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Sunday, 17 November 2024

Change Is Possible

 Change Is Possible

Put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:24)


Christianity means change is possible. Deep, fundamental change. It is possible to become tenderhearted when once you were callous and insensitive. It is possible to stop being dominated by bitterness and anger. It is possible to become a loving person, no matter what your background has been.


The Bible assumes that God is the decisive factor in making us what we should be. With wonderful bluntness, the Bible says, “Put away . . . all malice” and be “tenderhearted” (Ephesians 4:31–32). It does not say, “If you can . . . ” Or, “If your parents were tenderhearted . . . ” Or, “If you have not been terribly abused . . . ” It says, “Be . . . tenderhearted.”


This is wonderfully freeing. It frees us from the terrible fatalism that says change is impossible for me. It frees me from mechanistic views that make my background my destiny.


And God’s commands always come with freeing, life-changing truth to believe. For example,


God adopted us as his children. We have a new Father and a new family. This breaks the fatalistic forces of our “family-of-origin.” “Call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven” (Matthew 23:9).


God loves us as his children. We are “loved children” (Ephesians 5:1). The command to imitate the love of God does not hang in the air, it comes with power: “Be imitators of God, as loved children.” “Love!” is the command and being loved by God is the power.


God has forgiven us in Christ. Be tenderhearted and forgiving just as God in Christ forgave you (Ephesians 4:32). What God did in Christ is powerful. It makes change possible. The command to be tenderhearted has more to do with what God did for you than what your mother or your father did to you. This kind of command means you can change.


Christ loved you and gave himself up for you. “Walk in love, as Christ loved [you]” (Ephesians 5:2). The command comes with life-changing truth. “Christ loved you.” At the moment when there is a chance to love, and some voice says, “You are not a loving person,” you can say, “Christ’s love for me makes me a new kind of person. His command to love is just as surely possible for me as his promise of love is true for me.”


Don’t be a fatalist. Be a Christian. Change is possible. God is alive. Christ is risen. The promises are true.



Saturday, 16 November 2024

WE ARE OF GREAT VALUE TO GOD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!


SUNDAY NOVEMBER 17, 2024.


SUBJECT : WE ARE OF GREAT VALUE TO GOD!


Memory verse: "Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?" (Psalm 144 vs 3.)


READ: Psalm 8 vs 3 - 8:

8:3: When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, 

8:4: What is man that You are mindful of him? and the son of man that You visit him?

8:5: For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honour.

8:6: You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,

8:7: All sheep and oxen—even the beasts of the field,

8:8: The birds of the air, and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas.


INTIMATION:

Humans are of great value to God. By comparison, the existence of the universe minimizes the significance of man. There is no comparison between the two. Though existing in a small planet of the universe, man is considered and cared for by God. The existence of man on earth alone exemplifies God’s consideration for man. 


Man’s very existence is the evidence of the fact that he is the most important of all that God created. Of all beings that God created through Jesus (Colossians 1 vs 16), man was least in comparison to angels. And yet, God exalted man above angels to the point of sending His only begotten Son into the world for the salvation of man (John 3 vs 16).


When we look at the vast expanse of creation, we wonder how God could be concerned for people who constantly disappoint Him. Yet God created us only a little lower than Himself and the angels! We have great worth because we bear the stamp of the Creator. In Genesis 1 vs 26 - 27, the Bible says, “Then God said, “Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”


God obviously did not create us exactly like Himself because God has no physical body. Instead, we are reflections of God’s glory. Some feel that our reasoning, creativity, speech or self-determination is the image of God. More likely, it is our entire self that reflects the image of God. We will never be totally like God because He is our Supreme Creator. 


Reference is, therefore, to the spiritual image of God that dwells within every person through the God-created spirit of man. Being in the image of God refers to the spiritual inclinations of man that make him a spiritual being who seeks to worship a higher power than himself. Consequently, we do have the ability to reflect His character in our love, patience, forgiveness, kindness, and faithfulness.


