the Hebrew word “shuv” which means “return”. You were once walking on the path of God’s Word, i.e., living in obedience to God’s instructions, but you have wandered off the path into the wilderness of sin and unbelief. Return to the way of truth lest you be lost and die in the wilderness where there are no landmarks to show you the way to God, and no food and water to sustain you.

The second meaning of repentance in the New Testament is the Greek word “metanoia” which means “change your mind”. We sin because we are deceived. We believe the lies that the world, the flesh, and the devil sow into our minds, lies like… sin is pleasurable; God won’t notice; God understands; God won’t mind this time; I won’t do it again; it’s only a small thing… and, and, and.

However, sin comes from an attitude – rebellion. “I want to do it! I’m going to do it! I will do it!” and, worst of all, “I’ll do what I want to do, and then ask God for forgiveness!!”

Repentance starts with a different attitude towards sin…changing our mind, first of all about God and His attitude towards sin. God hates sin, everything we say, do, and think, that contradicts who He is – holy, righteous, pure, and utterly committed to be who He is, the I AM.

We can only change our minds about God and His attitude to our sin when we understand that, as His creation, we are accountable to Him for our thoughts, words and actions. We WILL give an account of our sin, unless we repent, which includes the awareness of God’s attitude to sin, and receive the forgiveness Jesus paid for with His blood. We can only overcome our desire to sin by trusting the Holy Spirit to provide the power to fulfil our resolve.

Secondly, because all our words and actions flow from the way we think, we need to understand ourselves. Even as new creatures, born from above by God’s Spirit, we still have a sin-nature that produces ungodly desires.

‭James‬ ‭1:14‭-‬15‬ ‭NLT‬
[14] “Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. [15] These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.”

Through God’s Spirit in us, we are instructed to kill those ungodly desires by following the leading of the Spirit instead of giving in to the desires of the flesh.

Then, thirdly, we are to think differently about God’s Word. The Bible is far more than a book about God and people. Empowered by its author, the Holy Spirit, it transforms our minds if we believe what it teaches.

‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭NLT‬
[16] “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.”

So, repentance, changing our minds and returning to God’s way, is not only an event but also a lifestyle. You see, we developed some strange beliefs about God, ourselves, and how God and we relate, during our growing up years. We were influenced to think wrong thoughts from the ungodly nature we were born with…

‭Romans‬ ‭5:10‬ ‭NLT‬
[10] “For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.”

… as well as from the people in the world around us.

As we journey with Jesus from the moment of our new birth, we need to change the way we think about Him and us, and the way we react in life.

Paul explains it like this…

‭Romans‬ ‭12:2‬ ‭NLT‬
[2] “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

How can we change the way we think so that we avoid sinning against the Lord?

‭Psalms‬ ‭119:11‬ ‭NIV‬
[11] I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

If we continue to change our way of thinking by paying attention to God’s Word, putting Jesus in the centre of our lives and being accountable to Him all the time, the events that call for repentance will slowly decrease in our lives.

Now that’s a deal worth considering!

GOD’S WORKS AND WAYS

Christian life, ,

GOD’S WORKS AND WAYS

‭Psalms‬ ‭103:7‬ ‭NLT‬
[7] He revealed his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel.

[7] “He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel:” NIV

Have you noticed how God differentiated between Moses and Israel when He revealed Himself to them? God gave His people ample evidence of His character through the care He gave them throughout their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land… but they never got it. They failed to connect His works with His ways. Whenever a crisis (test) arose, they forgot everything they had experienced, and sank into misery and complaining.

Moses, on the other hand, slowly gathered titbits of God’s ways as the journey progressed until he formed a faith-picture of God that carried him through many trials.

‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:27‬ ‭NLT‬
[27] “It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.”

To the discerning, God’s works lead to an increasing understanding of God’s ways. Faith in God grows as we learn more of His character through His deeds, producing a confidence in God that weathers storms and crises, steadfastly trusting God until our trust
is vindicated.

How tragic that many of God’s people never get past God’s works. They go from one test to another, sometimes the same test, over and over. When the trial hits, they sink back into their insecurity and unbelief. Their faith wobbles and shakes. They go into emotional meltdown until the test is over. Then they fly high on their testimony of God’s goodness… until the next test. Then it’s “another lap around the mountain”, never learning the secret of steadfast faith in an unchanging God.

David understood this principle… God’s works lead us to know God’s ways… and so he prayed,

‭Psalms‬ ‭86:11‬ ‭NLT‬
[11] “Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you.”

The only way we can grow in grace and in the knowledge (can also be translated as “wisdom”) of the Lord Jesus is to seek understanding of His character by the way He deals with us in every situation.

We learn that He is holy by the hardships and discipline we experience when we have wandered away from His Word. We learn that He is good when He answers our prayers and meets our needs. We learn that He is faithful by His unceasing love and presence in our lives.

As we build an understanding of God’s ways through the ups and downs of life, so we grow in confidence and trust in an unchanging, faithful, and reliable Father. When the big crises hit, we are able to stand firm and unshakeable because we know the God who promised, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you!”

Such faith in a faithful God helps us to live by the truth of His Word, responding to Him by applying that truth to our everyday lives. In turn, we honour, respect, and fear Him because He is utterly worthy of our trust.

Now, that’s a recipe for a fruitful life!