Knowing that we are made in God’s image and thus share many of His characteristics provides a solid basis for self-worth. Human worth is not based on possessions, achievements, physical attractiveness, or public acclaim. Instead, it is based on being made in God’s image. Because we bear God’s image, we can feel positive about ourselves. Criticizing or downgrading ourselves is criticizing what God has made and the abilities He has given us. Knowing that you are a person of worth helps you love God, know Him personally, and make a valuable contribution to those around you.


Because of the worth God placed on man, He gave human beings tremendous authority—to be in charge of the whole earth. But with great authority comes great responsibility. If we own a pet, we have the legal authority to do with it as we wish, but we also have the responsibility to feed and care for it. To “have dominion over” something is to have absolute authority and control over it. God has ultimate dominion over the earth, and He exercises His authority with loving care. 


When God delegated some of His authority to the human race, He expected us to take responsibility for the environment and the other creatures that share our planet. We must not be careless and wasteful as we fulfill this charge. God was careful how He made the earth. We must not be careless about how we take care of it.


For the love and value God placed on us, He did the unthinkable for sinful humanity; giving for us His only Son, Jesus Christ, as a propitiation for our sins, who died a shameful death on the cross to pay the wages we owed: the wages of our sins which is death. For all the creation of God, He loves humans and gave up the life of His only Son for us. Because God has already declared how valuable we are to Him, we can be set free from feelings of worthlessness. The next time you question your worth as a person, remember that God considers you highly valuable. 


Prayer: Abba Father, there is nothing I can do to thank You enough for Your love, care, and value You bestowed on me. Endue me with the spirit of gratitude and obedience to You, and give me the grace to live for, and pleasing You all the days of my life, in Jesus Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

When I Am Anxious

 When I Am Anxious

. . . casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)


There is a promise suited to every sin you are tempted to commit and every form of unbelief that takes you off guard and makes you anxious. For example:


When I am anxious about being sick, I battle unbelief with the promise, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all” (Psalm 34:19). And I take the promise with trembling, “knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5:3–5).


When I am anxious about getting old, I battle unbelief with the promise: “Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save” (Isaiah 46:4).


When I am anxious about dying, I battle unbelief with the promise that “none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living” (Romans 14:7–9).


When I am anxious that I may make shipwreck of faith and fall away from God, I battle unbelief with the promises, “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6); and, “He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). 


So, let us make war, not with other people, but with our own unbelief. It is the root of anxiety, which, in turn, is the root of so many other sins. 


So, let us fix our eyes on the precious and very great promises of God. Take up the Bible, ask the Holy Spirit for help, lay the promises up in your heart, and fight the good fight — to live by faith in future grace.



WHEN GOD SEEMS FAR AWAY FROM YOU!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!


SATURDAY NOVEMBER 16, 2024.


SUBJECT: WHEN GOD SEEMS FAR AWAY FROM YOU! 


Memory verse: "Why do You stand afar off, O LORD? Why do You hide in times of trouble? (Psalm 10 vs 1.)


READ: Psalm 13 vs 1 - 6:

13:1: How long, O Lord? Will You forget me for ever? How long will You hide Your face from me?

13:2: How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long will my enemy be exalted over me?

13:3: Consider and hear me, O LORD my God: Enlighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death.

13:4: Lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed against him”; lest those who trouble me rejoice when I am moved.

13:5: But I have trusted in Your mercy; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.

13:6: I will sing to the LORD, because He has dealt bountifully with me.


INTIMATION:

It is natural for the believer to feel that God has distanced Himself from him when he is in trouble. The fact is that God has not distanced Himself from him. Rather he has moved away from Him. The fact is that God is transcendent, but He also allows life and nature to continue their natural courses. God knows the end from the beginning, perfect in timing, and works all things together for good, achieving His predetermined purposes even in the midst of the troubles. The believer must remember that God does not move away from him in time of trouble. 


For instance, Job wondered why God would allow great calamity to come upon him if He is a God who is transcendent in the affairs of man (Job 13 vs 24). He never knew God’s purpose of allowing Satan to bring the calamities his way, but at the end Job was better of than he was from the beginning of his troubles. 


In our memory verse, the psalm writer said, “Why do you hide in times of trouble?” To him God seemed far away. But even though the writer had honest doubts, he did not stop praying or conclude that God no longer cared. He was not complaining but simply asking God to hurry to his aid. It is during those times when we feel most alone or oppressed that we need to keep praying, telling God about our troubles.


Sometimes all we need to do is talk over a problem with a friend to help put it in perspective. God is such a friend. Just like David expressed his feelings to God and found strength. By the end of his prayer, he was able to confess hope and trust in God. Through prayer we can express our feelings and talk our problems out with God. He helps us regain the right perspective, and this gives us peace. 


In times of distress, some of us frequently claim that God is slow to act on their behalf. Yes we often feel this same impatience. Our duty, however, is to continue to trust God no matter how long we have to wait for God’s help or justice to be realized. When you feel impatient, always remember to put your faith in God’s unfailing love. 


In the passage we read today, David was faithful to God and trusted wholeheartedly in Him, but he felt the pressure of his problems as much as anyone. Instead of giving up or giving in, however, David held on to his faith. In times of despair, it is much harder to hold on than to give up. But if you give up on God, you give in to a life of despair. 


Let your feelings not be controlled by the events around you, but rather by faith in God’s ability to give you strength. When nothing makes sense, and when troubles seem more than you can bear, remember that God gives strength. Take your eyes off your difficulties and look to God who controls all circumstances. 


Prophet Habakkuk says in Habakkuk 3 vs 17 - 19: “Although the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be in the vines; though the labour of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like bear's feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills.”


God will give His followers strength and confidence in difficult times. They will run surefooted as deer across rough and dangerous terrain. At the proper time, God will bring about His justice and completely rid the world of evil. In the meantime God’s people need to live in the strength of His Spirit, confident in His ultimate victory over evil. God is our refuge even in the midst of total destruction. He is not merely a temporary retreat, He is our eternal refuge and can provide strength in any circumstances. 


Prayer: Abba Father, You are Omniscient, Omnipresent, and Omnipotent. There is nothing difficult nor impossible with You, and You control all circumstances. I will cast all my cares on You because You cares for me. In all circumstances You are my only God. Whatever You can’t do for me let it remain undone, whatever You can’t give me may I never have it. Daily I empty myself before You hope in Your unfailing love and for whatever You have for me, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!


Friday, 15 November 2024

Fighting Words

 Fighting Words

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)


When I am anxious about some risky new venture or meeting, I battle unbelief with one of my most often-used promises: Isaiah 41:10.


The day I left for three years to study in Germany, my father called me long distance in New York and gave me the promise of this verse on the telephone. For three years, I must have quoted it to myself hundreds of times to get me through periods of tremendous stress. 


When the motor of my mind is in neutral, the hum of the gears is the sound of Isaiah 41:10. I love this verse.


Of course, it’s not the only dagger in the arsenal of my faith.


When I am anxious about my ministry being useless and empty, I fight unbelief with the promise of Isaiah 55:11, “So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”


When I am anxious about being too weak to do my work, I battle unbelief with the promise of Christ, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).


When I am anxious about decisions I have to make about the future, I battle unbelief with the promise, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you” (Psalm 32:8).


When I am anxious about facing opponents, I battle unbelief with the promise, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).


When I am anxious about the welfare of those I love, I battle unbelief with the promise that if I, being evil, know how to give good things to my children, “how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11).


So by all means fight unbelief with every promise in the book. But it helps to have one central, default weapon. And for me that has been Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Precious, precious promise!



BE SELFLESS TO BE CHRISTLIKE!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!


FRIDAY NOVEMBER 15, 2024.


SUBJECT : BE SELFLESS TO BE CHRISTLIKE! 


Memory verse: "Bear one another's burdens, and fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6 vs 2.)


READ: Philippians 2 vs 3 - 5; First Corinthians 10 vs 24:

Philippians 2:3: Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

2:4: Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

2:5: Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.


First Corinthians 10:24: Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being. 


INTIMATION:

Being selfless is laying aside right; putting others first. Selflessness is having no regard to self, being altruistic—living and acting for the interest of others. Many people, even Christians, live only to make a good impression on others or to please themselves. However, selfish ambition or conceit (overbearing, having a high opinion of oneself) brings discord. Selflessness is inconveniencing yourself for the happiness, and benefit of others.


Jesus Christ, our Messiah, is a classic example of a selfless life. He was humble, willing to give up His rights in order to obey God and serve people. Consequently, the apostle Paul advises us thus: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus." Like Jesus, we should have a servant's attitude, serving out of love for God and others. 


Everyone chooses his or her attitude. You can approach life expecting to be served, or you can look for opportunities to serve others. Jesus Christ's ministry on earth was anchored on selflessness, and that was the basis for our salvation. He died for us; paid a ransom for us because we could not do it ourselves. His death released us from our slavery to, and bondage of sin. Jesus remarked in Mark 10 vs 45; "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." 


Living as Christ did—being selfless—brings about spiritual unity. We must love one another and be one in spirit and purpose. When we co-operate in working together, caring for the problems of others as if they were our problems, we demonstrate Christ's example of putting others first, and consequently, fulfill the law of Christ. The law of Christ is to love one another (John 13 vs 34 - 35). 


Selfishness is seen among Christians and abound in our churches (the Body of Christ). Christians—members of the Body of Christ—compete amongst themselves with the motive to undo the other; backbiting, gossiping, witch-hunting, working against the interest of others etc. Such evil behaviors are the products of selfishness. Selfish ambition and conceit lead one to seek his or her own ends. One is not considerate of the desires of others. Those who have confidence in themselves will have no problem in building up others. 


Always think of yourself the way Jesus thought of Himself. Though He is God, and equal with God in status, but didn't think so much of Himself as to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men to save mankind. He was completely obedient even to His detriment to the point of a shameful on the cross.


How many of us can practice such lifestyle. Christians, even men of God, struggle in traffic jam, in fuel cue, in difficult circumstances and so on, to take the first turn or be at advantage over others. Though it is difficult to lead the life of selflessness, but we need to start from somewhere and let the Holy Spirt help us accomplish the rest.


Prayer: Abba Father, my trust is in You. Help me to lay aside my right in order to serve others selflessly and treat others with respect and common courtesy, for I know that such selflessness endears me to You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!


Thursday, 14 November 2024

The Marvel of Creation

 The Marvel of Creation

Someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each of the seeds its own body. (1 Corinthians 15:35–38) 


I have been picking up little things in Scripture that show God’s intimate involvement in creation.


For example, here in 1 Corinthians 15:38, Paul is comparing how a seed is planted in one form and comes forth in another form with a “body” different from all other bodies. He says, “God gives it a body just as he wished, and to each of the seeds a body of its own” (my translation — the original does not say he gives to each “kind” of seed a body, but to each and every seed its own body!).


This is a remarkable statement of God’s intimate involvement in the way God designs each seed to bring forth its own unique plant (not just species but each individual seed!).


Paul is not teaching about evolution here, but he is showing how he takes God’s intimate involvement with creation for granted. Evidently, Paul cannot imagine that any natural process should be conceived of without God’s doing it.


Again in Psalm 94:9, it says, “He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see?” The psalmist assumes that God was the designer of the eye and that he designed the way the ear is planted in the head to do its hearing work.


So, when we marvel at the wonders of the human eye and the remarkable structure of the ear, we are not to marvel at the processes of chance, but at the mind and the creativity and the power of God.


Similarly in Psalm 95:5, “The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.” The involvement of God in making land and sea is such that the present sea is his.


It is not as though in some impersonal way he set it all in motion a billion years ago. Rather, he is the one who owns it because he made it. It is today his handiwork and bears the marks of his Creator claim on it, like a piece of artwork belongs to the one who painted it until he sells it or gives it away.


I point out these things not to solve all the problems surrounding the issues of origins, but to call you to be utterly God-conscious and God-exalting and God-saturated in all your observation and admiration of the wonders of the world.



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WORSHIP IS PLEASURABLE TO GOD!

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